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Basics
The density is a physical property of materials. The density of an object is given as
m
ρ= [1]
V
where
ρ density [kg/m³], common non SI-units: g/cm³; g/L
m mass of the object [kg]
V volume of the object [m³]
Different materials of the same volume have usually different weights. Heating and cooling
cause changes in the density. The volume of a material generally increases as the temperature
increase which means that the density decreases as the temperature increases (with the
exception of water between 0 – 4 °C → water anomaly).
One way of determining the density is to measure the buoyancy of a body and use
Archimedes' principle:
Buoyancy: Every body immersed in a liquid apparently looses some of its weight. In the
liquid a force called buoyancy reduces the weight of an immersed body. The buoyancy in a
liquid with a density ρ F results from the hydrostatic pressure p S which increases with the
depth:
pS = ρF ⋅ g ⋅ h [2]
FA = F2 − F1 [3]
F2 = A ⋅ p s = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h2 [4]
Similar the force on the upper surface at depth h1 can be calculated as:
F1 = A ⋅ p s = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h1 [5]
FA = A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h2 − A ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ h1
= A ⋅ (h2 − h1 ) ⋅ ρ F ⋅ g [6]
= V ⋅ ρF ⋅ g
In this formula the shape of the body is not being used but only the volume V. Therefore, this
formula can be applied to bodies of arbitrary shape.
Archimedes' principle: The buoyant force of a body in a liquid is equal to the weight of the
fluid displaced by the body.
By measuring the weight of a body outside of a liquid (FG) and completely immersed into a
liquid (FRes) it is possible to determine the buoyant force (FA). The volume VF displaced by
the liquid is equal to the volume VK of the immersed body. By measuring FRes it is possible to
either determine the density of the body ρK or the density of the fluid ρF:
FRe s = FG − FA = m ⋅ g − ρ F ⋅ g ⋅ VF = g ⋅ (ρ K ⋅ VK − ρ F ⋅ VF ) [7]
• Application of Archimedes' principle: The buoyant force equals the weight of the
liquid or gas volume displaced by the immersed body.
o With a hydrostatic balance or Mohr’s and Westphal’s balance the density of a
liquid is determined by measuring the buoyant force on a body of known
volume.
o With a hydrostatic balance the density of a solid body can be determined as
well. In this case the body is immersed into a fluid of known density. By
measuring the buoyant force the volume of the body can be calculated.
o The aerometer (hydrometer) offers a fast and easy to use method to determine
the density of liquids.
Problem
The seawater of the Dead Sea has a remarkable salt content of 23% - 27% and therefore a
higher density in comparison with the saltwater of the ocean with a salt content of 3,5 %. You
will get a sample of water with the volume V=500mL from the Dead Sea. Determine the
densitiy of the solution at 30°C (corresponding to the water-temperature in the Dead Sea in
September) by means of several methods.
The following devices are available:
• Mohr’s balance
• Aerometer
• Tension spring balance
• Pycnometer
• Vernier calliper
• Precision balance
Select at least 3 methods and discuss the pros and cons and carry out the measurements with
these methods.
General remark
Discuss the usefulness of repeating your measurements.
The accuracy of a method depends among other things on the resolution and the reading
accuracy of the devices. Keep in mind that the calibration of the measuring devices depends
on the temperature. How does this affect your measurement?
Mohr balance
The density of liquids can be
measured by the buoyancy method
using the Mohr balance as shown in
Fig. 2.
Correction of the value: because of air buoyancy and residual liquid at the plummet wire a
correction of the indicated value is necessary.
Vl ρ A
= [8]
VA ρ l
Handling aerometer
• Clean and dry aerometer
• Use a clear cylinder or jar that is suitable
for the amount of liquid
• Immerse aerometer slowly in liquid
• Do not make reading until the aerometer
and liquid are at rest and free from air
bubbles
Fig. 3: Aerometer
Pycnometer
Pycnometers allow a very precise measurement of volumes. They consist of a
glass bottle, closed by a glass plug with a capillary (Fig.2). They contain the
full volume when the plug is inserted and the liquid is at the upper margin of
the capillary. The volume of the pycnometer at a specific temperature can be
determined with a liquid of known density. The mass of the content of the
filled pycnometer can be determined by weighing.
Fig. 4: Pycnometer
Handling pycnometers
Measurement of the volume of the pycnometer
• The pycnometer is completely filled with distilled water, the plug is inserted and the
pycnometer with the water is heated with the aid of a thermostat to the appropriate
temperature
• Determine the mass of water by weighing (mass of the filled pycnometer minus the
mass of the empty pycnometer)
• Look up the density of water at the appropriate temperature in the literature
• Calculate the volume of the pycnometer at the corresponding temperatures