How to Calculate Displaced Volume

Using the displacement of water is one way to measure the volume of an unknown object. When you place an object in the water, the water level rises an amount equal to the volume of the object. To calculate the volume of an object based on the displacement of the object, you need water and a beaker or graduated cylinder.

Things You'll Need

• Beaker or graduated cylinder
• Water

Instructions

1. Fill the beaker or graduated cylinder to a depth exceeding the height of the object. For example, if you have a 2-inch high cube, you would want to put in about 2 1/2 inches of water.

2. Record the volume of the water in the container.

3. Insert the item you want to find the volume of.

4. Record the new water level in the container.

5. Subtract the original water level from the final water level. For example, if the water level increased from 50 to 70 ml, the volume of the item would be 20 ml. In the metric system, a milliliter and a cubic centimeter are equivalent so the volume would be 20 cubic centimeters.

References

• NYU: Volume, Mass and Density
• Maine Regional School Unit 21: Calculating Volume
• Colorado State: Commonly Used Metric System Units