How do you measure the density of a wood chip?

Question

Hello everyone,

Given that wood chips float on top of lakes (correct me if I'm wrong, I haven't been near one in awhile), how do you measure the volume of wood chips without using volume displacement? Can you measure it, or is that just too unreliable since wood chips come in a bunch of dimensions?

Answer 1

The amount of water it displaces when floating will give you the mass. Water has a density of 1 gm/cc. Weight it down with something of known volume to make it submerge and the water displaced - the known volume will give you the volume of the chip.

Answer 2

I'm no physicist, but it seems to me there is a direct relationship between mass, surface area, and density. Yes, chips are all different sizes. If you can measure the surface area of a large one whose edges you could somehow trim, however, you might get a better idea. Good luck.