1. Mass Measurement:
- Weigh the substance using a balance or scale to determine its mass. Record this measurement in grams (g) or the appropriate unit of mass.
2. Volume Measurement:
- Determine the volume of the substance. This step depends on the physical state and shape of the substance:
For solids with regular shapes (like cubes, spheres, or cylinders):
- Use appropriate formulas to calculate the volume based on the object's dimensions, such as length, width, height, radius, etc.
For solids with irregular shapes:
- Use the water displacement method:
- Fill a graduated cylinder or beaker with a known volume of water and record its initial water level.
- Carefully place the irregular solid object into the water without spilling any.
- Note the new water level after the object is fully submerged.
- The volume of the object is equivalent to the difference between the initial and final water levels.
For liquids:
- Use graduated cylinders or measuring containers to directly read the volume of the liquid.
3. Density Calculation:
- Once you have the mass and volume measurements, calculate the density (ρ) using the formula:
```
ρ = mass (m) / volume (V)
```
Density is expressed in units such as grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), or pounds per cubic inch (lb/in³) depending on the units used for mass and volume.
The calculated density represents the mass of the substance per unit volume, providing information about how tightly packed the particles or molecules are within that volume.
It's worth noting that temperature and pressure can influence the density of substances, so specifying the conditions under which the density is measured is also essential.
