DESNITY

Density is a mass per Unit volume.

The density of a substance is given by
Density = Mass
Volume

The symbol for the density is P(rho). Therefore using a symbol the formulae
for the density is written as
P = M/V
Where P = Density of the substance
M = Mass of the substance
V= Volume of the substance
Density of the substance depends on two factors Namely Mass and Volume of
the substance.
UNITS OF DENSITY
The S.1 Unit for density is Kilograms per Cubicmeter.(Kgm-3)
Another commonly used unit for Density is grams perbcentimetres. (gm-3)
Thereforce, the unit of density will depend on the units used to mass and
Volume.
RELATIONS BETWEEN UNITS OF DENSITY.
1gcm-3 = 1000kgm-3
Examples
1. Convert 0.8gcm-3 to Kgm-3
Solution
1gcm = 1000Kgm-3
-3

0.8gcm-3 = (0.8 × 1000)Kgm-3

= 8/10 × 1000
= 8 × 100
= 800Kgm-3
2. The density of a copper is 8.9gcm-3. Express this density in Kgm-3
Solution
1gcm-3 = 1000Kgm-3
8.9gcm-3 = (8.9 × 1000)
= 89/10 × 1000
= 89 × 100
= 8900Kgm-3

Topic: Density
3. Express a density of 1.25gcm-3 into Kgm-3
Solution
1gcm-3 = 1000Kgm-3
1.25gcm-3 = (1.25 × 1000)Kgm-3
= 125/100 × 1000
= 125 × 10
= 1250Kgm-3
DENSITY OF DIFFERENT SUBSTANCES
 Density can help us to identity substances.
 Density can also tell us wherher an object will sink or float.
Look at the different objects in the diagram. They all have the same shape
and the same Volume. They are Boxes with the Volume of 1cm3

 All the boxes have the

19.3kg
same Volume
8.9g
but different0.9
7.9g masses.
 The highest box is 1cm-3of the paraffin wax is a mass of less than 1g
 Gold
The heaviest gold which as aSteel
box isCopper Paraffinbox
mass of paraffin
 Thereforce, we say that gold is dense than paraffin
Densities of common substances.
Substance Density(gcm-3)
Alluminum 2.7
Brass 8.5
Copper 8.9
Cork 0.3
Glass 2.5
Gold 19.3
Steel 7.9
Lubricating Oil 0.9
Mercury 13.6
Methylated spirits 0.8
Paraffin 0.8
Petrol 0.9
Polythene 0.9
Sand 2.6
Tin 7.3
Wood 0.6

Topic: Density
 Water 1.0
Density is the mas per unit Volume, so the density of 4gcm-3 means that
every 1cm-3 of the Substance has a mass of 4g for example
 The density of copper is 8.9gcm-3. This means that every 1cm-3 of the
copper has a mass of 8.9g
 The density of water is 1.0gcm-3. This means that every 1cm-3 of water has
a mass of of 1g.
 The density of iron is 800kgm-3. This means that every 1m3 of irona mass
of 8000kg.
DETERMINING DENSITY OF SUBSTANCE.
To determine the density of a substance we need to know it’s mass and
Volume.
Then the density is calculated using a formula of density.
HOW TO DETERMINE THE DENSITY OF A REGULAR SOLID.
Requirement
 A regular Solid
 A beam balance.
 A metre rule.
Procedure
 Obtain the Volume of the solid using formula for finding it’s Volume
 Find the mass of the solid by weighting it on a beam balance.
 Then calculate the density if the solid from the formular
Density = Mass
Volume

HOW TO DETERMINE THE DENSITY OF IRREGULAR SOLID

(Stone)
Requirements
 Irregular Stone
 Water
 Spring balance
 Measuring cylinder
Procedure
 Attach the solid onto a spring balance and record it’s mass
 Add some water into the measuring cylinder and record the volume of
the water

Topic: Density
  Gently place the solid into the measuring cylinder
 Read and record the new Volume of the water as V2
 The Volume of the solid is V2 – V1
 The density of the solid is got from the Formular
Density = Mass
Volume

HOW TO DETERMINE THE DENSITY OF A LIQUID

Requirements
 Liquid(Water)
 Beaker
 Measuring Cylinder
 Spring balance
Procedure
 Measure and record the Volume V of the Liquid using a measuring
Cylinder
 Measure the Mass M, of an empty beaker on a spring balance
 Transfer the liquid into the beaker
 Find the mass M2 of the beaker with the Liquid
 The mass of the Liquid is M2 – M1
 The density is got from the formular
Density = Mass
Volume

