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Measuring liquid density using Archimedes' principle

Stephen W Hughes

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A simple technique is described for measuring absolute and relative liquid density based on Archimedes' principle. The technique involves placing a container of the liquid under test on an electronic balance and suspending a probe (e.g. a glass marble) attached to a length of line beneath the surface of the liquid. If the volume of the probe is known, the density of liquid is given by the difference between the balance reading before and after immersion of the probe divided by the volume of the probe. A test showed that the density of water at room temperature could be measured to an accuracy and precision of 0.01 ± 0.1%. The probe technique was also used to measure the relative density of milk, Coca-Cola, fruit juice, olive oil and vinegar.


PACS

01.40.-d Education

06.30.Bp Spatial dimensions (e.g., position, lengths, volume, angles, and displacements)

06.30.Dr Mass and density

Subjects

Instrumentation and measurement

Education and communication

Dates

Issue 5 (September 2006)

Received 27 January 2006, in final form 4 May 2006



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