Density is a measure of how much mass is contained in a given volume. You can get the density of an object by dividing its mass by its volume. This can be represented by the formula:
Density = Mass / Volume
To determine the density of an object, you will need to measure both its mass and its volume.
Here's a step-by-step guide:
- Measure the mass: Use a balance scale to measure the mass of the object in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).
- Measure the volume: There are different methods for measuring volume depending on the shape of the object.
- Regular shapes: For regular shapes like cubes or spheres, you can calculate the volume using formulas. For example, the volume of a cube is calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height.
- Irregular shapes: For irregular shapes, you can use the water displacement method. Submerge the object in a graduated cylinder filled with water and measure the difference in the water level before and after submerging the object. This difference represents the volume of the object.
- Divide the mass by the volume: Once you have both the mass and volume, divide the mass by the volume to calculate the density. The density is usually expressed in units of grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
Example:
Let's say you have a block of wood with a mass of 100 grams and a volume of 50 cubic centimeters.
- Density = Mass / Volume
- Density = 100 g / 50 cm³
- Density = 2 g/cm³
Therefore, the density of the block of wood is 2 g/cm³.
Remember that each substance has its own characteristic density, which can be used to identify the material.
