You can increase density, while keeping mass constant, by decreasing the volume of the substance.
Understanding Density, Mass, and Volume
Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Mathematically, this is represented as:
Density = Mass / Volume
This relationship shows that density is directly proportional to mass and inversely proportional to volume. Therefore, if the mass stays the same, the only way to change the density is to alter the volume.
How Decreasing Volume Increases Density
Since density and volume are inversely proportional when mass is constant, a decrease in volume will directly lead to an increase in density. Imagine squeezing a sponge. You're decreasing its volume, effectively packing the same amount of material (mass) into a smaller space, thus increasing its density.
Examples
- Compression: Compressing a gas (like air) into a smaller container increases its density without changing the mass of the gas.
- Squeezing: Squeezing an object, even something solid to a small extent, reduces its volume and thus increases its density, though the mass remains the same.
- Hydraulic Press: Using a hydraulic press to compact materials reduces their volume and greatly increases their density, all while the mass of the material remains constant.
Summary
To increase the density of a substance while keeping its mass constant, you must decrease its volume. The smaller the volume, the greater the density.
