Particles in Motion

Density
 Lesson Objectives
• State and use the formula for density
D=m÷V
• Describe how to measure the density of a
liquid, and of a regular shaped solid
• Describe how to use the displacement
method to measure the volume and density
of an irregular shaped solid (s)
 Density
• The density of an object or a substance is its
mass divided by its volume
• Density = mass ÷ volume (d = m ÷ V)
• Density can be measured in kg/m3 or g/cm3
• 1 g/cm3 = 1000 kg/m3 !
• In other words, density tells us the mass of a
certain volume of the substance
Measuring Density of a Liquid
• Weigh the empty measuring
cylinder, or zero the tare on the
balance with the empty cylinder
placed on the balance pan
• Pour some liquid into the cylinder
Volume =
7cm3
and place it on the balance pan
• Record the mass and volume of the
liquid (don’t forget to subtract the
mass of the empty cylinder if you
need to)
• Use density = mass ÷volume to find
10.5
g
the density of the liquid

Mass = 10.5g d = m ÷ v = 10.5 ÷ 7 = 1.5 g/cm3

Measuring Density of a Regular
Solid
3cm
• Use a ruler to measure the height
2cm (h), width (w) and depth (d) of the
5cm block
• Find the volume from V=
hxwxd
• Place the block on the balance to
find its mass (m)
• Use d = m ÷ V to find the density (d)
of the block

0g
120. V = h x w x d = 5 x 3 x 2 = 30cm3

d = m ÷ V = 120 ÷ 30 = 4g/cm3
Mass = 120g
Measuring Volume by the
Displacement Method
• The volume of an
Put it in the irregular object (eg
measuring a rock) can be
cylinder
measured by the
displacement
method
• Then simply find
the mass with a
balance and
calculate d=
m ÷ V as before
 Try These
1. 40 cm3 of a liquid has a mass of 50g. What is
the density of the liquid?
2. A rectangular block of wood has sides of
10cm, 5cm and 2cm. Its mass is 90g. What is
the density of the wood?
3. The density of concrete is 6000kg/m3. What is
the mass of 2m3 of concrete?
4. The density of water is 1000kg/m3. If the
mass of water in a full swimming pool is
200 000kg, what is the volume of the
swimming pool?