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Is multiplying the length x width x height a good method to find the volume of a rock?
No. I say this because a rock is usually circular and not a perfect figure. :-)
Can a rocks volume be 250 mL?
Yes. It would be hard to find a rock with that volume, but I'm sure there is one out there.
How do I find the volume of a rock?
Irregularly shaped objects have no formula for finding the volume. So, to find the volume of a rock, one method is to measure how much water the rock displaces. You simply need some sort of container that measures the volume of liquids and you need some water. The container should be large enough to put the rock in. First, fill the container to a certain volume, noting what that volume is and making sure that enough water is used to completely cover the rock when you put the rock in the container. Next place the rock into the container and measure the new volume indicated by the water. Subtract this new volume with the old volume, and the answer will be the volume of the rock. Another method is to use the rock's mass and density to calculate the volume. This can be tougher because you might not know what type of rock you have and many rocks are composites of different types of rocks. Some internet websites give the densities of different rocks. The website http://www.earthsci.unimelb.edu.au/ES304/MODULES/GRAV/NOTES/densities.html gives some simple densities. But if you have all this information, the volume can be determined by measuring the mass of the rock and dividing that number by the density.
How is the mass of a rock measured?
You put it on a scale or a triple-beam balance. It'll give you the mass. However, if you have the density of the rock, divide it by the volume to find the mass mathematically. You can also find the volume by the water displacement method, where you placed the rock in a graduated cylinder/beaker filled partially with water and record the difference between the original water level and the raised water level after placing the rock inside the container.
How can you figure out the density of a irregular rock?
To determine the density of an irregular rock, you can use the water displacement method. First, measure the initial volume of water in a graduated cylinder. Then, submerge the rock completely in the water and measure the new water level; the difference in volume indicates the rock's volume. Finally, divide the mass of the rock (measured using a scale) by the volume obtained from the water displacement to calculate the density.
