Home > Science Experiments > Salinity - Experiment 1 - Making a Hydrometer: How can salinity be measured?

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Experiment 1
Making a Hydrometer: How can salinity be measured?

Purpose/Hypothesis

In this experiment, you will create a scientific instrument called a hydrometer. A hydrometer is used to measure the specific gravityThe ratio of the density of a substance to the density of pure water. of water, comparing the density of one water sample to that of pure water. Pure water has a density of 1.000 grams/milliliter. If any salts or chemicals are added, they will dissolve and their added mass will increase the density of the water. This will increase the specific gravity. The greater the specific gravity, the greater the salinity.

A hydrometer works on the Archimedes Principle of buoyancy, which states that a liquid exerts an upward buoyant force on...

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1. Introduction
2. Get out the yardstick
3. Where did the salt come from?
4. Getting the evidence
5. Experiment 1 - Making a Hydrometer: How can salinity be measured?
6. Experiment 2 - Density Ball: How to make a standard for measuring density
7. Design Your Own Experiment