Cartesian Diver Lab

Cartesian Divers

Objective: To construct a Cartesian diver to visualize the relationship between volume and pressure of Boyle’s Law.

Procedure: Follow the steps to make sure that your diver is able to rise and sink with a small squeeze of your plastic bottle. 

     a. Place three washers on the end of your pipette.

     b. Wrap a rubber band around the end to secure the washers but DO NOT close the pipette.

     c. Add green colored water to your pipette until it just floats below the water in your plastic cup.

     d. Make a line with the marker where the water lies in your pipette.

     e. Fill your plastic water bottle near to the top with water.

     f. Add your diver to your water bottle. 

     g. Add more water to your bottle so it is completely filled and close the cap on top.

     h. Give a squeeze to your bottle and your diver should sink to the bottom and return when you let go.

Observations:

1. Write down your observations of the diver. Make note of the position of the water and air inside the pipette at the top and the bottom of the bottle.

Analysis:

2. Explain from your observation why the Cartesian diver is able to rise and fall in the bottle. Use your knowledge of pressure, volume and density to explain what is occurring.

3. Experiment with the diver with different variables such as different amounts of water, different temperatures of water,ki different amount of weights. Tell what you researched and the results of your experimentation and tell what worked and what did not work.