What Density is
Density is a measure of how much of a certain material is contained in a certain volume. It is typically expressed as mass per unit volume, for example grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3). Density is an important physical property that has many uses in science and engineering.
To calculate density, the following steps should be followed:
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Determine the mass of the material: Obtain the mass of the material by weighing it on a scale or other accurate measuring device.
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Determine the volume of the material: Measure the volume of the material using a graduated cylinder or other accurate measuring device.
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Calculate the density: Divide the mass (in grams) by the volume (in cubic centimeters) to calculate the density in g/cm3.
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Convert to other units of density: If desired, convert the density to other units of density such as kg/m3 or lb/ft3.
Examples
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Density can be used to calculate the probability of an observation falling within a certain range of values. For example, a researcher could use density to calculate the probability that a randomly chosen person’s height is between 5'0" and 6'0".
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Density can be used to compare the relative frequencies of different groups of data. For example, a researcher could use density to compare the relative frequencies of male and female students enrolled in a college.
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Density can be used to estimate population size. For example, a researcher could use density to estimate the number of people living in a city by taking a sample of the population and using density to extrapolate the population size.