Measuring the weight of the water displaced by the immersed stone in Floating bodies – Class 9 Science Experiment

Chapter Name: Floating bodies

Activity Name: Measuring the weight of the water displaced by the immersed stone in Floating bodies

Activity Description:

Required Items:

1. Stone (more than 300 gm)
2. Spring balance
3. Overflow vessel
4. Water
5. Graduated beaker

Step by Step Procedure:

1. Suspend the stone from a spring balance and note the initial reading on the spring balance, which gives the weight of the stone.
2. Set up the overflow vessel with water and place a graduated beaker below the spout.
3. Immerse the stone in the water and note the new reading on the spring balance.
4. Measure the volume of water that overflows into the graduated beaker.
5. Calculate the apparent loss of weight of the immersed stone (difference between initial and final spring balance readings).
6. Determine the weight of the displaced volume of water using the volume measurement and the density of water.
7. Observe any connection between the apparent loss of weight of the stone and the weight of the displaced water.

Experiment Observations:

1. Initial reading on the spring balance (weight of the stone).
2. Final reading on the spring balance (weight of the immersed stone).
3. Volume of water displaced by the stone (measured using the graduated beaker).

Precautions:

1. Ensure the stone’s weight is more than 300 gm to have a noticeable effect.
2. Use a reliable spring balance for accurate weight measurements.
3. Take care while handling the stone and glassware to avoid accidents.
4. Ensure the graduated beaker is properly calibrated for accurate volume measurements.

Lesson Learnt from Experiment:

The apparent loss of weight of an immersed stone is equal to the weight of water displaced by the stone. This observation demonstrates Archimedes’ principle, which states that an object submerged in a fluid experiences a buoyant force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced.