The density of a material can easily be calculated if we are given the mass and volume of a sample
Calculating Density from
Mass and Volume
In this example, we’re given that a 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g and we’re asked to calculate the density of butter in grams per centimeter cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g. Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
We know that the formula for density is density equals mass divided by volume.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
The density formula
We’ll make a note of the mass and volume in a table here
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = 230 cm3
The mass of the sample is 200 g
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = 230 cm3
And because mL is a unit of volume, we can state that the volume of the sample is230 mL
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = 230 cm3
However, we notice that they want us to calculate the density in grams per centimeter cubed, or grams per cubic centimeter.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = 2 cm3
The unit of density required
is g/cm3
So the unit we use for volume needs to be centimeters cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = = 2 cm3
The unit of density required
is g/cm3
It is known that 1 mL is the same volume as 1 centimeter cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL = = 2 cm3
1 mL = 1 cm3
230 mL = 230 cm3
So 230 mL is the same as 230 centimeters cubed
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL
= 230 cm3
1 mL = 1 cm3
230 mL = 230 cm3
And we can put 230 in for the volume in centimeters cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL
= 230 cm3
1 mL = 1 cm3
230 mL = 230 cm3
Now we can substitute the values for mass and volume into our equation, density equals mass divided by volume
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
massvolume
We substitute 200 grams in for mass
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
200 gvolume
And 230 centimeters cubed in for volume
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
200 g
230 cm3
So the density is 200 grams divided by 230 centimeters cubed,
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
200 g
230 cm3
Which comes out to 0.87 grams per centimeter cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
200 g
230 cm3
density=0.87 g/cm3
So the answer to the question is the density of butter is 0.87 grams per centimeter cubed.
A 230 mL sample of butter has a mass of 200 g.Calculate the density of butter in g/cm3.
density=mas
svolume
mass 200 g
volume230 mL= 230 cm3density=
200 g
230 cm3
density=0.87 g/cm3
The density of butter is 0.87 g/cm3
Answer