Volume, Mass and Density
A Supplementary Activity for Students
Take a look at the two boxes below. Each box has the same volume. If each
ball has the same mass, which box would have more mass? Why? If you have a VRML browser click on
VRML and rotate the objects to get a 3D-view!
VRML
VRML
The box that has more balls has more mass per unit of volume.
This property of matter is called density. The density of a material helps to distinguish
it from other materials.
We can calculate density using the formula:
Density= Mass/Volume.
Since mass is usually expressed in grams
and volume in cm. 3, density is expressed in
gms/cm3,.
In the previous sections you calculated the mass and volume of the unknown block.
to be:
Mass = 79.4 grams
Volume=29.8 cubic cm.
Find the density of the block using the above formula.
Please enter your answer in the space provided:
If another block (block II) has the same volume and a mass of 25.4 grams what would its density be?
Please enter your answer for Block II:
What is each block made
of?
The table belows gives the density for some common materials.
Using the above table can you tell what each block is made of?