Please Keep At Lab Station

Investigating Physical Properties of

Your Halloween Candy
Physical Properties are the properties of a
substance that can be observed & measured without
forming a new substance. They can be either intensive
or extensive.
Intensive properties: Do not change when amount of
substance changes.
Extensive properties: Change when amount of
substance
changes.

Reference
Density is calculated by finding the objects mass and volume and using the formula

Materials
2 Fun Size candy bars (1 Milky Way and 1 Three Musketeers)
Digital Scales
Metric Ruler
Small Beaker of Water (about half full)
Paper Towel
Plastic Knife
Calculator and Lab Sheet

Procedure
1. Remove the wrappers from the candy bars and place them on the paper towel.
On the paper towel, write the name beside each type of candy bar.
2. Fill the empty beaker about half full with tap water.
3. Using the digital scale, measure the mass for each candy bar. Record your
measurements in the data table below.
4. Record the color of the candy bars in data table #1.
5. Carefully measure the length, width, and height of each candy bar.
Record your measurements in table #1 below.
6. Calculate the volume of each candy bar using the formula V = L x W x H.
Record your calculations in table #1.
7. Calculate the density for each candy bar using the data from the table #1.
8. One at a time, place the candy bars in the water to see if they are buoyant,
record yes or no in data table # 1.

Name _________________________________________ Period _________

9. Using plastic knife, cut the candy bars in half and repeat steps 3-8. Record the
data in table #2 using measurements from half of the candy bars.

Essential Question:

Lab Report: Investigating Physical Properties of Halloween Candy

Data Table #1- Whole Candy Bar
Predict
:
Will it
float?

Candy Bar

Color

Mass
(g)

Length

Width

Height

Volume
cm3

Density
g/cm3

Is it
buoyant?

Width

Height

Volume
cm3

Density
g/cm3

Is it
buoyant?

Milky Way
3
Musketeers
Data Table #2- Half of Candy Bar

Candy Bar

Predict
:
Will it
float?

Color

Mass
(g)

Length

Milky Way
3
Musketeers
Analysis and Conclusion Questions:
1. Of the 8 physical properties listed in the data tables, which properties were intensive
properties?
______________________________________________________________________

Name _________________________________________ Period _________

______________________________________________________________________
What evidence led you to make this conclusion?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
2. Of the 8 physical properties listed in the data tables, which properties were extensive
properties?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
What evidence led you to make this conclusion?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
3. Based on your findings, which would be a more accurate physical property to use
when identifying substances? Extensive or intensive physical properties?
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
Why? Use examples from your lab to support your claim.
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________
4. List 5 more physical properties of substances and indicate whether they are intensive
or extensive.
1.

Name _________________________________________ Period _________

2.
3.
4.
5.