Which of the following methods would allow you to determine the volume of an irregularly shaped solid object?

• A. Using water displacement in a graduated cylinder
• B. Calculating mass and dividing by density
• C. Using a thermometer to measure temperature change
• D. Measuring length, width, and height with a ruler

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that the volume of a regular solid can be calculated by measuring its dimensions (length, width, height) and using the formula \(V = l \times w \times h\), but this method does not work well for irregularly shaped objects.
2. Recognize that water displacement is a practical method to find the volume of an irregularly shaped solid by submerging it in water and measuring the change in water level in a graduated cylinder.
3. Recall that the volume of the object equals the volume of water displaced, which can be calculated by subtracting the initial water volume from the final water volume after submersion.
4. Note that calculating mass and dividing by density can give volume if density is known, but this requires precise measurements and knowledge of the object's density, which may not always be available.
5. Understand that using a thermometer to measure temperature change is unrelated to volume measurement and is not a valid method for determining the volume of a solid object.