1.3 Mass, Weight & Density

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CIE IGCSE Physics Your notes
1.3 Mass, Weight & Density

Contents
1.3.1 Mass & Weight
1.3.2 Density
1.3.3 Measuring Density
1.3.4 Floating
Page 1 of 27
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1.3.1 Mass & Weight

Your notes
Mass
Mass is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object at rest relative to the observer
Mass is a scalar quantity
The SI unit for mass is the kilogram (kg)
Consequently, mass is the property of an object that resists change in motion
The greater the mass of an object, the more difficult it is to speed it up, slow it down, or
change its direction
A mass may sometimes be given in grams (g)
1000 g = 1 kg
1 g = 0.001 kg
Worked example
An object has a mass of 2.7 kg.
State the number of grams in 2.7 kg.
1. State the conversion between g and kg

1 kg = 1000 g
2. Convert 2.7 kg into g
2.7 kg = 2.7 × 1000 = 2700 g
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Weight
Weight is a gravitational force on an object with mass Your notes
Weight is a force, so it is a vector quantity
The SI units for force are newtons (N)
EXTENDED
Weight is the effect of a gravitational field on a mass
Weight is defined as:
The force acting on an object due to gravitational attraction
Planets have strong gravitational fields
Hence, they attract nearby masses with a strong gravitational force
Because of weight:
Objects stay firmly on the ground
Objects will always fall to the ground
Satellites are kept in orbit
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Your notes
Some of the phenomena associated with gravitational attraction and the weight force
The weight of a body is equal to the product of its mass (m) and the acceleration of free fall (g)
You can rearrange this equation with the help of the formula triangle:
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Your notes
Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation
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Gravitational Field Strength

Gravitational field strength is defined as: Your notes
The force per unit mass acting on an object in a gravitational field
On Earth, this is equal to 9.8 N/kg
Gravitational field strength is also known as acceleration of free fall, or acceleration due to
gravity
In this context the units are m/s 2
The value of g (gravitational field strength) varies from planet to planet depending on their mass
and radius
A few examples of varying gravitational field strength are shown below:
Gravitational field strength of the planets in our solar system

Mass v Weight
An object’s mass always remains the same, however, its weight will differ depending on the
strength of the gravitational field on different planets
For example, the gravitational field strength on the Moon is 1.63 N/kg, meaning an object’s weight
will be about 6 times less than on Earth
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Your notes
On the moon, your mass will stay the same but your weight will be much lower
Exam Tip
You won't be expected the learn the exact value of g (9.81 N/kg), but you will be expected to
remember that g = 9.8 N/kg and use it in calculations
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Using a Balance
The weight of two objects can be compared using a balance Your notes
Because the gravitational field strength is constant everywhere on Earth, this also allows us
to measure the mass of an object
W
m=
g
A balance can be used to compare two different weights
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1.3.2 Density
Your notes
Density
Density is defined as:
The mass per unit volume of a material
Objects made from low density materials typically have a low mass
Similarly siz ed 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:
Gases, for examples, are less dense than solids because the molecules are more spread out
(same mass, over a larger volume)
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Gases are less dense than solids

This equation can be rearranged with the help of the formula triangle: Your notes
Density, mass, volume formula triangle

The units of density depend on what units are used for mass and volume:
If the mass is measured in g and volume in cm3, then the density will be in g/cm3
If the mass is measured in kg and volume in m3, then the density will be in kg/m3
This table gives some examples of densities on common materials
If a material is more dense than water (1000 kg/m3), then it will sink
Approximate Densities of Materials Table
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Your notes
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
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Your notes
Volumes of common 3D shapes
Worked example
A paving slab has a mass of 73 kg and dimensions 0.04 m × 0.5 m × 0.85 m.
Calculate the density, in kg/m3, of the material from which the paving slab is made.
Step 1: List the known quantities

Mass of slab, m = 73 kg
Volume of slab, V = 0.04 m × 0.5 m × 0.85 m = 0.017 m3
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Step 2: Write out the equation for density
Your notes
Step 3: Substitute in values

