For topic 43. Density @® puia your understanding! Attempt the following questions on your own or in a group setting. 1. (a) Define density of a substance. Density of a substance is its mass per unit volume, It indicates how much matter is packed in a certain volume. Given that a wooden cube of length 10 cm has a mass of 600 g, calculate the density of the wood in g cm. 600 TOxtoxi0 | = 0.6 gem” Iron has a density of 7900 kg m=. What is the volume of 2 kg of iron? Mass _ 2 Volume = Dessiy) ~ 7500 Given thatthe density of iris 1.25 kg mr’, what is the mass ofair in a room of size 6 m by Smby 3m? Mass = Density x Volume « 1.25 « (6 x5 x3)= 113 kg A copper ball has a mass of 1 kg. Calculate the radius of the ball, given that the density of copper is 8900 kg m™. [Given mass of copper ball, m = 1 kg; density of copper, p= 8900 kg mr®. Let the radius of the copper ball be r. Then the volume is 4 xr°.] _ Mass 1 Volume = 41° = Density = 3909 = 1.12 10 2.68 « 10 2.99 x 10 m (© 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (8) Pte Ltd Physics Matters Workbook Volume 1 35(b) A beaker has a mass of 88 g when empty. When 20 cm? of mercury is poured into it, the ny total mass of the beaker and mercury is found to be 360 g. Whatisthe density of mercury in (i) gcm™, and (ii) kg m=? ‘Mass of mercury used, m = m,—m, = 360 ~ 88 = 272 g Density of mercury p= # = 13.6 gem? Density of mercury p in kg m= 13.6 x 10° kg mr? (a) Explain why a piece of expanded polystyrene feels much lighter than an equal volume of lead. This is because the density of the expanded polystyrene is much lower than that of lead. Since density = {ijamc > the mass of the expanded polystyrene is much lower than that of an equal volume of lead. A much lower mass means a much smaller weight and hence feels much lighter. (b) Air is made up of about 80% nitrogen and 20% oxygen by volume. The densities of air and oxygen are 1.29 kg mr and 1.43 kg mr respectively. What is the density of nitrogen? Let’s take 1m’ of ar. Its mass is 1.29 kg. Oxygen occupies 0.2 m? of the volume. ‘The mass of the oxygen is 0.2 * 1.43 = 0.29 kg. ‘Thus, the mass of the nitrogen is 1.29 - 0.29 = 1 kg. ‘The volume of the nitrogen is 0.8m. Hence the density can be calculated: H MS = gg = 1.25kem* Density = Volume 1 what is the density of an object? 1 Why do we use displacement of water to obtain the volume of an irregularly-shaped object to calculate its density? (Hint: What is the density of water?) 36 Mass, Weight and Density © 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (S) Pte Lid@@ chatienge Yourself! Attempt the following questions on your own. You are advised to spend no more than the time indicated. 1. The mass of air in a classroom is 360 kg. The density of air is 1.2 kg m™. Calculate the volume of air in the classroom. 2. Which block in the table below is made of the densest material? | Block Mass/g_—Length/em | Height/om f 2 360 6 4 3 480 is 4 4 600 3; 5 - 800 10 5 3 Cony 3. The table below shows the results of an experiment in which a sample of a solid material is placed in three different liquids. 14000 Floats 1100 Floats 700 Sinks ‘What is the density of the sample? A. Exactly 700 kgm? B__ Between 700 kg m® and 1100 kg mr? C Exactly 1100 kg m* D Between 1100 kg m® and 14 000 kg m* (B) 4. The displacement method is used : to find the volume of a stone of ae known mass so as to calculate its density. Which of the following is wer — > not necessary in order to obtain an stone | accurate result? measuring evlinder aFigure 4.5 Make sure the water is level with the spout before starting. Submerge the stone fully in the water. Ensure the stone touched the bottom of the displacement can. ‘Wait until water stops flowing into the cylinder. (ec) vomD> © 2007 Marshall Cavendish International (S) Pte Lid Physics Matters Workbook Volume 1. 37°