Question

A piece of wood that measures 3.0 cm by 6.0 cm by 4.0 cm has a mass of 80.0 grams. What the density of the wood? Would the piece of wood float in water?

Answer 1

The density is `1.1 g/(cm^3)`. See explanation.

Explanation:

The density of a substance can be calculated using:

`d=m/V`

where `m` is the mass, and `V` is the volume.

Here we do not have the volume given, however we can calculate volume by multiplying given dimensions:

`V=3*4*6=72cm^3`

So the density is: `d=80/72=1 1/9 g/(cm^3)`

To answer the question stated in the last sentence we have to compare the calculated density of the piece of wood with the density of water.

Water has density of `d_W=1 g/(cm^3)`

Since the density of the wood is greater than the density of water, it will NOT float in the water.