Density Calculator

Density is a common topic in school and in scientific research, it is often used to understand buoyancy of a substance or to help identify a substance.

Object Information

Object Density:

This object would at this density. NOTE: All answers are in kilogram/cubic meter measurement.

What is Density?

Density is a physical property of matter that describes how much mass is contained in a given volume. It is defined as the amount of mass per unit volume of a substance and often is used to determine if an object will float or sink in water.

How To Calculate Density

You can calculate the density of an object by using a simple formula. The formula is:

Density = Mass Volume

Density can be measured in many different units of measurement. Often, the density of an object is displayed in kilograms/cubic meter.

You can also calculate the density of an object even if the object has a mass that is measured in a completely different unit of measurement than the volume.

Density of Common Substances

Understanding the density of common substances that we all know can help your understanding and importance of density. Here are some substances and their density:

Item Density (kg/m³)
Water 1000
Air 1.225
Aluminum 2700
Iron 7870
Gold 19320
Silver 10490
Copper 8960
Lead 11340
Mercury 13530
Platinum 21450
Granite 2750
Concrete 2400
Wood (Oak) 750
Ice 920
Gasoline 740

The History of Density

Density surprisingly has its roots deep in history, going back as early as 250 B.C.. The Greek mathematician, Archimedes, plays a large part in this story. It is about him helping the King of Syracuse identify if his crown is made out of real gold or not. You can read the whole story here with some more great info about density.

Density & Boyancy

Boyancy and density go hand-in-hand a lot of the time. This is because there is a direct correlation, depending on the density of an object, it will either sink or float in water.

When the density of an object or substance is more than the density of water, it will sink. If it is less than the density of water, it will float.

Density - Frequently Asked Questions

Density is a measurement of an object or substance that helps illustrate how packed the mass is along the surface of the item.

Temperature can significantly affect density. As most substances are heated, they expand and their density decreases. Conversely, as they are cooled, they contract and their density increases. Water is a notable exception, as it reaches maximum density at 4°C.

Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object, while density is the measure of mass per unit volume. Weight depends on both mass and gravitational acceleration, whereas density depends only on mass and volume.

Yes, since substances have specific density values, you can find out the density of an object or substance to properly identify what it is exactly.

Ice floats on water because its density is lower than that of liquid water. As water freezes and expands, its volume increases while its mass remains the same, resulting in a lower density. This lower density allows ice to float.

Create Date: June 12, 2024

Last Modified Date: July 5, 2024