Year 9 Unit 9: Forces in action

9.1 Density
Density is defined as mass per unit volume.

The unit for density is g/cm3 or kg/m3

It is a measure of how tightly packed and how heavy the molecules are in an
object.

Density is the amount of matter within a certain volume.

Measuring the density

Density is a property of materials that is
independent of quantity or shape.

Scientists can measure how tightly packed the

particles are by measuring the two things:

 its mass in gram (g)

 its volume in centimetres cubed (cm3)

Measuring the volume and mass of a liquid

The volume of a liquid can be measured using a measuring

cylinder.

Water clings to the sides of its container and curves

upwards slightly at the edges. The curved shape is called a
meniscus. We measure the reading at the bottom of the
meniscus.

It is important to look straight ahead at the scale to get

an accurate reading.
Year 9 Unit 9: Forces in action

To measure the mass of a liquid,

 measure the weight of an empty container (m1)

 measure the weight of the container with liquid (m2)
 work out the mass of the liquid alone by subtracting the mass of the
empty container (m2 – m1)

Measuring the volume and mass of a solid

If the objects are regular, the

volume can be calculated using the
formula.

Irregular objects need to use displacement

method to measure the volume.

 measure the volume of a liquid (V1)

 measure the volume of a liquid after
putting an irregular object (V2)
 work out the volume of the liquid
alone by V2 – V1

The mass of a solid can be measure using a balance.

Year 9 Unit 9: Forces in action

Density in three states of matter

All matter contains particles. The difference between the three states of
matter is how the particles are arranged.

Air has a very low density, about 0.0013 g/cm3

Air is a gas, the particles are spread out and move randomly. There is a lot of
space in between them. Air occupies a lot spaces but its particles, which have
mass, occupy only a tiny fraction of that space.

Water has a medium density, about 1 g/cm3

Water is a liquid, the particles are tightly packed but free to move past each
other. There is not much space between the particles, and they are not
arranged in any kind of pattern.

Steel is denser than water with the same mass.

Steel is a solid, the particles are tightly packed in a regular structure. The
particles in a solid are vibrating about a fixed position.

Density depends on the materials.

Density does not just depend on the arrangement of the particles. It also
depends on the mass of the particles.

The individual particles in different materials can have very different masses.

A piece of iron with the same dimensions as a piece of aluminium will be heavier
because

 the atoms are more closely packed

 an individual iron atom is heavier than an aluminium atom.
Year 9 Unit 9: Forces in action

Ways to affect density

 Increase the mass of materials but keep the same volume.
 Keep the same mass but decrease the volume

Density in liquid state

Liquids with different densities will not mix together,
they will form liquid layers.

 The liquid with the highest density will be on the

bottom.
 The liquid with the lowest density will be on the
top

The density of water is approximately 1.0 g/cm3.

If solid objects are placed in water and they sink, they have a density greater
than water (1 g/cm3).

The oil is less dense than the water, so it’s on top. The
superball is less dense than water, but denser than oil,
so it sinks to the bottom of the oil layer, yet floats on
the top of the water layer.
Year 9 Unit 9: Forces in action

9.2 Pressure
Density is defined as mass per unit volume.

The unit for density is g/cm3 or kg/m3

It is a measure of how tightly packed and how heavy the molecules are in an
object.

Density is the amount of matter within a certain volume.