Density calculator

What is density?

Density is a physical quantity that expresses the relationship between the mass of a substance and its volume. It plays a crucial role in various fields of science and engineering such as physics, chemistry, biology, and engineering. Understanding density helps to describe and explain the properties of materials, their behavior in different conditions, as well as the interactions between different components. Our density calculator offers a convenient tool for quick calculation of this quantity, while also providing instant conversion between different units of measurement, which is particularly useful for both students and professionals.

The significance of density in everyday life

We interact with density daily. For instance, why do some objects sink in water while others float? This is due to the difference in density between the object and the water. Objects with a lower density than water will float because they displace a volume of water equal to their mass.

Density also plays an essential role in:

• Design processes. Before manufacturing something new, it’s important to understand if it will be sturdy, light, or heavy.
• Ecology. Studying the density of various soils or rocks can help understand natural processes and interdisciplinary ecological interactions.

Physics and chemistry: density in science

In physics and chemistry, density is used to identify substances. It is unique for each element or compound and allows them to be distinguished from one another. Density is also used in equations to determine other characteristics of substances, such as melting or boiling temperature, heat capacity, and others.

In chemistry, density is often measured to determine the concentration of a solution. High density may indicate a saturated solution with a large amount of solute, while low density may indicate a small amount of solute.

For more in-depth study of physics, other calculators in the field of physics are available on our website.

Different units of measurement for density

Density can be measured in various units, such as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³), and even ounces per gallon (oz/gal). It’s particularly important to use consistent units throughout the calculation. Our calculator automatically and instantly converts these units, facilitating work with international standards and various technical tasks.

Example of unit conversion

Examples of density of various materials

Density determines how an object will behave in an environment. Here are a few examples:

• Water: 1 g/cm³ (materials with higher density sink)
• Ice: 0.91 g/cm³ (able to float on water)
• Iron: 7.87 g/cm³ (sinks in water)
• Gold: 19.32 g/cm³ (sinks in water)
• Paraffin: 0.9 g/cm³ (floats on water)

For an object to float, its density must be less than that of water. For instance, the density of ice allows it to float on top of water, whereas iron sinks.

The influence of temperature on density

Density can change depending on temperature. Generally, as temperature increases, the volume of a substance increases, leading to a decrease in density. This is especially true for liquids and gases. However, for water, there is an exception in the range from 0°C to 4°C, where its density first increases before beginning to decrease.

Formula

The formula for calculating density $\rho$ is as follows:

$$\rho = \frac{m}{V}$$

where:

• $\rho$ is the density,
• $m$ is the mass,
• $V$ is the volume.

This formula is simple to use. You can easily find the density of an object if you have its mass and volume.

Examples

Let’s look at a few examples for better understanding.

Example 1: You have a piece of wire with a mass of 500 grams and a volume of 100 cm³. Using the formula, the density $\rho$ of the wire will be:

$$\rho = \frac{500\,\text{g}}{100\,\text{cm}^3} = 5\,\text{g/cm}^3$$

Example 2: Suppose you need to find the density of an ice cube with a mass of 200 grams and a volume of 220 cm³:

$$\rho = \frac{200\,\text{g}}{220\,\text{cm}^3} \approx 0.91\,\text{g/cm}^3$$

Notes

When calculating density, it’s important to consider the precision of measuring mass and volume. Even small errors can affect the result obtained. It’s also necessary to consider the influence of temperature and pressure, as they can change the volume of a substance and, consequently, its density.

FAQs

How to find the volume of water if its mass and density are known?

If you know the mass of the water and its density, the volume can be calculated using the formula:

$$V = \frac{m}{\rho}$$

Knowing the mass of water is 500 grams and its density is 1 g/cm³, the volume will be:

$$V = \frac{500}{1} = 500\,\text{cm}^3$$

How is density related to buoyancy?

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to stay afloat in a liquid. Objects with density less than that of the liquid will float, and those with greater density will sink.

What influences changes in the density of substances?

Density is influenced by temperature and pressure. Increasing temperature typically increases volume (an exception is water between 0°C and 4°C), which decreases density. Pressure also changes the volume of a substance, affecting its density.

How to find the density of petroleum products if the mass is 800 kg and the volume is 1 m³?

To find the density of petroleum products, use the formula:

$$\rho = \frac{m}{V}$$

Substitute the known data:

$$\rho = \frac{800\,\text{kg}}{1\,\text{m}^3} = 800\,\text{kg/m}^3$$

This value corresponds to the density typical for many types of oil and its products.