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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 4

Chapter 4 Mass, Weight and Density

Test Yourself 4.1 (page 74)

1. (Any four differences)


Mass Weight
An amount of matter A gravitational force
A scalar quantity (i.e. has only A vector quantity (i.e. has both magnitude
magnitude) and direction)
SI unit: kilogram (kg) SI unit: newton (N)
Independent of the gravitational field Dependent on the gravitational field
strength strength
Measured with a beam balance or a Measured with a spring balance
calibrated electronic balance

2. Mass is the amount of matter in a body. It is not affected by changes in the physical
environment.

3. Mass of person = 60 kg
Weight of person on Moon = mg
1
10 N kg
= 60 kg
6
= 100 N

4. First, we deduce the mass of the astronaut.


WEarth = mgEarth
1
1200 N = m 10 N kg
1200 N
m= 1
10 N kg
= 120 kg
Hence, his weight on Jupiter is
WJupiter = mgJupiter
-1
= 120 kg 22.9 N kg
= 2750 N

5. By the definition of the newton (N), it can be written as:


2
N = kg m s
1 2 1
Hence, N kg = (kg m s ) kg
2
= m s (shown)

Test Yourself 4.2 & 4.3 (page 80)

1. (a) The car with marathon runners has a smaller total mass. Therefore, it has lower inertia and
takes off faster. This can also be explained using the formula F = ma. If m is smaller, a is
larger for a constant F. The car with the smaller mass will have a larger acceleration.
(b) The car with the sumo wrestlers will need a longer braking distance since it has higher
inertia and hence, greater reluctance to come to a stop.

2. 1000 kg
Density of water water = 3
1m
(1000 1000) g
= 3 3
(100 ) cm
3
= 1 g cm
3
Hence, 1 cm of water has a mass of 1 g.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 4

3. (a) The density of a substance is defined as its mass per unit volume.
(b) (i) The density of an irregularly shaped object that sinks in water can be measured using
the displacement method.

Apparatus: displacement can, measuring cylinder, electronic balance

Procedure:
1. Fill a displacement can with water up to the brim of its spout. Place a measuring
cylinder below the spout.
2. Measure the mass m of the irregularly shaped object using the electronic balance.
3. Slowly and carefully lower the object into the water in the displacement can.
Water will be displaced through the spout into the measuring cylinder.
4. Measure the volume V of the water displaced. This is equivalent to the volume of
the object.
m
5. The density of the object is found by = .
V
(ii) The density of an irregularly shaped object that floats in water can be measured using
the displacement method, with the use of a sinker.

Apparatus: measuring cylinder, electronic balance, lead sinker

Procedure:
1. Immerse a lead sinker in a measuring cylinder containing water. Record the
volume V1 and the total mass m1 of the lead sinker, water and measuring cylinder.
2. Retrieve the lead sinker and tie the object to the lead sinker. Lower the tied items
carefully into the cylinder. Record the new volume V2 and the total mass m2.
V2 V1
3. The density of the object is .
m2 m1

Get It Right (page 80)

(a) True
(b) False
Gravitational force is given by the product of mass and gravitational field strength. Therefore, it is
different for objects with different masses or objects falling at different locations.
(c) False
Gravitational force acts on all masses that are in a gravitational field.
(d) True
(e) False
Mass is a scalar quantity, whereas weight is a vector quantity.
(f) True
(g) False
If a block of metal is broken into two equal parts, the density of each part is the same as the
density of the original metal block.

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 4

Lets Review (pages 8182)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. C
A spring balance measures the weight of an object, whereas a beam balance measures the
mass of an object. The mass of an object is a physical property that does not change. The
weight of an object varies with gravitational field strength.

2. D
Mass is the amount of matter in a body. It does not change with location. The weight of an object
changes from planet to planet because different planets have different gravitational field
strengths. Earth has higher gravitational field strength than the Moon. Therefore, the rock weighs
more on Earth than on the Moon.

