Equation
The density of a material is the mass of 1 cm3 (or 1 m3) of the material. It is a measure of the compactness of a material. Density is measured in grams per centimetre cubed (g/cm3) or kilograms per metre cubed (kg/m3). can be calculated using the equation:
Density =\(\frac{mass}{volume}\)
\(\rho = \frac{m}{v}\)
\(\rho\) = density in g/cm3.
The symbol for density is the Greek letter rho, \(\rho\).
m = mass in g.
v = volume in cm3.
| \(\rho =\frac{\text{m}}{\text{v}}\) | \(\rho = m \div v\) |
| \(m = v\rho\) | \(m = v \times \rho\) |
| \(v =\frac{\text{m}}{\rho}\) | \(v = m \div \rho\) |
| \(\rho =\frac{\text{m}}{\text{v}}\) |
| \(\rho = m \div v\) |
| \(m = v\rho\) |
| \(m = v \times \rho\) |
| \(v =\frac{\text{m}}{\rho}\) |
| \(v = m \div \rho\) |
Example
What is the density of a material if 450 cm3 of it has a mass of 200 g?
\(\rho =\frac{\text{m}}{\text{v}}\)
m = 200 g
v = 450 cm3
\(\rho =\frac{\text{200~g}}{\text{450~cm}^3}\)
\(\rho =\) 0.44 g/cm3
The density of the material is 0.44 g/cm3