1. What is Density?

Density is a physical property of matter defined as mass per unit volume. It's an intensive property, meaning it doesn't depend on the amount of material. The standard units are grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) in the metric system.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the density equation:

Where:

• \( D \) — Density (g/cm³)
• \( M \) — Mass (g)
• \( V \) — Volume (cm³)

Explanation: The equation shows that density increases with greater mass or smaller volume, and decreases with smaller mass or greater volume.

3. Importance of Density Calculation

Details: Density is crucial for identifying substances, determining purity, calculating buoyancy, and in engineering applications. It's used across physics, chemistry, engineering, and materials science.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter mass in grams and volume in cubic centimeters. Both values must be positive numbers. For accurate results, measure mass and volume precisely.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are typical density values for common materials?
A: Water is 1 g/cm³, aluminum ~2.7 g/cm³, gold ~19.3 g/cm³, air ~0.0012 g/cm³.

Q2: How does temperature affect density?
A: Most materials expand when heated (increasing volume), decreasing density. Water is densest at 4°C.

Q3: What's the difference between density and specific gravity?
A: Specific gravity is density relative to water (dimensionless), while density has units of mass/volume.

Q4: How do you measure density of irregular objects?
A: Use water displacement for volume measurement combined with mass measurement.

Q5: Why do some materials float while others sink?
A: Materials less dense than the fluid they're in will float; more dense will sink.