Final answer:
The volume of an irregularly shaped object can be measured using the water displacement method, where the change in water level in a graduated cylinder represents the object's volume. This method is suitable for objects denser than water that can be submerged without dissolving or reacting.
Step-by-step explanation:
The volume of an irregularly shaped object can be measured by the water displacement method, which is based on the principle that a solid object displaces a volume of liquid equal to the volume of the object. To measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object that sinks in water, you can fill a graduated cylinder with water and record the initial water level. Then, carefully submerge the object in the water without spilling any, and record the new water level. The difference in water levels corresponds to the volume of the object. This method is particularly useful for objects that do not have a simple geometric shape.
For example, if you have a rock that does not have a regular shape, you can use this method to find out its volume. This is because the rock will sink in water due to being denser than water and displace its own volume of water. The amount of water displacement, measured in cubic centimeters (cc) or milliliters (ml), will give you the volume of the rock.