Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Group Name Equilibrium

Members Sydney Bell Allison Smith Chelsey Woody

Presented To Dr. Glenn Hudson Date: June 15, 2011

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

I.

Introduction Because density is a property of all substances, the density of a substance can be used to calculate its weight if it is not possible to weigh an object. Using the equation , density can be determined and, in some cases, used

to identify certain substances. The purpose of this lab is to determine the densities of common metals by finding the mass and volume of 4 samples of different coins. The density of each coin as determined by the experimental data will be compared to the accepted value for the density of each coin as determined using data from the U.S. Mint website. Additionally, the density of water will be calculated.

II.

Experimental Data All data were taken from the worksheet Lab 6- Density of Substances.

Table 1- The mass of the graduated cylinder was determined using a pan balance. After adding 129.5 mL of water, mass was measured again to determine the mass of the water. The density of the water was determined by using the equation
Initial mass of the graduated cylinder (g) 229.93 g Volume of the water (cm )

Final mass of the graduated cylinder (g)

Mass of the Water (g)

358.06 g Experimental density of water (g/cm) .9894 g/cm Accepted density of water (g/cm) 1.0 g/cm

128.13 g Percent Error (%)

129.5 cm

1%

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

Table 2- The measurements for diameter and height for each coin were taken using a Vernier caliper. The volume for each coin was determined using the equation Using the volume for each coin, density was then calculated using the equation
Calculated Calculated Volume Density (mm) (g/mm) 770 331 670 436 0.00725 0.00692 0.00751 0.00580 U.S. Mint Mass (g) 5.67 2.268 5.0 2.5 U.S. Mint Volume (mm) 809 340 689.0 442 U.S. Mint Density (g/mm) 0.00701 0.00667 0.00726 0.00566

Coin

Mass (g) 5.58 2.29 5.03 2.53

% error 3% 4% 3% 2%

Quarter Dime Nickel Penny

Vernier Caliper

Coins used for experiment

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

III.

Results Figure 1. (Data based on Table 1) The percent error was calculated using the equation .

Almost Only Counts in Horseshoes

(Percent Error = 1%)
1.01

Equilibrium 6.13.2011

1 (g/cm) 0.99 0.98 Experimental density of water (g/cm) Accepted density of water (g/cm)

Figure 2. (Data based on Table 2) The mass for each coin was measured using a pan balance. The volume was calculated using the formula
m = 0.0082V - 0.6649 R = 0.9711 Equilibrium 6.13.2011

The Extent of Greatness (Mass vs. Volume)

6 5.5 5 4.5 4 3.5 3 2.5 2 1.5 1 0.5 0 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 Volume (mm)

Mass (g)

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

Figure 3. (Data based on Table 2) Again, the percent error was calculated using the equation .

Don't Make a Mountain Out of a Molehill

5% 4% 4% Percent Error 3% 3% 2% 2% 1% 1% 0% Quarter Dime Nickel Penny

Equilibrium 6.13.2011

Figure 4. (Data based on Table 2) The density for each coin was calculated using the equation

So Close, Yet So Far Away!

(Comparing Experimental Data with Accepted Data)
0.008 0.007 0.006 Density (mm) 0.005 0.004 0.003 0.002

Equilibrium 6.13.2011

Experimental Data 0.001 0 Quarter Dime Nickel Penny U.S. Mint Data

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

IV.

Conclusions Discrepancies in measurements could be attributed to the age and/or condition of the coins used for the experiment being different than the measurements on the U.S. Mint website for new coins. Other discrepancies could be due to the pan scale not being calibrated correctly, or user error when reading measurements on the Vernier caliper. To get a more precise measurement using the Vernier caliper, a magnifying glass could be used to read the results. The U.S. Mint website states mass in terms of weight when technically weight and mass are two very different things. Using significant figures affected the data in table 2 by changing the variance in percent error. If the measurements for density had only been calculated to 1 significant figure, the percent error would have resulted in a number less than 1%. The data in table 2 could have been checked for accuracy by using water displacement to calculate the volume for each coin. However, the graduated cylinders available were not accurate enough for proper measurement. The data recorded in table 1 could have been more accurate if the mass of the water had been determined through multiple trials. This could have resulted in the experimental density being more closely associated with the accepted density.

Lab 6 Report: Penny for Your Thoughts?

Equilibrium

As shown in figure 2, as the mass of an object increases, so does the volume.

According to figure 3, the percent error was highest for the dime which could be due to difficulty measuring the height of such a small coin.

According to figure 4, the experimental data for density was higher for each coin than the accepted data for density calculated using the information from the U.S. Mint website.

Table 2 shows the relationship between the quarter and the nickel to be the closest in terms of mass, volume and density. The percent error for each of these coins was also 3%.

Each calculation was checked by each of the 3 members of the lab group resulting in very little chance for mathematical error.

V.

References "The United States Mint Coins and Medals Program." The United States Mint. Web. 14 June 2011. <http://www.usmint.gov/mint_programs/circulatingCoins/>.