Hydrometer Blog

Lab Report

The other day in class we did a lab on the way things float in different types of water. Using a hydrometer which was a water dropper filled with metal balls, we could see the depth of the object floating. We noticed that the hydrometer was at different depths in each glass of water. The experiment was to show us how salinity in water affects the way things float. Glasses with more salt in them made the object float higher and glasses with lower salinity made the hydrometer float with more depth.

Questions

1. Define the term salinity.

Of, relating to, or containing salt; salty

 

2. If you add salt to a water solution, will a hydrometer float higher or lower in the water? Explain your choice.

If you add salt to the water the object will float higher because it will have less water %.

 

3. What effect does the addition of salt have on the properties of water?

Salt granules tend to absorb water. When there is more salt than water you will most likely have no water left after a while

 

4.Is it easier to float in the ocean than in a swimming pool? Explain why or why not.

Yes it is because there is more salt in the ocean. The greater the salinity, the more you float.

 

5. Define the term density.

Density is the amount of stuff in a mass. If two objects the size of a basketball are put on a balance scale, the one with the greater density will weigh more., even though it looks the same size.

 

 6. The salinity of seawater is also affected by the temperature of a body of water. Explain how temperature causes differences in the salinity of water.

The warmer water has more salt because they can dissolve more.