Answer to Question #15895 in Inorganic Chemistry for Nikia

Question

what is meant by measuring volume by liquid displacement? In what situations would you want to do this?

Answer 1

The method of measuring volume by liquid displacement can be used to measure the volume of a solid object, even if its form is not regular. Several methods of such measuring exist. In one case the increase of water level is registered as the object is immersed into the water. In the second case the object is immersed into a vessel full of water, causing it to overflow. Then the spilled water is collected and its volume measured. In the third case the object is suspended under the surface of the water and the increase of weight of the vessel is measured. It is equivalent to the weight of the amount of water that has the volume equal to the one of the suspended object.