Science education is an essential part of any student’s academic progress. It is, therefore, important to have practical and interactive activities that can help students understand various concepts in science. Density, mass, and volume are fundamental concepts learned in science education. These concepts need to be understood and practiced when learning, and in this article, we will look at activities that students can go through to help them calculate density, mass, and volume.

Activity 1: The Archimedes Principle

This activity aims to teach students about mass and volume. It is named after the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, who first discovered this principle in the third century BC.

Materials:

A beaker of water

A rock or any object that can sink

A measuring cylinder

Method:

1. Fill the beaker up to two-thirds with water.

2. Measure the amount of water in a measuring cylinder.

3. Drop the rock into the water and measure the amount of water displaced.

4. Subtract the amount of water displaced from the total amount of water in the beaker to get the volume of the rock.

5. Weigh the rock, and you will have both the mass and volume needed to calculate the density.

Activity 2: Density Column

This activity aims to teach students about density and volume. This activity involves the creation of a density column using various liquids with different densities.

Materials:

Corn syrup

Water

Vegetable oil

Syringe

Food coloring

Tall and clear container

Method:

1. Place corn syrup at the bottom of a tall and clear container.

2. Add water on top of the corn syrup.

3. Then, add the vegetable oil on top of the water.

4. Add the food coloring in various parts of the density column.

5. Use the syringe to remove some of the liquid layers.

6. Measure the amount of liquid removed and find the volume.

Activity 3: Balance and Weighing

This activity aims to teach students about mass.

Materials:

Plastic cup

Masking tape

Scale (to measure weight)

Objects of different masses

Method:

1. Place a plastic cup on the scale and press the tare button to reset it to zero.

2. Add masking tape to the cup and write on them the object to be weighed.

3. Place the object on the cup and note down the weight.

4. Remove the object and record the weight of the empty cup.

5. Subtract the weight of the empty cup from the weight of the cup with the object to determine the mass.

These activities help students understand the concepts of mass, density, and volume by getting them involved in hands-on experiments that engage their minds and promote a deeper understanding of science.