Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.
Identify a metal based on its density
The goal of this exercise is for your group to identify
the composition of a small metal object.
You will make a series of measurements and calculate its
density, together with an uncertainty.
Then you will use that density to pick several possible
materials from a table of metals.
Here are the devices you will have:
- a small metal object of some simple shape
- a scale
- a ruler or meter stick
You should follow these steps:
- measure the dimensions of your object (plus uncertainties)
- measure the mass of your object (plus uncertainty)
- make a neat table of the measurements
- compute the volume of the object, and its uncertainty
- compute the density of the object, and its uncertainty
- find materials in the list of metals which have densities
consistent with your measurement
- write down the candidates, and indicate which
one(s) you think are the most likely
Copyright © Michael Richmond.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License.