Volume and Pasta (Investigation)

For this investigation, you will imagine that you are trying to make pasta. You can only find a small pot and you want to know the maximum amount that you can place into the pot before the water overflows.

Objectives

• To practice using the volume of different shapes.
• To use volume to think creatively in a real situation. 

Optional Materials

• Pot
• Water
• Pasta (Rigatoni/Spaghetti) 

Procedure

1. Assume that the pot has a diameter of 20cm and a height of 10cm
    
2. Further, assume that the pot will be filled to 4cm below the rim with water.

Questions

Work on your own or in pairs to answer the following questions.

1. First, determine how many pieces of Rigatoni you can fit into the pot without the water overflowing. A piece of Rigatoni is shown below. Look up any information you think may be necessary to answer the question.
   
2. What method did you use to determine the amount of pasta that can fit into the pot?
3. Do you think you can fit that amount into the pot without water spilling if the water is boiling? Why or why not?
4. If you answered no, adjust your estimate so that the pasta will not cause the water to overflow while it is boiling.
5. What would the cross-section of a piece of Rigatoni look like?
6. Now, determine how many pieces of Spaghetti you can fit into the pot without the water overflowing. A piece of Spaghetti is shown below. Look up any information you think may be necessary to answer the question.
   
7. Do you think you can fit that amount into the pot without water spilling if the water is boiling? Why or why not?
8. If you answered no, adjust your estimate so that the pasta will not cause the water to overflow while it is boiling.
9. What would the cross-section of a piece of Spaghetti look like?
10. Compare and contrast the amount of each pasta you estimated can fit in the pot with a friend’s answers. Also, discuss the methods you used to find those answers.

Optional

Gather the necessary materials. Adjust your estimates for the size pot that you are using. Test out the amount of each type of pasta that you can fit in your pot and see how close to your estimate you get.