10-04-C02

Grade 10 Physics
Chapter 4: PRESSURE
4.2 DENSITY 4.3 RELATIVE DENSITY

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Density: Density is the ratio of mass to volume of a
substance.
mass of the substance
density 
volume of the substance
m

V
where  = density of the substance,
m = mass of the substance, V = volume of the substance

16. Density is a scalar quantity.

17. In the SI units, density is expressed in kilogram per

cubic metre (kg m-3). 2
18. In CGS unit, density is expressed in gram per cubic
centimetre (g cm-3) or gram per mililitre (g mL-1).

19. The mass of an object can be measured using a

balance and volume can be measured using a
measuring cylinder.

20. When studying three states of matter (solid, liquid and

gas), the density is an important factor.

21. The mass of the object does not change, but the
volume depends on the temperature.

22. If the volume changes, the density will also change.

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Table 4.1 Densities of some substances
Substance CGS (g cm-3) MKS (kg m-3)
helium 0.164  10-3 0.164
air 1.3  10-3 1.3
water (4 C) 1 1  103
ice (0 C) 0.92 0.92  103
aluminium 2.7 2.7  103
copper 8.9 8.9  103
lead 11.4 11.4  103
mercury 13.6 13.6  103
gold 19.3 19.3  103
uranium 19.05 19.05  103
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RELATIVE DENSITY
density of the substance
relative density 
density of water at 4  C
23. Relative density is how much a substance is denser
than water.

24. Relative density is also known as specific gravity.

25. As the density of water is 1 g cm-3 in CGS (system of)

units, then the density of a substance (in CGS system
of units) can be taken as the relative density (of that
substance).
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26. The density of aluminium (in CGS system of units) is

2.7 g cm-3, and so (the) relative density of aluminium is

2.7.

27. As the relative density is the ratio of two densities, it is

just a number without unit.

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