Activity Overview
Students investigate the relationship between density of an object, its mass and its volume. They use mass and volume measurements to determine the density of pennies. They compare the density of pre-1983 and post-1984 pennies.
Before the Activity
Set up the calculator for data collection using the procedure described in the attached Appendix PDF file
See the attached PDF file for detailed instructions for this activity
Print pages 71 - 82 from the attached PDF file for your class
During the Activity
Distribute the pages to your class.
Follow the Activity procedures:
Fill a 50 mL graduated cylinder with water to the 20 mL mark and measure its mass
Add 5 pennies (pre-1983) to the cylinder, record the mass and note the volume
Repeat the step, adding batches of 5 pennies (until 25 pennies have been added); record the mass and volume after each addition
Calculate the density of the pennies
Repeat the activity with 25 post-1984 pennies
Calculate the density of the pennies
Compare the density data
Measure the volume and density of another set of 15 pennies
Use the data to determine the density and categorize the pennies
Given the mass of the pennies, predict the volume
Given the volume of the pennies, predict their mass
After the Activity
Students will complete the Data Collection and Analysis page and answer questions listed on it.
Review student results:
As a class, discuss questions that appeared to be more challenging
Re-teach concepts as necessary