James Bastob Mondol

Mobile No. 01718118287

Chapter 18: Density and Pressure

Name: . Class: IX . Roll: _________
Teacher's Name: James Bastob Mondol . Subject: Physics Date: _________

Density
 Know and use the relationship between density, mass and volume.

 Density is the mass per unit volume of a material. The unit for density is kilograms per cubic
metre (kg/m3).

Objects made from low density materials typically have a low mass, whilst similar sized objects
made from high density materials have a high mass.
(Think of how heavy a bag full of feathers is compared to a similar bag full of metal.)

 Density is related to mass and volume by the following equation:

Density = mass / volume

ρ=m/V
(Note: The greek letter ρ is used to mean density)

 The units of density depend on what units are used for mass and volume:

o If the mass is measured in g and volume in cm3, then the density will be in g/cm3.
o If the mass is measured in kg and volume in m3, then the density will be in kg/m3.

James Bastob Mondol

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James Bastob Mondol
Mobile No. 01718118287

Practical: Density
 Practical: Investigate density using direct measurements of mass and volume.

 In your IGCSE examination you may be asked to describe a practical to measure the density of
a regular or irregular shape.

Top Tips for describing experiments:

 If you need to use an equation to calculate something, start off by giving it.
 List the apparatus that you need.
 State what measurements you need to make (your equation will give you some hints) and how
you will measure them.
 Finally, state that you will repeat each measurement several times and take averages.
 For this particular experiment the equation we need is:

Density = mass / volume

 The mass of an object can be measured quite simply by placing it on a top pan balance.
You ought to state that you will ‘zero’ the balance before using it.

Always zero a top pan balance before taking any measurements

 The volume can be determined in a couple of ways:

Regular shapes (e.g. cubes, spheres, cylinders):

 The width (and length) can be measured using a pair of digital callipers.
 To make the measurements accurate, several measurements should be taken between different
faces or points on the circumference, and an average taken.

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When measuring the width (or diameter) take several readings between different points and take an
average

 The volume can then be calculated using an appropriate equation:

Sphere: V = 4/3π r3
Cube: V = d3
Cylinder: V = π r2 × L

(Note: When measuring the width of a sphere or cylinder, divide the measurement by two to find
the radius).

Irregular shapes:

 The volume can be found using a Eureka can:

Placing an object in a full Eureka can will displace water equal to its volume

 Fill the Eureka can with water.

 Place an empty measuring cylinder below its spout.
 Now carefully lower the object into the Eureka can (use a piece of string, perhaps).
 Measure the volume of displaced water in the measuring cylinder.
 Once the mass and volume of the shape is known, its density can be calculated.

James Bastob Mondol

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James Bastob Mondol
Mobile No. 01718118287

Experiment: To measure the density of liquids and solids

Method 1: To find the density of a regular shaped object

1. Use a ruler to measure the length (l), width (w) and height (h) of the object.
2. Place the object on the top pan balance and measure its mass and make sure to check zero
balance.
3. Calculate the volume of the cube using the formula (l×w×h).
4. Repeat readings and take the average value.
5. Use the formula Density = mass ÷ volume to calculate the density of the object.

Method 2: To find the density of a liquid

1. Place the empty measuring cylinder on the top pan balance and measure its mass.
2. Pour eg. 30 cm3 of liquid (eg water) into the measuring cylinder and measure its new mass.
3. Subtract the mass in step 1 from the mass in step 2. This is the mass of 30 cm3 of water.
4. Repeat readings and take the average value.
5. Use the formula Density = mass ÷ volume to calculate the density of the water.

Method 3: To find the density of an irregular shaped object

1. Place the object on the top pan balance and measure its mass.
2. Fill a measuring cylinder so that there is enough water to cover the object when it is placed
inside the cylinder. Take the reading of the volume.
3. Carefully lower the object into the cylinder.
4. Take the new reading of the volume. Subtract the original reading to obtain the volume of the
irregular shaped object.
5. Repeat readings and take the average value.
6. Use the formula Density = mass ÷ volume to find the density of the irregular shaped object.
7. Precautions: awareness of meniscus, measure at eye level, check for zero balance, keep the
balance on horizontal surface, avoid splashing water, measure mass before volume.
8. Diagram of the experiment:

James Bastob Mondol

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James Bastob Mondol
Mobile No. 01718118287

Pressure

Pressure: Pressure is defined as the force acting per unit area.

The SI unit of pressure is Newton per square metre (N/m2) or Pascal (Pa).

Formula of pressure:

In symbol,

Or,

Pressure is the concentration of a force:

 If a force is spread over a large area it will result in a small pressure.

 If a force is spread over a small area it will result in a large pressure.

When you push a drawing pin, it goes into the surface (rather than your finger) because the force on
the surface is more concentrated.

 Pressure is directly proportional to force, and inversely proportional to area.

 As area decreases, the pressure increases. As force increases, the pressure increases.
 Some machines like scissors, bolt cutters and knives need to exert high pressure. The surface area of
these types of machines is too small.
 Tractors and other vehicles which are designed to move over mud have large flat tyres which
increase their surface area and decrease its pressure.

James Bastob Mondol

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James Bastob Mondol
Mobile No. 01718118287

Pressure in liquids and Gases

 When an object is immersed in a liquid, the liquid will exert a pressure, squeezing the object.
 This pressure is exerted evenly across the whole surface of the liquid, and in all directions.
 The size of this pressure depends upon the density (ρ) of the liquid, the depth (h) of the object and
the gravitational field strength (g).

Liquid Pressure = height x density x gravitational field strength

P=h×ρ×g

 In the above equation:

 Pressure is in Pascal (Pa) – where 1 Pa is the same as 1 N/m2.
 Depth is in metres (m).
 Density is in kg/m3.
 The gravitational field strength on Earth is approximately 10 N/kg.

 The deeper you go in a liquid, the greater the pressure becomes. This pressure pushes in all
direction.
 Gases also exert pressure on things around them. The pressure exerted by the atmosphere on your
body is about 100 000 Pa.
 As the depth decreases, the pressure decreases.
 As the pressure decreases, the area (or volume) increases.
 As the density of liquid increases, the pressure also increases.

Experiment: To investigate the relationship between depth and height with pressure.
Three holes are made at different height of the can. The water from the hole at the bottom of the can
travels at highest speed. And the water from top most hole travels at lowest speed. Thus, proving that
pressure increases with depth and (pressure) decreases with increasing height.

James Bastob Mondol

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