Density Notes
Density is mass per unit volume
Gold is very dense - it feels very heavy for its size. D = 19.3g/cm 3
Plastic is not very dense - it feels light for its size. P = 1g/cm 3
Each substance has its own density. A larger amount will still have the same density because it will be an equivalent fraction. MetalDensity (g/cm 3 ) Gold19.3 Silver10.5 Platinum21.4 Palladium12.0 Copper9.0 9ct10.9 to ct12.9 to ct Yellow15.2 to ct White14.7 to ct17.7 to 17.8 Sterling Silver10.2 to Platinum20.1
Solving for density: D = Mass / Volume Examples: water:100g100ml= 1g/ml nylon:10g8.7cm 3 = glass: 4g 1cm 3 =
I can make something have less density by increasing the volume until it is more than the mass.
Floating in the water… Anything with a density less than one will float in water. If there are numbers to the left of the decimal it will sink! In other words… –Fill your lungs to float better!
So why do ships float ? The density of steel is 7.8 g/cm 3 The density of waters 1 g/cm 3 Think of a steel ship as a can that is empty and watertight. The majority of its space is taken up by nothing more than air which has a specific gravity of about So if I make a ship that is like a can, empty inside and watertight it floats. Its volume sufficient that it causes its specific gravity (overall density) to remain below 1.0 even after adding the weight of its contents. The steel ship will remain afloat as long as its density remains below that of water. The problem is that if water is allowed to enter the ship it would sink. Ships made of steel have to be sealed so water can not get in and increase its density. Steel can float only because of the way it is shaped, the space it takes up, and the seal that keeps it watertight.