DENSITY

WHAT IS DENSITY?
If you take the same volume of different substances, then
they will weigh different amounts.
Wood Water Iron

1 cm3 1 cm3 1 cm3

0.50 g 1.00 g 8.00 g

IRON

Q) Which has the greatest mass and therefore the most dense?

Density is the Mass per unit Volume

 Density Equation
g or kg Example:

Density = Mass Q) Liquid water has a density of

1000. kg/m3, while ice has density
Volume of 920. kg/m3.
g/cm3 or kg/m3
Calculate the volume occupied by
cm3 or m3
0.25kg of each.

V = m = 0.25 kg = 0.000250 = 2.5X10-4 m3 (2 SF)

v 1000. kg/m3

V = m = 0.25 kg = 0.000272 = 2.7X10-4 m3 (2SF)

d 920. kg/m3
 DENSITY OF A REGULAR SOLID

m = 240 g • Find the Mass of the

solid on a balance.
2.0 cm
• Measure the three
lengths and calculate
d = m = 240 g =10. g/cm3 (2 SF) the Volume.
V 24 cm3 (V = l x w x h )
3.0 cm
• Calculate the
Density.
4.0 cm
 DENSITY OF AN IRREGULAR SOLID
m = 360.0 g d = m = 360.0 g =12.0 g/cm3 (3 SF)
V 30.0 cm3

 Find the Mass of the solid

on a balance.
80.0 cm3 Fill the Measuring Cylinder

with Water to a known

50.0 cm3 volume.
 Add the Object.

 Work out the volume of

water that is displaced.

 Calculate the density.
 DENSITY OF AN IRREGULAR SOLID
• OR use a Eureka Can to find the Volume.

 Find the mass of the solid on a

m = 440 g
balance.
Add water until just overflowing.

 Place a Measuring Cylinder

under the spout.

 Add the Object.

 Collect the Water and read off

the volume.
40.0 cm3 Calculate Density

d = m = 440 g = 11 g/cm3 (2 SF)

V 40.0 cm3
DENSITY g/cm3
Aluminium 2.70

Iron 7.86

Brass 8.50

Wood 0.50

Slate 2.90

Glass 2.50
 DENSITY OF A LIQUID
Mass of Liquid = Mass of Measuring Cylinder and Liquid – Mass of empty Measuring Cylinder

45.0 g – 25.0 g = 20.0 g

• Find the Mass of an empty
Measuring Cylinder.
• Add a certain Volume of
Liquid.
• Find the Mass of the
45.0
25.0 gg measuring Cylinder and
Liquid
• Calculate the Mass of Liquid.
20.0 cm3 • Calculate Density of Liquid.

D = m = 20.0 g =1.00 g/cm3 (3SF)

V 20.0 cm3
 DENSITY OF A GAS
• Remove the air from a
To vacuum flask flask of a known Volume,
using a vacuum pump.
• Find its Mass.
• Add the gas to be
150.0 g
170.0 tested.
1000. cm3 • Reweigh.
• The difference is the
170.0 g - 150.0 g = 20.0 g Mass of gas.
• Calculate Density.
D = m = 20.0 g = 0.0200 g/cm3 (3 SF)
V 1000. cm3