Density (WJEC GCSE Physics: Combined Science)

• Density is defined as:

The mass per unit volume of a material

• Objects made from low density materials typically have a low mass
• Similarly sized objects made from high density materials have a high mass
  • For example, a bag full of feathers is far lighter compared to a similar bag full of metal
  • Or another example, a balloon is less dense than a small bar of lead despite occupying a larger volume

• Density is related to mass and volume by the following equation:

• Where: 
  • ρ = density measured in kilogram per metres cubed (kg/m³)
  • m = mass measured in kilograms (kg)
  • V = volume measured in metres cubed (m³)

• Gases are less dense that liquids because the particles in a gas are more spread out
• Liquids are less dense than solids, because the particles in a solid are closer together

Gases are less dense than solids because there are fewer particles per unit volume

• Students studying the Higher Tier will need to be able to rearrange the density equation
• The equation triangle help with the rearrangement:

Equation Triangle for Density, Mass and Volume

Cover up the variable you need to calculate, and the triangle shows you how the equation is arranged

• The volume of an object may not always be given directly, but can be calculated with the appropriate equation depending on the object’s shape

Volumes of common 3D shapes