Super Snazzy Graduated Cylinder and Balance Scale!

Do you need a balance scale or a graduated cylinder but can't find one? Or maybe can't buy one? Well you are in luck! Because here I will tell you the best ways of how to build both of them using items around your house!

I am Evangeline, and my intent with both of these science tools is to discover density.

What I did to make the graduated cylinder is I put some paper on it and then made little tick marks of mm (1 mm=1 mL) all the way up the bottle (200 mL). Finally, I put clear tape over it to laminate it.

A quick summary of how I built the balance scale is that I started off and tied strings to equal sized buckets. Then I tied to strings to a hanger.

Step 1: Get the Supplies and Tips!

For the graduated cylinder:

1. A cylinder sized object that is water proof

2. Paper

3. A big and wide roll of clear tape

4. Pencil

5. Ruler OR Syringe (You will also need the amount of water to fill your cylinder sized object if you choose a syringe)

For the balance scale:

1. Hanger

2. String

3. small buckets around the same size

4. Tape (If you don't have a hanger where you can put the strings there)

Tips before you start:

1. Get a graduated cylinder that is pretty big. Especially with a big opening.

2. Get string that is super sturdy.

3. You should also use a hanger that has hooks or something like that.

4. The buckets should have hands. If they don't, make should you can put the string somewhere to hold the buckets up.

Step 2: Cut the String

First, you will need to cut the string. Make sure the string (when it is folded in half) is the length from your hand to your shoulder. You will also need to check if the strings are the same sizes. The last thing you will need to make sure of is that the string is sturdy enough to hold the buckets first of all. They should also be sturdy enough to last a while.

Step 3: Tie the String to the Hanger

Next, you will have to tie the string to the hanger. By doing this, if you have a hanger with "indents" or little hooks you can tie/tape the string there. If you do or even if you don't, you can tape the to the hanger or tie then to the bottem of the hanger.

Step 4: Tie the Strings to the Buckets!

Next, you will have to tie the string onto the buckets/bowls. Make sure you tie them evenly. If you don't have buckets/bowls you can tie the string too, then tie the strings in a three string support cradle. Make sure whatever you use for your pans are clean!

Step 5: Testing the Balance Scale!

Once you have built your balance scale, it's time to test it! Testing your design for anything is super important! You have to make sure it works before you publish it (or whatever you are going to do with it)! Before you use your balance scale, you should test it out. Talking about testing, I am going to take you along with me to show you how I tested it!

First, I tested what would be the same mass as a banana. I found out that a big tomato has around the same mass. I know that the tomato has the same mass as a banana because the top of the hanger is strait. If the hanger is tilted to either side, then you need to make it more balanced.

The second thing I tested was a hair comb. I found out that a kids reusable mask has about the same mass as the comb. Just a reminder, clean the buckets before you put more things in them. Especially if you used a liquid or something that is wet or juices or anything like that.

The last thing I tested was a pair of scissors. I found out that a small remote matches it's mass.

Also, My balance scale tested really well. It is very accurate and nothing happened. As in, there were no changes to the balance scale as it was in use.

Step 6: Clean Out the Container You Are Going to Use for the Graduated Cylinder!

First, clean out the container you are going to use for the graduated cylinder. I added this step because if you are like me (You most likely are if you are using recycled materials), clean out your container. This is important because, for example, I used a Parmesan cheese container. If you didn't clean it out, It would dirty what ever you put in there.

Step 7: Tape the Paper On!

Second, we will have to tape the paper on. MAKE SURE that you only tape the outsides on THREE sides of the paper. This is because you still want to be able to write on it. The reason you don't want to tape one of the sides is because if you don't, you can put the ticks (the measurement marks) closer to the edge so its easier to read (that is the next step).

Step 8: Making the Volumetric Measuring Scale!

Next, you will have to make the volumetric measuring scale! There are two ways to make it.

One way is to get a syringe that can measure at least 1 mL (If you want it precis). Then get a little bit of water and fill the syringe up to how ever mL you want. Then, put it in the bottle you are using for the graduated cylinder. On the bottle (Wear there isn't tape), mark down were the water ends. Keep doing that for how ever high up you want to be able to measure for. You can make the "check in" point whenever you want. As in, you can write it at every ten, five, twenty, (etc.).

Or you can do the way I used. I took a ruler and every mL I drew on the bottle (I did it to the top of my bottle). Then, depending on your bottle, each mm should be a mL. But those results might vary. Also every ten mL, I labeled it. But like said in the first way, you can make the "check in" point at whatever point you want.

Step 9: Laminate Your Paper!

Lastly, you will need to laminate your paper that is one the graduated cylinder. You can do that by putting cleae tape over all of the paper.

Step 10: Test You Graduated Cylinder!

Finally, you will have to test your graduated cylinder. Like I said before, test before you use it! You have to make sure it works! So I will tell you my results of testing! Also, some of the pictures look like there is nothing in the graduated cylinder, but there is. They are just really same.

Here are my results:

E.O.S container: 4 mL

Golf Ball: 6 mL

Nail Clipper: 1 mL

Hole puncher: 1 mL

Necklace: 2 mL

Eraser: 1 mL

Step 11: Using the Tools to Compare the Density of Objects!

First, density is how much matter is in a given space. You can measure density by finding an items volume and mass. Then divide mass by volume. There you go!

I tried to identify out of an eraser and a dice of which one was more dense. I found out the mass and volume of each and found out that the eraser has more volume and the same amount of mass as the dice. let me tell you my reasoning for density:

The dice has more density because since it has less volume but same mass, there is more matter compacted into the object. The eraser has less density because it has more space but the same amount of mass. Which means, the matter inside of it is less compact.

Step 12: Conclusion!

Finally, I am going to use both the graduated cylinder to find out density. I am especially going to use them for science class. For me, personally, everything worked pretty well. Maybe one thing is that when you make you balance scale, MAKE SURE THE STRINGS ARE EVEN! Mine weren't, so I had to fix them. Also, try to get the string that is tied to the buckets as close as you can to the edge. Thank you so much for choosing my instruct able and I hope to see you soon! Bye!