Finding a density by two methods is one of the most common 0625 Paper 5 questions. Everything on the bench is done by hand: hold the ruler against each edge of the block, carry the samples onto the balance, pour water into the measuring cylinder and lower the lump in. Then decide whether your two densities agree. Every attempt uses different clay. Allow about 20 minutes.
Past-paper referenceOriginal experiment, wording and numbers, written in the style of Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Paper 5 (Practical Test), Question 1. It is not copied from a past paper.
Practise next: 0625/51 October/November 2020, Question 1 (the density of modelling clay by two methods) · official past papers
Practise next: 0625/53 May/June 2024, Question 1 (the density of modelling clay by two methods) · official past papers
This type of experiment has come up 21 times (11 in Paper 5, the Practical Test, and 10 in Paper 6, the Alternative to Practical) in the past papers we checked. Show the list
Checked: Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Papers 5 and 6, 2014 to 2025. Only the papers in our collection are listed, so the real number may be higher. Question papers are available from Cambridge.
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How this question is marked
Method 1 (a)
Length, width and height to 0.1 cm, the volume from them, the mass from the balance, and the density to 2 or 3 significant figures in g/cm³.
Method 2 (b)
About 50 cm³ of water, both readings of the meniscus to the nearest 1 cm³, VB = V₂ − V₁, and the second density.
Analysis and evaluation (c) to (e)
The percentage difference from your own results, a conclusion that matches it, how to read a meniscus, and a precaution for the displacement method.
Habits that save marks
Read the bottom of the meniscus with your eye level with it.
Lower the clay gently so no water splashes out.
Significant figures follow the data: two or three are right for these readings.
Within 10% counts as agreement for IGCSE practical results.
The marking follows the conventions in published Cambridge mark schemes. The experiments, readings and wording on this page are our own.