1.

4 Density
FOCUS POINTS
★ Define density and calculate the density of a liquid and both regular- and irregular-shaped solid objects.
★ Use density data to determine whether an object will float or sink.

★ Use density data to determine whether one liquid will float on another liquid.

A pebble thrown into a pond will sink to the bottom of the pond, but a wooden object will float.
Objects of the same shape and size but made from different materials have different masses. In this
topic you will see how you can quantify such differences with the idea of density. Density specifies the
amount of mass in a unit volume. To measure the density of a material you will need to know both its
mass and its volume. The mass can be found using a balance, and the volume by measurement. If the
density of an object is greater than that of a liquid it will sink, but if the density of the object is less
than that of the liquid it will float.

In everyday language, lead is said to be heavier The approximate densities of some common
than wood. By this it is meant that a certain volume substances are given in Table 1.4.1.
of lead is heavier than the same volume of wood. ▼ Table 1.4.1 Densities of some common substances
In science such comparisons are made by using the
term density. This is the mass per unit volume of a Solids Density/g/cm3 Liquids Density/g/cm3
substance and is calculated from aluminium 2.7 paraffin    0.80
copper 8.9 petrol    0.80
density = mass
volume iron 7.9 pure water 1.0

For a mass m of volume V, the density ρ = m/V. gold 19.3 mercury 13.6
glass 2.5 Gases Density/kg/m3
Key definition wood (teak)    0.80 air 1.3
Density mass per unit volume ice    0.92 hydrogen    0.09
polythene    0.90 carbon dioxide 2.0
The density of lead is 11 grams per cubic centimetre
(11 g/cm3) and this means that a piece of lead of
volume 1 cm3 has mass 11 g. A volume of 5 cm3
of lead would have mass 55 g. If the density of a
Calculations
Using the symbols ρ (rho) for density, m for mass
substance is known, the mass of any volume of it
and V for volume, the expression for density is
can be calculated. This enables engineers to work
out the weight of a structure if they know from the ρ=m
plans the volumes of the materials to be used and V
their densities. Strong enough foundations can then Rearranging the expression gives
be made.
The SI unit of density is the kilogram per cubic m = V × ρ and V = m
ρ
metre. To convert a density from g/cm3, normally
the most suitable unit for the size of sample we These are useful if ρ is known and m or V have to be
use, to kg/m3, we multiply by 103. For example, the calculated. If you do not see how they are obtained
density of water is 1.0 g/cm3 or 1.0 × 103 kg/m3. refer to the Mathematics for physics section on p. 295.

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 1.4 Density

The triangle in Figure 1.4.1 is an aid to remembering

them. If you cover the quantity you want to know with
a finger, such as m, it equals what you can still see,
i.e. ρ × V. To find V, cover V and you get V = m/ρ.

measuring cylinder
m

ρV

2nd reading
▲ Figure 1.4.1

1st reading
Worked example
Taking the density of copper as 9 g/cm3, find a the mass of water
5 cm3 and b the volume of 63 g.
a ρ = 9 g/cm3, V = 5 cm3 and m is to be found.
m = V × ρ = 5 cm3 × 9 g/cm3 = 45 g solid
b ρ = 9 g/cm3, m = 63 g and V is to be found.
m 63g
∴V = = = 7 cm3
ρ 9 g/cm3
Now put this into practice ▲ Figure 1.4.2a Measuring the volume of an irregular solid:
1 A sheet of aluminium has a mass of 200 g and a volume method 1
of 73 cm3. Calculate the density of aluminium.
2 Taking the density of lead as 11 g/cm3, find water
a the mass of 4 cm3
b the volume of 55 g.

Simple density displacement can

(filled to over-

measurements
flowing before
solid inserted)

If the mass m and volume V of a substance are

known, its density can be found from ρ = m/V.

Regularly shaped solid measuring cylinder

The mass is found on a balance and the volume by
measuring its dimensions with a ruler.

