Density

DENSITY
Mass and volume
What is Mass? What is volume? Volume is a measure of how much space an
Mass is a measure of how much matter is in an object. It object takes up. It is often measured in units such as cubic
is often measured in units such as grams (g) or kilograms centimeters (cm³) or litres (L).
(kg).
The volume of liquids can be measured with:
3 apparatus with which mass can be determined: • Measuring cylinder,
• Triple beam balance • Burette,
• Mass meter • Pipette
• Electronic scale
The general units for volume
of materials are:
• Cubic meter (m3)
• Cubic centimetre (cm3)
• Cubic millimetre (mm3)

The material with the largest mass per cm3 has the greatest
density.
 Remember to change all
units to the same units

V=lxbxh
= 50 mm × 44 mm × 32 mm
= 70,400 mm³

Volume = π × (2.2 cm)2 × 5.0 cm

=76.02 cm3
Density of substances
Some materials have low density and others have high density.

The density of material will depend on:

• The nature of the particles and the strength of the forces
between the particles.
• The size and type of particles it is made of.
• The size of the spaces between the particles

Notes
 Mass means how heavy an object is.
 Volume means how big an object is.
 Density means how compact an object is.
(Compact means how ‘squashed’ / ‘tightly packed’
the particles are)
 Density means mass per volume.
The blue dots represent the mass of the particles.
The red squares represent the volume of the object.
A and B have the same mass.
A and C have the same volume.
C is more dense than A because the particles are more compact
in C.: C has more mass for the same volume as A.
B is more dense than A because the particles are more compact
in B.: B has less volume for the same mass as A
Density of substances
Floating and sinking
• An object will float in a liquid (e.g. water) if it is less dense
than the liquid.
• An object will sink in a liquid if it is more dense than the
liquid.

Gases are less dense than solids Density of a material is the amount of mass in each
volume of the material. (Density is expressed in g.cm3)

The density of a material is the mass divided by the

volume of the specific material

Density = mass/volume

A material with a lower density will float on a liquid with a

higher density.
 Volume = 5 g / 0.0015 g. cm3

= 3333.33 cm3

Mass = Density x Volume

= 3 g. cm3 x 15 cm3
= 45 g

Density = 150 g / 255 cm3

= 0.59 g. cm3
Thermal Expansion and Contraction of Solids, Liquids and Gases
Heat moves from a hotter object to a colder object.

Heat causes expansion.

EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION of MATTER.

With heat, material can expand and with cold
materials can contract.
Heat can move in three ways:
• conduction, Conduction is the transfer of heat through a material by direct
• convection, contact. For example, when you touch a hot object, heat is
• and radiation. transferred from the object to your hand through conduction.

Convection is the transfer of heat by the movement of a fluid

such as air or water. This occurs when warmer fluid rises and
cooler fluid sinks, creating a circulation pattern.

Radiation is the transfer of heat through electromagnetic waves.

The sun heats the Earth through radiation.
Pressure
Gas exert pressure due to collisions of the particles with each
other and against the sides of the container

The spaces between particles of matter are either very large or very small:
• Weak forces between particles: The particles are not held together and the particles move further apart.
• Strong forces between particles: the particles are held together and move or vibrate against each other.
• Because there are large spaces between the particles of gases, it can be pushed closer together, the gas can
be compressed.

The forces, amount of motion and spaces between particles of matter, determine certain properties of the
matter. it can determine in which state the matter is at a certain temperature. It can determine the physical
appearance of the matter.
• If the particles possess a lot of energy it can move very fast and far apart
• If the particles possesses less energy the movements are slower.
• The moving particles will collide against each other and the sides of the container.