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DENSITY
Density is defined as the mass per unit volume.

Mass
Density=
Volume

m
In symbols, ρ=
V

The SU unit of density is the kilogram per cubic metre (kg/m3). Sometimes the g/cm3 is also
used.

To convert g/cm3 to kg/m3, multiply by 1000. To convert kg/m3 to g/cm3, divide by 1000.

For example, the density of water is 1g/cm3 or 1000kg/m3.

Examples

1. What is the density of:

(a) an object of mass 500kg whose volume is 0.4m3,
(b) a 15cm3 piece of wood of mass 12g.
2. Taking the density of copper as 9g/cm3, find:
(a) the mass of 5cm3,
(b) the volume of 63g.
3. A piece of steel has a mass of 32g and volume of 4cm3. What is it’s density in:
(a) g/cm3
(b) kg/m3.

Relative density

This is the ratio of the mass of any volume of substance to the mass of an equal volume of
water.

Mass of substance
Relative density =
Mass of equal volume of water

Relative density can also be found using:

Density of substance
Relative density =
Density of water

Relative density has no units; it’s just a ratio.

Examples

1. If the density of water is 1g/cm3, find the relative density of each of the following
substances:
(a) sea water of density 1.02g/cm3;
(b) mercury of density 13.6g/cm3;
(c) alcohol of density 0.85g/cm3.

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2. A pupil carried out an experiment to determine the relative density of petrol using a
density bottle. She obtained the following results:
Mass of empty bottle = 10.3g
Mass of bottle filled with water = 40.3g
Mass of bottle filled with petrol = 34.3g
Using these results calculate the relative density of petrol.
3. .

Uses of density

Assignment: Write about the uses of density.

Examples

DETERMINATION OF DENSITY

1. Density of a regular solid

 Measure the mass using a beam balance.
 To find the volume, measure its dimensions and apply an appropriate formula.
 Calculate the density using the formula:
mass m
Density= or ρ=
volume V

2. Density of an irregular solid(stone)

 Measure the mass (m) by placing the solid on a beam balance.
 Measure the volume (V) of the solid as follows:

 Place water in a measuring cylinder and record its initial volume (V1).
 Gently lower the solid into the water and record the final volume (V2)
 The volume of the solid will be:
V =¿V1 +¿ V2

 Calculate the density using the formula:

mass
Density=
volume

3. Density of a solid that floats in a liquid

 Measure the mass (m) of the solid using a beam balance.
 Measure the volume (V) of the solid as follows:

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 Place water with a sinker in it into a measuring cylinder and record the initial volume
(V1)
 Attach the solid to the sinker and gently lower them into the measuring cylinder until
they are fully submerged. Record the final volume (V2)
 The volume of the solid is:
V =¿V2 −¿ V1

 Calculate the density using the formula:

mass
Density=
volume

4. Density of a liquid
 Measure the volume (V) by placing the liquid in a measuring cylinder.
 Place an empty beaker on a beam balance and measure the mass (m1)
 Pour the liquid in the beaker and measure the final mass (m2)
 The mass(m) of the liquid only will be
m=m2 −¿ m1

 Calculate the density using the formula:

mass
Density=
volume

5. Density of a gas (air)

 Take a container of known volume and evacuate (remove air from) it using a vacuum
pump.
 Measure its mass (m1) using a balance.
 Fill the container with air and measure the final mass (m2)
 The mass(m) of the air only will be
m=m2 −¿ m1

 Calculate the density using the formula:

mass
Density=
volume
6. Relative density of a liquid

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Physics Density Chola M