Density Calculator
Calculate density, mass, or volume of a substance using the density formula ρ = m/V.
Result
Calculation Details
Understanding Density
Density is a fundamental physical property that describes how much mass is contained within a given volume. It is defined as the ratio of an object's mass to its volume, expressed as ρ = m / V. Density determines whether an object floats or sinks in a fluid and is a key quantity in physics, chemistry, engineering, and material science.
Key Formulas
- ρ = m / V — Density equals mass divided by volume
- m = ρ × V — Mass equals density times volume
- V = m / ρ — Volume equals mass divided by density
Densities of Common Materials
Liquids
- • Water: 1.00 g/cm³ (at 4 °C)
- • Ethanol: 0.789 g/cm³
- • Seawater: 1.025 g/cm³
- • Mercury: 13.53 g/cm³
Metals
- • Aluminum: 2.70 g/cm³
- • Iron: 7.87 g/cm³
- • Copper: 8.96 g/cm³
- • Gold: 19.32 g/cm³
Solids
- • Ice: 0.917 g/cm³
- • Wood (oak): 0.75 g/cm³
- • Glass: 2.5 g/cm³
- • Concrete: 2.4 g/cm³
Gases (at 0 °C, 1 atm)
- • Air: 0.001293 g/cm³
- • Helium: 0.0001786 g/cm³
- • Carbon dioxide: 0.001977 g/cm³
- • Hydrogen: 0.0000899 g/cm³
Real-World Examples
Density calculations are used in shipbuilding, metallurgy, cooking, and material identification. Here are some practical applications:
- A 200 g object occupying 50 cm³ has a density of 4 g/cm³
- A gold bar of 1,000 cm³ (density 19.32 g/cm³) has a mass of 19.32 kg
- Objects with a density below 1.00 g/cm³ float in fresh water
- 250 g of olive oil (density 0.92 g/cm³) occupies about 272 cm³
References
The formulas and reference values used in this calculator are based on established physics principles and verified sources:
Related Calculators
Note: This calculator assumes uniform density and ideal conditions. Real materials may vary in density due to temperature, pressure, purity, and porosity. Ensure mass and volume use consistent units; the default outputs assume mass in grams and volume in cubic centimeters (g/cm³).