DENSITY

Density of a body is defined as its mass per unit volume.

mass density volume

The S.I unit of density is kg/m3 or g/m3 and it is a scalar quantity.

MEASUREMENT OF DENSITY
Regular solid the density of a regular solid can be found by measuring its mass with a balance (e.g beam balance) and its volume, by measuring its dimension(i.e length x width x height). 2. Irregular solid such as stone the density of an irregular shaped can be found by measuring its mass on a balance and then measuring its volume by completely immersing it in water in Eureka can (displacement can).
1.

The volume of the overflowing or displaced water is equal to the volume Of the solid. DENSITY OF LIQUID A beaker is first weighed empty and its mass (W1) noted. A known volume V of the liquid under test is transferred to the beaker by a pipette or a measuring cylinder. The beaker together with the liquid are weighed (W2). From the second weighing, the mass of the known volume of liquid is found and is equal to W2 W1 . Thus, density of liquid = mass of liquid = W2 W1 volume of liquid volume

EXAMPLE
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A solid cylindrical material of radius 10cm and 50cm weighs 44kg. Calculate its density. What volume of alcohol with a density of 8.4 x 102 kg/m3 will have the same mass as 4.2m3 of petrol whose density is 7.2 x 102kg? 40m3 of liquid P is mixed with 60m3 of another liquid Q. if the density of P and Q are 1.00kg/m3 and 1.6kg/m3 respectively. What

4. The density of 400cm3 of palm oil was 0.9g/cm3 before frying. If the density of the oil after frying was 0.6g/cm3, assuming no loss of oil due to spilling, what was its new volume.

RELATIVE DENSITY
The following are the definitions of relative density: 1. Relative density = mass of substance mass of equal volume of water 2. R.D = Weight of substance weight of equal volume of water 3. R.D = density of substance density of water 4. R.D = upthrust in liquid upthrust in water Relative density has no units

DETERMINATION OF THE RELATIVE DENSITY

sand; using the density bottle The relative density bottle is weighed empty, and its mass m1 is recorded. It is then half filled with sand and weighed, the mass is recorded as m2. water is now added to filled the bottle to the brim. It is weighed and the mass recorded as m3. finally the bottle is emptied, dried and with water. It is then weighed and the mass is recorded as m4 Result Mass of sand
1.

RESULT
mass of density bottle = m1 mass of sand = m2 m1 mass of water filling bottle =m4 m1 mass of water added to sand = m3 m2 Mass of water which occupied same volume as the sand = (m4 m1) (m3 m2) Calculation
Relative density = mass of sand mass of equal volume of water = m2 m1 ( m4 m1 ) (m3 m2 )

2. Liquid using the relative density bottle The relative density bottle is weighed empty, and has mass m It is then filled with liquid and weighed and has mass m1. Finally, it is emptied, dried and refilled with water and reweighed as m2. Relative density = mass of liquid mass of equal volume of water = m1 m m2 m

UPTHRUST
A body immersed in a fluid experiences a resultant upward force owing to the pressure of fluid on it. This upward force is called the upthrust of the fluid on the body. Note (i) The resultant pull experienced as tension in the rope when the body is under the fluid is T= WU where W = Weight of the object in air U = upthrust T = tension in the rope

(ii) Upthrust = loss in weight of the object when immersed in a fluid. = weight in air weight in fluid. (iii) Upthrust = loss in weight = mass x acceleration due to gravity But mass = density x volume Upthrust = density x volume x acceleration due to gravity. = Pvg