Physics Laboratory Report

Title (5 points)

Lab number and Title:

Lab 7: Archimedes' Principle and Density

Name: Jacob Tirado Group ID: 1

Date of Experiment: 9/19/2024 Date of Report Submission: 9/27/2024

Course & Section Number: 103A101 Instructor’s Name: Keitarou Matsumoto

Partners’ Names: Danish Spall,

Slobodan Tortoski, Bobola Aluko

1. INTRODUCTION (10 points)

1.1 OBJECTIVES
1. To understand Archimedes' Principle
2. To measure the density of unknown substances by two methods: Archimedes'
Principle and density definition
1.2 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
When an object is immersed in a fluid (for example, in water) the fluid exerts
a force on the object in upward direction (against the gravitational force
acting on the object). This force is called a buoyant force. According to
Archimedes’ Principle, a buoyant force acting on an object submerged in a fluid
is equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object, and given by:
(1) 𝐵 = 𝑊𝐿 = 𝑚𝐿𝑔 = ρ𝐿𝑉0𝑔

Where B is the buoyant force; WL and mL are the weight and mass of the fluid,
respectively; ρ𝐿 is the density of the fluid; 𝑉0 is the volume of the fluid

displaced by the submerged object, which is equal to the volume of the part of
the object that is submerged in the fluid; and g is acceleration due to Earth's
gravity.

The density of a substance is its mass per unit volume and an intrinsic
property. Since the mass of the object is equal to its density ρ𝐿 multiplied by

its volume 𝑉0 the weight in the air is also given by:

(2) 𝑊 = 𝑚𝑔 = ρ𝐿𝑉0𝑔
Applying Newton's Laws of Motion, we know that if the magnitude of B is smaller
than that of (ρ𝐿>ρ0), the object sinks to the bottom; if it is greater

(ρ𝐿>ρ0), the object moves up to the surface where it floats partially submerged;

if the magnitude is equal (ρ𝐿=ρ0), the object stays fully submerged.

There are three forces acting on a submerged object in fluid: a tension T’ in

upward direction, a gravitational force Fg=mg in downward, and a buoyant force B
in upward. These forces are in static equilibrium and thus the tension measured
by the scale represents the weight W’ of the object in the fluid, which is
called the apparent weight given by W’=-W-B. Therefore, the buoyant force B of
an object submerged in a fluid can be found by measuring its weight in the air
and the fluid:
(3) 𝐵 = 𝑊 − 𝑊'

The Archimedes' Principle leads to a useful equation.

ρ0 𝑊
(4) ρ𝐿
= 𝑊−𝑊'

The equation shows that by measuring the weights of an object in the air (W)
and in a fluid (W’) with a density ρ𝐿, one can find out the density of the

object ρ𝐿 without knowing its volume. Further, knowing the density of an object

makes it possible to identify the substance from which it is made.

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE (10 points)

Variables: ρ𝐿= Density of water= 1000kg/m3

To begin the setup of this experiment, we first measured the height and
diameter of the 3 cylinders given. We then weighted the first cylinder using
the force sense when it was in the air and when it was submerged in water, we
repeated this process for the second and third cylinder. After we recorded our
results in Table 1.
The second part of this experiment required us to measure the length, width,
and height of 4 cubes. These cubes were identical in size resulting in them
having the same volume, but different weights(as shown in Table 2). Next, we
used the force sensor to measure the weight of the cubes in air then water.
After we calculated the density of each cube first by using Archimedes’
principle then the definition of density allowed us to identify the substance
of the cubes.
RESULTS (30 points in total)
1.3 EXPERIMENTAL DATA (15 points)
Table I:

Cylinder ID Height Diameter V0 W [N] W’ [N] in W’ [N] in

[mm] [mm] [m3] in air liquid 1 liquid 2

Small 13mm 25.56mm 6.67*10-6 0.1411 0.0666 0.0873

Medium 25.7mm 19.06mm 7.33*10-6 0.1616 0.0916 0.1006

 Large 38.32mm 19.05mm 1.09*10-5 0.2644 0.1534 0.1772
Table I Cylinder Graph:

Table II:

Density of Block ρ0 [kg/m3]

M V0 W [N] W’ [N]
Block [kg] [m3] in air in water By Archimedes’ By Density Substance
ID Principle Definition

