Measure the corners of the piece of aluminum using a protractor. If the sheet of metal is a perfect rectangle, then the 4 corners will each measure 90 degrees. If one or more corners is not equal to 90 degrees, cut the sheet into a rectangle. To create a rectangle, draw a line on the aluminum foil using a marker and a ruler. Choose any length for the line. Measure 90 degree angles at each end of the line using the protractor, and use these angles as a guide to draw two parallel lines, each at right angles to the first line. The lines should be identical in length. Add a fourth line that joins the free ends of the second and third lines to close the rectangle. This fourth line should be the same length as, and parallel to, the first line. Cut along the marker line to produce a rectangular sheet of aluminum.
Weigh the rectangular piece of aluminum foil using a scale. Record the mass in grams (g). If your scale measures in ounces (oz.), convert the ounces to grams by multiplying by 28.3495. For example, 0.25 oz. is equivalent to 7.09 grams: 0.25 x 28.3495 = 7.09.
Measure the width of the rectangle of aluminum with the ruler. Repeat the measurement another four times at different positions on the sheet of aluminum. Obtain an average width by adding the five measurements and dividing by 5. For example, if the width at five different positions is 10.1 cm, 9.9 cm, 10.0 cm, 10.1 cm and 9.9 cm, the average width is 10 cm: (10.1 + 9.9 + 10.0 + 10.1 + 9.9)/5 = 10.0. If your ruler only measures in inches, convert the inches to centimeters (cm) by multiplying by 2.54. For example, 2.5 inches is equivalent to 6.35 cm: 2.5 x 2.54 = 6.35.
Measure the length of the aluminum rectangle with the ruler. Make the measurement another four times at different positions on the sheet of aluminum. Calculate the average length by adding the five length measurements and dividing by 5. For example, if the length at five different positions is 30.1 cm, 29.9 cm, 30.0 cm, 30.1 cm and 29.9 cm, the average length is 30 cm: (30.1 + 29.9 + 30.0 + 30.1 + 29.9)/5 = 30.0. If your ruler only measures in inches, convert the inches to centimeters (cm) by multiplying by 2.54. For example, 11.81 inches is equivalent to 30 cm: 11.81 x 2.54 = 30.00 (rounded up).
Calculate the volume of the piece of aluminum by dividing its mass by the density of the material. The density of aluminum is 2.7 g/cm^3. For example, if the mass of the piece of aluminum foil is 7.09 grams, your equation is 7.09/2.7 = 2.63 (rounded up). The volume of the piece of aluminum is 2.63 cm^3.
Divide the volume of the piece of aluminum by the product of its average length and average width. In the example, a rectangular piece of aluminum foil with a volume of 2.63 cm^3, an average length of 30.0 cm and an average width of 10.0 cm will give this equation: 2.63/(30.0 x 10.0) = 0.009 cm (rounded up). The average height of the piece of aluminum is 0.009 cm.