Irregularly shaped solid: volume by

solid

displacement
Use one of these methods to find the volume of
a pebble or glass stopper, for example. The mass
of the solid is found on a balance. Its volume is water
measured by one of the displacement methods
shown in Figure 1.4.2. In Figure 1.4.2a the volume
is the difference between the first and second
readings. In Figure 1.4.2b it is the volume of water ▲ Figure 1.4.2b Measuring the volume of an irregular solid:
collected in the measuring cylinder. method 2

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 Floating and sinking

Liquid Test yourself

The mass of an empty beaker is found on a balance.
1 a Calculate the density of a substance of
A known volume of the liquid is transferred from
i mass 100 g and volume 10 cm3
a burette or a measuring cylinder into the beaker. ii volume 3 m3 and mass 9 kg.
The mass of the beaker plus liquid is found and the b The density of gold is 19 g/cm3. Find the
mass of liquid is obtained by subtraction. volume of
i 38 g
Air ii 95 g of gold.
2 A rectangular steel bar is 4 cm long, 3 cm wide
Using a balance, the mass of a 500 cm3 round- and 1 cm thick. When weighed it is found to have a
bottomed flask full of air is found and again mass of 96 g. Calculate its density in
after removing the air with a vacuum pump; the a g/cm3
difference gives the mass of air in the flask. b kg/m3.
3 The water in a measuring cylinder is at the 50 cm3
The volume of air is found by filling the flask with level. A pebble is dropped into the water and
water and pouring it into a measuring cylinder. the water level rises to 60 cm3. The pebble is
completely covered by water.

Floating and sinking Calculate

a the volume of the pebble
An object sinks in a liquid of lower density than its b the density of the pebble, if it weighs 60 g.
own; otherwise it floats, partly or wholly submerged.
4 Liquid A has a density of 0.8 g/cm3 and water has
For example, a piece of glass of density 2.5 g/cm3 a density of 1.0 g/cm3. If the two liquids do not
sinks in water (density 1.0 g/cm3) but floats in mix, which liquid will float on top of the other?
mercury (density 13.6 g/cm3). An iron nail sinks in
water but an iron ship floats because its average
density is less than that of water, due to the low-
density air enclosed in the hull. Revision checklist
A liquid of low density will float on a liquid of After studying Topic 1.4 you should know and
higher density if the two liquids do not mix. understand the following:
✓ how density is defined and how to perform
calculations using ρ = m/V.
After studying Topic 1.4 you should be able to:
✓ describe methods to measure the density of a
liquid and a regularly shaped solid
✓ describe the method of displacement to measure
the density of an irregularly shaped solid
✓ predict whether an object will float, based on
density data

✓ predict whether one liquid will float on another

if they do not mix.

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 1.4 Density

Exam-style questions
1 a Choose which of the following definitions 3 a A block of wood has dimensions of
for density is correct. 10 cm × 8 cm × 20 cm.
A mass/volume i Calculate the volume of the block in
B mass × volume cubic metres. [2]
C volume/mass ii The block is placed on a balance and
D weight/area [1] found to weigh 1.2 kg. Calculate the
b Calculate density of the block in kg/m3. [3]
i the mass of 5 m3 of cement of density b When a golf ball is lowered into a
3000 kg/m3 [3] measuring cylinder of water, the water level
ii the mass of air in a room measuring rises by 30 cm3 when the ball is completely
10 m × 5.0 m × 2.0 m if the density of submerged. If the ball weighs 33 g in air,
air is 1.3 kg/m3. [3] calculate its density in kg/m3. [3]
[Total: 7] [Total: 8]
2 a Describe how you could determine the
density of a liquid. [4]
b An empty beaker is weighed and found to
have a mass of 130 g. A measuring cylinder
contains 50 cm3 of an unknown liquid.
All the liquid is poured into the beaker
which is again weighed and found to have
a mass of 170 g. Calculate the density of
the liquid. [4]
c Explain why ice floats on water. [1]

d Explain why oil floats on water. [1]

[Total: 10]

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