How Dense your Sports Drink
How Dense is your Sports Drink? Sarah Dallas
Hydrometer Experiment 1/25/08
Teachers Instructions
This experiment can take as much time as needed depending on how deep you go
Average length: 60 minutes
Definitions
Density: Mass per unit volume (unit: g/mL)
Hydrometers: Measure the specific gravity of liquids, and can be used to test how much sugar is in a liquid (drink)
The goal of this experiment is to have kids connect the amount of sugar in a liquid with the liquids density. They will be able to see if there is any correlation between the sugar content and the density of a liquid. This experiment can also be related to nutrition information of the different popular drinks measured. Also, measurements can be based off of the serving size for the drink.
- This Experiment for older kids (6th grade+)
Materials
- Graduated cylinders
- Hydrometers
- Containers to measure and weigh liquids in
- Drinks for testing
Safety Information
- The hydrometers and containers are glass so be aware that things can break and if they do break they need to be cleaned up with caution
- All of the liquids used are safe for the kids to touch, and smell
Instructions:
1. Have the kids split up into groups, the number of kids in each group can vary but groups should be 4 or less so each child gets to take part in the activity
2. Have the kids discuss and answer the pre-lab questions. This is a way to get them thinking about what they are going to be doing and to hypothesis what they think will happen
3. Give each group two liquids to test
4. Have them measure the liquid and then pour it into the graduated cylinder
5. Once the liquid is in the graduated cylinder put the hydrometer into the liquid and have the kids spin it
a. If the beverage the kids are using is carbonated let it sit for a while before taking the reading because the carbonation will push up the hydrometer and cause and incorrect reading
6. Once the hydrometer has stopped moving record its reading
7. Do the same thing for the other liquid and record the reading
8. Next have the kids measure out a set quantity of liquid, and weigh it
9. Once they have found the weight of the liquid they will know its mass and volume and can then calculate its density
10. After all the groups have taken both reading and have calculated both densities have them all come together and compare their results
a. Have them copy down all the groups results so they can then compare all the results when answering the questions
11. Go over what the results means and why it is important to know the information
12. After everything has been discussed clean-up
Clean-up
- All the drinks can be poured down the drain
- Just be sure to wash off the hydrometers and the graduated cylinders because the residue from the drinks can be very sticky
Worksheet
Pre-Lab Questions
1. What is Density? What equation are you going to use to find the density of the liquids?
2. What two pieces of information are you going to need to find the density and how are you going to find them?
3. Write a hypothesis about which drink you expect to have the most sugar?
4. Write a hypothesis about which drink you expect to be the densest?
In groups you will use the hydrometers to find the sugar level in two drinks (it will be explained how to use the hydrometers) and you will find the densities of the two drinks.
- Write in the drinks tested in the first box and the data in the other boxes
- Be sure to include UNITS!
|Drink |Data |
| |Hydrometer Reading |Mass |Density |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
[pic] [pic] [pic][pic]
After you have measured and recorded the two drinks assigned to your group the class will come together and record everyone’s results
Rank all the drinks—from the whole classes’ results
|Drink |Result from Hydrometer |Calculated Densities |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
1. If the reading is a lower number what does that mean in terms of its density and the amount of sugar in the liquid?
2. Which drinks had the two highest densities and which drinks had the two lowest densities?
3. Which two drinks are the best for you, and which two drinks are the worst for you? How could you tell from the results?
4. Why is it important to know how much sugar is in the drinks going into our bodies?
5. If some of the drinks had densities less than 1, how is that possible? Could there have been some measurement errors? If so how?
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.