DENSITY

Density
refers to how tightly matter is packed together.

Mathematically, density is defined as

DENSITY = Mass
Volume
SI Units:
density = kg/m3
mass = kg
= m volume = m3
V
Calculating density

= m
V m

V = m
V

m = V x
 Ways that Affect Density
Change Mass AND Keep Volume Same
Increase the mass increase density
Decrease the mass decrease in density

Which container has more density?

A B
 Ways that Affect Density
Change Volume AND Keep Mass Same
Increase the volume decrease density
Decrease the volume increase density

Which container has more density?

A B
 Calculating density
Eg. What is the density of a block of
steel if it has a mass of 9,360g and a
volume of 1,200cm3?
m

V
= 9 360 g = 7.8 g/cm3
1 200

Eg. What is the mass of a block of Eg. What is the volume of a block of
gold if it has a density of 19.3 g/cm3 ice if it has a density of 0.92 g/cm3
and a volume of 540 cm3? and a mass of 12,462g?

m = 540 x 19.3
V = 12 462 = 13,546 cm3
0.92
= 10 422 g
 FLOAT or SINK

The density of water is 1 g/cm3 or 1000 kg/m3.

The diagram shows a ball, oil and
water. Explain in terms of the
densities of the objects why they
sink or float.

The oil is less dense than the water,

so it’s on top.
The ball is less dense than water,
but more dense than oil, so it sinks
to the bottom of the oil layer,
yet floats on the top of the water
layer.