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BCE 314 – Hydraulics

Laboratory Experiment 2

Mass Density and Specific Weight of Solids

Name: Bermoy, Bethany G. Instructor: Engr. Michelle A. Daarol

Program: Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering Code: 2255

I. Introduction

A body submerged in water is subjected to a set of forces that causes it to sink or float. Archimedes'
Principle can be used to determine the characteristics of a submerged solid. The weight of an item in
air is equal to the weight of the liquid it displaces when it is submerged in the liquid, according to this
concept.

II. Objective

• Using the buoyancy principle, we can determine the density of a solid substance.

III. Apparatus/Materials

• Any kind of solid object

• Spring Balance
• Graduated Cylinder
• String

IV. Procedure

1. Tie the solid object with a string. The string must be thin to minimize displacement but strong
enough to carry the solid object.
2. Using the spring balance, separately weigh the solid object and the string in air.
3. Dip the solid object into the cylinder filled with water.
4. The submerged solid object must not touch the wall of the cylinder. Remove air bubbles that might
cling to the solid object.
5. Repeat the process of step 1-4 for Trial 1-3.

V. Observation

My observation on the experiment is that any item in water has a buoyant force that opposes gravity,
causing it to lose weight. If an item displaces the same quantity of water as its own weight, the buoyant
force acting on it equals gravity, and the object floats.

VI. Calculation/Data Analysis

Formulae:

(𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟)−(𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟)

Volume of object = 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

(𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟)
Density = (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑜𝑏𝑗𝑒𝑐𝑡)

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 College of Engineering Education
2nd Floor, BE Building
Matina Campus, Davao City
Telefax: (082)296-1084
Phone No.: (082)300-5456/300-0647 Local 131

Trial 1:
2.943−2.453 2.943
𝑉= = 𝟒. 𝟗𝟗𝟓𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟓 𝒎𝟑 𝑑= = 6006.006 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
9.81 4.995𝑥10−5

Trial 2:
5.886−4.905 5.886
𝑉= 9.81
= 𝟏𝒙𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝒎𝟑 𝑑 = 1𝑥10−4 = 6000 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3

Trail 3:
10.791−9.320 10.791
𝑉= = 𝟏. 𝟒𝟗𝟗𝐱𝟏𝟎−𝟒 𝒎𝟑 𝑑= = 7338.225 𝑘𝑔/𝑚3
9.81 1.499x10−4

Mass Density Specific Weight

𝑘𝑔
𝑘𝑔 1𝑐𝑢.𝑚 𝑘𝑔
19344.231 𝑚3 ( 1𝑚 3) = 𝟏𝟗𝟑𝟒𝟒. 𝟐𝟑𝟏 kg/cu.m 𝟏9344.231 𝑐𝑢.𝑚 (9.81) = 189766.9061 kN/cu.m

VII. Results

Trial No. Weight of object Weight of object Volume of object Density

and string in air and string in
water
1 2.943 2.453 4.995𝑥10−5 6006.006
2 5.886 4.905 1𝑥10−4 6000
3 10.791 9.320 1.499x10−4 7338.225
19344.231

Mass Density in kg/cu.m: 19344.231

Specific Weight in kN/cu.m: 189766.9061

VIII. Discussion of Results/Conclusion

The conclusion of this laboratory experiment that as a result, water, which is merely a liquid, has a
lower density than saltwater, which happens to contain salt particles and hence has a higher mass and
density. Alcohol, on the other hand, has a lower density because its molecules are not packed as
densely as water's. Moisture may be absorbed by the solid, causing its mass to grow. When a result,
as mass grows, so does density. So, in this experiment the final mass density and specific weight of
the experiment is 19344.231 kg/cu.m and 189766.9061 kN/cu.m.

----Nothing Follows----

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