Density of Copper Lab
Today in class you will have most of time to complete a simple lab. You are to determine the density of copper. Remember that the formula of density equals mass divided by volume.
There are numerous pieces of copper in the front of the room. Use them one at a time and then return that piece to the front when grabbing a second. Remember to measure well. Include an estimate with all of your measurements.
In the scientific method you are to test a hypothesis numerous times. In this lab there is not really a hypothesis, but there is a problem that you need to solve. In order to verify your answer, you are to perform the experiment a number of different ways with different pieces of copper. Your results should be consistent. If they are not consistent, you need to work at it again to find what was done wrong.
I would like you to turn this lab in to me in two classes. On that same day we will have a test. This lab should be typed up and organized. If it is not organized or typed, you will lose a good amount of points.
The write up should include a brief introduction about what density is and how it is determined. This should be a few sentences long.
There should be a section of data for this lab write up. This section should include measurements, and also a note on how these measurements were obtained.
You should have a section on errors.
At the end of the lab write up, there should be two sections: the results and the conclusion. The results should be mostly numerical. It may be an average of all of your trials, or of most of your trials. The conclusion section should include very few numbers, but mostly sentences. You should sum up the entire lab in this section – restate the introduction in a new way, the procedure that you used, the final results and how correct your answer is.
We will spend more time on this last section next class. We will also review for the test that will take place on Monday, September 14th.