1 0.2721 3.28*10- 2.6151 2.3039 8403.3 8295.7 Brass

5

2 0.2547 3.28*10- 2.4481 2.1348 7813.9 7789 Iron

5

3 0.0878 3.28*10- 0.8178 0.5056 2619.5 2685 Aluminum

5

4 0.3454 3.28*10- 3.341 3.0295 10725.5 10562.7 Silver

5

1.4 CALCULATION (15 points)

Table I Calculations:
V0=πr2h
 Small Cylinder: π0.012782*0.013= 6.67*10-6m3
Medium Cylinder:π0.009532*0.0257= 7.33*10-6m3
Large Cylinder:π0.0095252*0.03832= 1.09*10-5m3

Table II Calculations:
V0=l*w*h
All Blocks (1-4):0.03201041328*0.03201041328*0.03201041328= 3.28*10-5

Archimedes Principle
𝑊𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
ρ0 = ( 𝑊 −𝑊'𝑖𝑛 𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟
)ρ𝐿
𝑖𝑛 𝑎𝑖𝑟
2.6151
Block 1: ( 2.6151−2.3039 )1000= 8403.3kg/m3
2.4481
Block 2: ( 2.4481−2.1348 )1000= 7813.9kg/m3
0.8178
Block 3: ( 0.8178−0.5056 )1000= 2619.5kg/m3
3.341
Block 4: ( 3.341−3.0295 )1000= 10725.5kg/m3

Density Definition
𝑚
ρ0 = 𝑉0
0.2721
Block 1: −5 = 8295.7kg/m3
3.28*10
0.2547
Block 2: −5 = 7765.2kg/m3
3.28*10
0.0878
Block 3: −5 = 2676.8kg/m3
3.28*10
0.3454
Block 4: −5 = 10530.5kg/m3
3.28*10

ANALYSIS and DISCUSSION (20 points)

Clearly explain how the analysis was done (what physics
theory/principles/concepts were used?)
Show error analysis if applicable.
Discuss whether your results are reasonable with error analysis and
comparison with any physics principles.
Discuss if the results met the objectives for the lab.
Use or cite any reference to support your discussion.
Answer questions if given in a lab manual.

To perform the analysis of this experiment, we need to use Archimedes'

Principle and the definition of density to find the density of the cubes in
Table 2. We also found the buoyant force of the cylinders by graphing their
buoyancy v. volume.

Error
The objectives for this lab were to understand Archimedes' Principle and to
measure the density of unknown substances by using two methods: Archimedes'
Principle and density definition. The first objective was met through the lab,
where we used Archimedes’ principle in the second part of the experiment to
uncover the density of unknown substances. It was also during this part where
the second objective was met, we used both Archimedes’ principle and the
definition of density to uncover the density of unknown substances.

1. Our experimental values of the fluid densities of water and ethanol are
fairly close to the accepted values. I suspect the error in the results to
be due to the recordings of the force sensor. Our measurement of the
cylinders couldn't have been mismeasured to the degree of the experimental
values, leading the cause to be the force sensor and the averaging of
force during the experiment. This does prove archimedes’ principle through
its formula, calling the correlation of density of the liquid and the
force applied to an object through gravity. As we calculated the density
of the fluids, we confirmed the different buoyancies in different liquids
due to their different densities.
2. Overall, our results in the second experiment were very close in
comparison to one another. They were only off by a couple hundreds making
the difference of the two methods very minor. I think the definition of
density is a much more accurate method of calculating density than
Archimedes' principle because our results using the density method were
much closer to the accepted values.
3. No, the volume of the glass will stay the same meaning the glass will not
overflow.
4. We float more easily in salt water than in freshwater because it is much
denser than freshwater. This change in density directly affects the
buoyancy in objects in salt water.
5. The balloon that is free to expand will go higher. This is because as the
helium escapes from the balloon the shrinking in size allows more helium
to escape. This provides more thrust and creates more propulsion upward.

CONCLUSIONS (10 points)

While recording and calculating the data for this experiment, we used
Archemedes’ principle, the definition of density, and other methods of
calculating buoyancy allowing us to understand its relationship to size and
volume better. We also witnessed this relationship when measuring the weight of
the cylinders and cubes in the air and in the water using the force sensor.

Some questions that were raised after performing the experiment were: Does the
viscosity of a liquid affect the buoyant force? What are some denser liquids
than water that over wildly different results? What are some less dense
liquids?

To improve the results of the experiment in the future take into consideration
the density and volume of the hook attached to each of the objects hung on the
string. The value/outcome may be insignificant but it can be the reason s
Attachment of Raw Data (5 points)