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To find the volume of an irregular solid using the overflow can method, you would first fill the overflow can with water and measure the initial volume. Next, you would submerge the irregular solid in the overflow can, causing the water to overflow. Measure the new volume of water in the overflow can with the solid submerged. Finally, you would subtract the initial volume from the final volume to find the volume of the irregular solid.
The volumes of small irregular solids are usually easily measured by measuring the volume of fluid displaced when they are immersed in a liquid. For example: You would have to put the object in a measuring glass with water in it. (~1/3 filled) Put the object in it and then get the number from the measuring glass (beaker etc. mostly beaker) and that is how you measure a irregular solid!
Because, from Archimedes' Principle, the volume of the water displaced is equal to the volume of the object displacing it. So, were you to collect all the displaced water and put it into a graduated cylinder, it would tell you the volume of the object in question.
I would place it in a container full of liquid after measuring the liquid. I would measure the amount of liquid displaced by the object. That amount is equal to the volume of the irregular object if it is fully submerged in the liquid.