How to Calculate the Percentage of Compaction
Compaction percentage measures by what percent an object's volume decreased after being compressed. The object's initial volume depends on its dimensions before the compaction occurred. For irregularly shaped objects, Archimedes' Principle may be invoked to obtain the volume. The principle states that an object submerged in a liquid causes the liquid level to rise an amount equal to its volume. Most objects will at least have an irregular shape after compaction.
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Instructions
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Fill the gradated beaker with water. Use enough water so that when the object to be tested is placed under water, the beaker does not overflow and the object can be completely submerged. For example, suppose the initial water level is 15 fluid ounces.
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Submerge the test object into liquid completely. Record the water level again. Suppose the water level rises to 25 fluid ounces. Remove the object from the water.
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Subtract the initial water level from the final water level to get the volume of the object in fluid ounces. Continuing the example, you have 25 fluid ounces minus 15 fluid ounces, or a volume of 10 fluid ounces.
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Compact the object in whatever manner is typical for the situation.
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Place the compacted object into liquid so that it is completely submerged. Record the water level again. Now suppose the water level only rises to 22 fluid ounces.
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Subtract the initial water level from the final water level when the compacted object was submerged to get its volume in fluid ounces. Performing this step leads to 22 fluid ounces minus 15 fluid ounces, or a volume of 7 fluid ounces.
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Divide the compacted volume by the non-compacted volume, then multiply by 100. Call this result "X." Now you have 7 fluid ounces divided by 10 fluid ounces times 100, or 70.
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Subtract "X" from 100 to get the percentage the object was compacted. Completing the example yields 100 minus 70 which equals a compaction of 30 percent.
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