3. B
Mass of olive oil = 87.6 g 60.0 g = 27.6 g
mass
Density =
volume
27.6 g
= 3
30 cm
3
= 0.92 g cm

4. C
3 3 3
Volume of 10 steel balls = 50 cm 20 cm = 30 cm
3
30 cm 3
Volume of 1 steel ball = = 3 cm
10
mass
Density of steel =
volume
27 g
= 3
3 cm
3
= 9 g cm

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) The density of a substance is its mass per unit volume. The SI unit of density is the
3
kilogram per cubic metre (kg m ).
(b) Solid A and solid B displace the same volume of water when completely immersed. This
means that both solids have the same volume.

mass
Since density = ,
volume
the ratio of the density of solid A to that of solid B is
12 g
V 12 g 3
= = =
8g 8g 2
V
Hence, the density of solid A is 1.5 times greater than the density of solid B.
3
2. (a) Density of gold = 19.3 g cm
Mass of gold = 10.0 g
mass
Volume of gold =
density
10.0 g
= 3
19.3 g cm
3
= 0.52 cm

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 4

3
(b) (i) Density of platinum = 21.5 g cm
Volume of platinum wafer = 2.5 cm 1.0 cm 0.2 cm
3
= 0.5 cm
Mass of platinum wafer = density volume
3 3
= 21.5 g cm 0.5 cm
= 10.8 g
(ii) Mass of wafer = 4.45 g
3
Volume of wafer = 0.5 cm
mass
Density of wafer =
volume
4.45 g
= 3
0.5 cm
3
= 8.9 g cm
The wafer is made of copper.

3. (a) Mass of model ship = 1.1 kg


3
Volume of model ship = 900 cm
100 cm = 1 m
1 2
1 cm = m = 10 m
100
3 3 2 3 6 3
1 cm = (1 cm) = (10 m) = 10 m
3
Therefore, volume of model ship = 900 cm
6 3
= 900 10 m
4 3
= 9 10 m
mass
Density of model ship =
volume
1.1 kg
= 4 3
9 10 m
3
= 1222 kg m
Since the density of the model ship is higher than the density of water, the model ship will
not float (i.e. it will sink).
4
(b) Mass of vehicle = 1.115 10 kg
3
Density of water = 1000 kg m

For the vehicle to float,


vehicle < water
mvehicle
< water
Vvehicle
4
1.115 10 kg
< water
Vvehicle
4
1.115 10 kg
Vvehicle >
water
4
1.115 10 kg
Vvehicle > 3
1000 kg m
3
Vvehicle > 11.15 m
3
The volume of the vehicle is greater than 11.15 m .

4. (a) Settling does not change the number of particles in the packet, and therefore the mass of
the packets contents does not change.
(b) Since the mass of the packets contents and the gravitational field strength of Earth do not
change, there is no change in the weight of the packets contents.
(c) During settling, the particles move to fill up available empty spaces (between particles).
The volume of the content decreases.
(d) Since the volume decreases with no change in the mass, the density of the content
mass
increases (density = ).
volume

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Physics Matters for GCE O Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 4

3
*5. Density of material = 5 g cm
Mass of block (with hole) = 14.9 kg = 14 900 g
mass
Volume of material used to make the block (with hole) =
density
14 900 g
= 3
5 g cm
3
= 2980 cm
Volume of rectangular block without hole = length breadth height
= 20 cm 10 cm 15 cm
3
= 3000 cm
3
Volume of hole = 3000 2980 = 20 cm

The hole is in the shape of a cylinder.


Volume of cylinder (i.e. the hole)
= base area of cylinder (cross-sectional area of hole) height of cylinder (depth of hole)

volume of hole
Cross-sectional area of hole =
depth of hole
3
20 cm
=
10 cm
2
= 2 cm

Section C: Free-Response Question

1. (a) (i) The mass of the rock is the amount of matter in it. It does not change with location. A
beam balance is an instrument that measures mass.
(ii) The weight of the rock is due to the pull of the gravity on the mass of the rock. Since
the pull of gravity (i.e. the gravitational field strength) is different on Earth and on the
Moon, the weight of the rock is different at these two places. A spring balance is an
instrument that measures weight.
(b) Mass is the amount of matter in a body. Inertia is the reluctance of a body to change its
state of rest or motion. A body with a larger mass will have higher inertia than a body with a
smaller mass.
(c) The students claim is false. If the box were at the front section of the bus, it would have
continued to move forward (due to its inertia) after the driver jammed on the brakes. Since
the student was standing in the middle section of the bus, the box would not have hit the
student.

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