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Density: What Is Weight and What Is Mass

This document defines density and specific weight. Density is defined as mass per unit volume and can be expressed as ρ = m/V. Specific weight is defined as weight per unit volume and can be expressed as γ = ρg. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating density and specific weight of various materials and using density to identify an unknown liquid substance. The key difference between weight and mass is also noted.

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185 views3 pages

Density: What Is Weight and What Is Mass

This document defines density and specific weight. Density is defined as mass per unit volume and can be expressed as ρ = m/V. Specific weight is defined as weight per unit volume and can be expressed as γ = ρg. Examples are provided to demonstrate calculating density and specific weight of various materials and using density to identify an unknown liquid substance. The key difference between weight and mass is also noted.

Uploaded by

AWM Kassim
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Density

Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Mass is a property.

 What is weight and what is mass? - the difference between weight and mass

Density can be expressed as

ρ = m / V = 1 / vg                  (1)

where

ρ = density (kg/m3, slugs/ft3)

m = mass (kg, slugs)

V = volume (m3, ft3)

vg = specific volume (m3/kg, ft3/slug)

The SI units for density are kg/m3 - the Imperial (U.S.) units are slugs/ft3.

Pounds per cubic foot - lb/ft3 - is often used as a measure of density in the US, but pounds are
really a measure of force, not mass. Slugs are the correct measure of mass. You can multiply
slugs by 32.2 for a rough value in pounds (lbm).

 1 slug = 32.174 lbm = 14.594 kg 


 1 kg = 2.2046 lbm = 6.8521x10-2 slugs
 Unit converter - mass
 Unit converter - density

On atomic level - particles are packed tighter inside a substance with higher density. Density is
a physical property - constant at a given temperature and pressure - and may helpful for
identification of substances.

 densities and properties for some common materials

 density of water at different temperatures - SI and Imperial units

Example - Density of a Golf ball


A golf ball has a diameter of 42 mm and a mass of 45 g. The volume of the golf ball can be
calculated as

V = (4 / 3) π ((42 mm) (0.001 m/mm) / 2)3

   = 3.8 10-5 m3

The density of the golf ball can then be calculated as


ρ = (45 g) (0.001 kg/g) / (3.8 10-5 m3)

   = 1184 kg/m3

Example - Density to Identify a Material


An unknown liquid substance has a mass of 18.5 g and occupies a volume of 23.4 ml (milliliter).

The density of the substance can be calculated as

ρ = [(18.5 g) / (1000 g/kg)] / [(23.4 ml) / (1000 ml/l) (1000 l/m3)]

    = (18.5 10-3 kg) / (23.4 10-6 m3)

    = 790 (kg/m3)

If we look up densities of some common liquids, we find that ethyl alcohol - or ethanol - has a
density of 789 kg/m3. The liquid may be ethyl alcohol!

Example - Density to Calculate Volume Mass


The density of titanium is 4507 kg/m3. The mass of 0.17 m3 volume titanium can be calculated
as

m = (0.17 m3) (4507 kg/m3)

    = 766.2 (kg)

Specific Weight
Specific Weight is defined as weight per unit volume. Weight is a force.

 What is weight and what is mass? - the difference between weight and mass

Specific Weight can be expressed as

γ = ρ g         (2)

where

γ = specific weight (N/m3, lb/ft3)

ρ = density (kg/m3, slugs/ft3)

g = acceleration of gravity (9.807 m/s2, 32.174 ft/s2) 

The SI units for specific weight are N/m3. The imperial units are lb/ft3.

Local acceleration g is (under normal conditions) 9.807 m/s2 in SI units and 32.174 ft/s2 in


imperial units.
Example - Specific Weight Water
The density of water is 1000 kg/m3 at 4  oC (39  oF). The specific weight in SI units is

γ = (1000 kg/m3) (9.81 m/s2)

    = 9810 (N/m3)

    = 9.81 (kN/m3)

The density of water is 1.940 slugs/ft3 at 39  oF (4  oC). The specific weight in Imperial units is

γ = (1.940 slugs/ft3) (32.174 ft/s2)

    = 62.4 (lb/ft3)

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