Density and it’s applications to sinking and floating

If you drop a piece of a steel into water we notice that it sink tobthe
bottom. But if you drop a piece of wood into the water, it float ti the
surface. Why is this so
Comparing densities if substance with the density if water
Key Question
Why do some substances sink in water and other float?
Requirements
 A piece of metal
 A plastic material
 A piece of wood
 Water
Procedure

Topic: Density
  Take the different solid and put them in the water
 Observe whether they sink or float.
 Calculate their densities.
 Compare the density of each substance with the density of water.
Conclusion
 Those substances with a density less than water (1gcm-3) will float in
water.
 Those substances with a density of greater that of water will sink in
water.
Thereforce the piece of metal sink in the water because it’s density is
grater than the density if water.
The piece of wood float beacause it’s density is less than the density of
water.
Assignment
1) In westNile, people living along the nile use canoes made out of wood. The
canoe is able to float. Explain why the canoe float
 The canoe is made out of wood so it’s density is less than the density of
water hence it float.
2) In Mombasa most largeship are made out of wood but they are made of
steel. Explain how the large ship made of steel float.
 A ship is hallow and contains air. Air hallow density, so the average density
of the ship is less than the density of sea water hence it float.
DENSITY AND PURITY OF SUBSTANCES
We can use density to predict whether a material is pure or not.
For example pure gold has a density of 19.3gcm-3, so if you want to
know whether a golden object is made of pure Gold you find find it’s
density.
If the density is not 19.3-3, then it is not pure gold.
Therefore pure substance always have the same density.
This density is different from that off all other substances.
Examples
1) A piecebof a material has a volume of 15gcm-3 and a mass 27g. what
is its density.
Solution
Volume = 15gcm-3

Topic: Density
 Mass = 27g
P = M/V
P = 27/15
P = 1.8gcm-3
2) A rectangular piece of Glass has a mass 135g and measure 9cm × 3
cm × 2cm. find it’s density and express your answer in kgm-3
Solutiom
Mass = 135g P =2.5 gcm-3
Volume = 9cm x 3cm x 2cm 1 gcm-3 = 1000 Kgm-3
Volume = 54cm3 2.5 gcm-3 = (2.5 x 1000)
Kgm-3
P = M/V = 2.5 ×
1000
P = 135g =2500Kgm-3 10
54

3) What is the mass 5m3 of cement of density 3000Kgm-3

Solution
V = 5m3
P = 3000Kgm-3
M=?
P = M/V
3000 = M/5
3000 x 5 = M/5 x 5
M = 1500kg
4) Find the volume of 208g of sand given that density of sand is 2.6 gcm-
3

Solution
M = 208g
P = 2.6 gcm-3
V=?
Using P = M/V
V x 2.6 = 208 × V
V

2.6V = 208
2.6 2.6

Topic: Density
 V = 80cm3
Volume of the sand is 80cm3
APPLLICATION OF KNOWLEDGE OF DENSITY
Used by chemstry to test forvthe purity of substance
Used by engineers in designing and constructing such as bridge,
ships and boats etc
Used by scientists to identify material
Used to identify gases use in ballon or filament.
ASSIFNMENT
1. 350kg of a metal occupies a space of about 100m3. Determine the
density ofbthe metal
Solution
M = 350kg
V = 100m3
P = M/V
= 350
100

= 35
10

P = 3.5 Kgm-3
2. Calculate tge mass of air in the room that measures 10cm x 12cm x
4cm. given that density if air is 1.25 Kgm-3
Solution
V=L×W×H
= (10 × 12 × 4)
= 480cm
P = 1.25 Kgm-3
M=?
P = M/V
1.25 = M/480
480 × 1.25 = M/480 × 480
480 × 1.25 = M
M = 600Kg
3. The density of Alluminium is 2.7gcm-3. What does this mean. What is
the important of this value.

Topic: Density
  This means that every 1cm-3 Alluminium has a mass of 2.7g
 To predict whether a material is pure or not
DENSITY AND RELATIVE DENSITY
Concepts of Relative density
Relative density or specific gravity is the ratio of density of
substancetl to the density of Water.
Relative density = Density of a substance
Density if Water

For example relative density of gold is given by

R.D of gold is = Density of a gold
Density if Water

Relative density has no unit because it us a ratio.

Relative density is measured by using a density bottle.
Example
Calculate the relative density of Mercury given that density of
mercury is 13600 Kgm-3 and that of water is 1000 Kgm-3
Solution
R.D = Density of Mercury
Density if Water

Topic: Density