MASS, WEIGHT AND

DENSITY
MASS
 Mass is a measure of substance in a body.
 SI unit of mass is Kilogram (kg) and other
units are gram (g), milligram (mg) and
tonne.
 Mass can be measured using beam balance
and electronic balance.
 Mass of the body will remain same
everywhere.

 Mass of a body resists to change from its state

of rest or motion, this is called inertia.

 A body is resists to change its motion due to

inertia. Greater the mass greater inertia. So
that’s why the heavier objects are difficult
stop when it is in motion.
WEIGHT
 Weight of a body is attractive force exert on
it due to gravity.
 SI unit of weight is newton (N).
 Weight of an object can be measured by
using spring balance (newton meter).

 Weight of a body varies in different places.

It depends on gravitational field strength.
Gravitational field
 Gravitational field is a region in which a mass
experiences a force due to gravitational attraction.

 Gravitational field on the surface of the Earth is

10N/kg. This means that a gravitational force of
10N is exerted on an object of mass 1kg. Near to
the surface of the moon is 1.6 N/kg.

Relationship between mass, weight and

gravitational field
Weight = mass × gravitational field strength.
w = mg
Example Question 1
The mass of an object on the Earth is 25Kg. Calculate the
weight of the object?
Ans: w = mg
= 25 × 10 = 250N

Example Question 2
On the Earth, the gravitational field strength is 10 N/kg.
On the Moon, the gravitational field strength is 1.6 N/kg.
If an object has a weight of 50 N on Earth, what is its
weight on the Moon?
Ans: w = mg
m = w/g = 50/10 = 5kg
weight on the moon = mg = 5 × 1.6 =8N
 What is Density?
If you take the same volume of different substances,
then they will weigh different amounts.
Wood Water Iron

1 cm3 1 cm3 1 cm3

0.50 g 1.00 g 8.00 g

IRON

Q) Which has the greatest mass and therefore the most dense?

Density is the Mass per unit Volume

 Density Equation:
g or kg

Density = Mass
m
Volume
Unit of density: kg/m3 or g/cm3

V
cm3 or m3

= m
If the different size of object has
same density means all the
V objects is made up of same
material.
Example questions:
Q1. Mass of aluminium block is 27g and volume of it is 10cm3
Calculate the density of the block.
 = m = 27 = 2.7 g/cm3
V 10
Q2. What is the mass of the air in a room measuring 5m × 2m
× 3m? Density of the air is 1.3 kg/m3
 = m , m=  × V = 1.3 × 30 = 39 kg
V
Q3. Mass of the glass block is 125g. Density of the glass block is
2.5 g/cm3. Calculate the volume of the block.

 = m, V = m = 125 = 50 cm3
V  2.5
 DENSITY OF A REGULAR SOLID

m = 240 g
 Find the Mass of
the solid on a
2.0 cm balance.
 Measure the
length, breath
 = m = 240 =10.0 g/cm3 and height and
3.0 cm
V 24 calculate the
Volume.
(ie V = l x b x h )
 Calculate the
4.0 cm
Density.
 DENSITY g/cm3
Aluminium 2.70
Iron 7.86
Brass 8.50
Wood 0.50
Slate 2.80
Glass 2.50
Lead 11.3
Marble 2.70
Wax 0.89
 DENSITY OF AN IRREGULAR SOLID
 Find the Mass of the irregular
solid by using electronic
m = 360 g balance.
Add the known volume of
water into the measuring
cylinder and this initial volume.
 Put the irregular solid into

80 cm3 measuring cylinder. Measure the

volume of water and this final
volume.
50 cm3  Find the volume of the solid by
subtracting initial volume of the
water from final volume of the
water. (80 − 50 = 30 cm3 )
 = m = 360 =12 g/cm3  Calculate the density of the
V 30 solid using the formula:  = m
V
Example question:1
A lump of metal has a mass of 210 g. It is lowered into a
measuring cylinder containing water. The level of the water
rises from 35 cm3 to 140 cm3. What is the density of the
metal?
Example question:2
A measuring cylinder contains 118 cm3 of water. When a small
object is fully immersed in the
water, the reading goes up to 132 cm3. The object has a mass
of 42 g. What is the density of the object?
 DENSITY OF AN IRREGULAR
SOLID
 OR use a Eureka Can to find the Volume.
 Find the mass of the solid on
m = 440 g
a balance.
Add water until just

overflowing.
 Place a Measuring Cylinder

under the spout.

 Add the Object.
40.0 cm3
 Collect the Water and read off

the Volume.
 = m = 440 =11.0 g/cm3
V 40 Calculate Density
 DENSITY g/cm3
Aluminium 2.70

Iron 7.86

Brass 8.50

Wood 0.50

Slate 2.90

Glass 2.50
Mass of Liquid = Mass of Measuring Cylinder and Liquid – Mass of
DENSITY OF A LIQUID
empty Measuring
Cylinder  Find the Mass of an empty
Measuring Cylinder.
 Add a certain Volume of
Liquid.
25.0 g
45.0
 Find the Mass of the
Measuring Cylinder and Liquid
20.0 cm3
 Calculate the Mass of Liquid.
 How?
 Calculate Density of Liquid.
45 – 25 = 20 g
 = m = 20 =1.00 g/cm3
V 20
Liquid Mass of Mass of Mass of Volume Density
empty Measuring Liquid in cm3 in g/cm3
Measuring Cylinder in g
Cylinder and Liquid
in g in g
 DENSITY OF A GAS
 Remove the air from
To vacuum flask a flask of a known
Volume, using a
vacuum pump.
 Find its Mass.
150.0
170.0gg  Add the gas to be
1000 cm3 tested.
 Reweigh.
170 -150 = 20.0g  The difference is the
Mass of gas.
 = m = 20 =0.0200 g/cm3  Calculate Density.
V 1000