ρ = 73 ÷ 0.017 = 4294 kg/m3
Step 4: Round the answer to two significant figures

ρ = 4300 kg/m3
Exam Tip
Make sure you are comfortable converting between units such as metres (m) and centimetres
(cm) or grams (g) and kilograms (kg).
When converting a larger unit to a smaller one, you multiply (×)
E.g. 125 m = 125 × 100 = 12 500 cm
When you convert a smaller unit to a larger one, you divide (÷)
E.g. 5 g = 5 ÷ 1000 = 0.005 or 5 × 10-3 kg
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1.3.3 Measuring Density

Your notes
Measuring Density
Equipment List
Resolution of measuring equipment:

30 cm ruler = 1 mm
Vernier calipers = 0.01 mm
Micrometer = 0.001 mm
Digital balance = 0.01 g
Experiment 1: Measuring the Density of Regularly Shaped Objects
The aim of this experiment is to determine the densities of regular objects by using
measurements of their dimensions
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Variables:
Independent variable = Type of shape / volume
Dependent variable = Mass of the object Your notes
Method
1. Place the object on a digital balance and note down its mass
2. Use either the ruler, Vernier calipers or micrometer to measure the object’s dimensions (width,
height, length, radius) – the apparatus will depend on the siz e of the object
3. Repeat these measurements and take an average of these readings before calculating the
density
An example of a results table might look like this:
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Your notes
Analysis of Results
Calculate the volume of the object depending on whether it is a cube, sphere, cylinder (or other
regular shape)
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Your notes
Calculating the volume of an object depends on its shape

Remember to convert from centimetres (cm) to metres (m) by dividing by 100
1 cm = 0.01 m
50 cm = 0.5 m
Using the mass and volume, the density of each can be calculated using the equation:
Where:
ρ = density in kilogram per metres cubed (kg/m3)
m = mass in kilograms (kg)
V = volume in metres cubed (m3)
Experiment 2: Measuring the Density of Irregularly Shaped Objects
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The aim of this experiment is to determine the densities of irregular objects using a displacement
technique
Your notes
Variables:
Independent variable = Different irregular shapes / mass
Dependent variable = Volume of displaced water
Method
Apparatus for measuring the density of irregular objects

1. Place the object on a digital balance and note down its mass
2. Fill the eureka can with water up to a point just below the spout
3. Place an empty measuring cylinder below its spout
4. Carefully lower the object into the eureka can
5. Measure the volume of the displaced water in the measuring cylinder
6. Repeat these measurements and take an average before calculating the density
Alternatively, the object can be placed in a measuring cylinder containing a known volume of
liquid, and the change in volume then measured
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Your notes
When an irregular solid is placed in a measuring cylinder, the level of the liquid will rise by an amount equal
to the volume of the solid
Once the mass and volume of the shape is known, its density can be calculated
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Your notes
Analysis of Results
The volume of the water displaced is equal to the volume of the object
Once the mass and volume of the shape are known, the density can be calculated using:
Experiment 3: Measuring Density of Liquids

The aim of this experiment is to determine the density of a liquid by finding a difference in its
mass
Variables:
Independent variable = Volume of water added
Dependent variable = Mass of cylinder
Method
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Your notes
Apparatus for determining the density of a liquid

1. Place an empty measuring cylinder on a digital balance and note down the mass
2. Fill the cylinder with the liquid and note down the volume
3. Note down the new reading on the digital balance
4. Repeat these measurements and take an average before calculating the density
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Your notes
Analysis of Results
Find the mass of the liquid by subtracting the final reading from the original reading
Mass of liquid = Mass of cylinder with water – mass of cylinder
Remember to convert between grams (g) and kilograms (kg) by dividing by 1000
1 g = 0.001 kg
78 g = 0.078 kg
Once the mass and volume of the liquid are known, the density can be calculated using the
equation:
Evaluating the Experiments

Systematic Errors:
Ensure the digital balance is set to z ero before taking measurements of mass
This includes when measuring the density of the liquid – remove the measuring cylinder and
z ero the balance before adding the liquid
Random Errors:
A main cause of error in this experiment is in the measurements of length
Ensure to take repeat readings and calculate an average to keep this error to a minimum
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Place the irregular object in the displacement can carefully, as dropping it from a height might
cause water to splash which will lead to an incorrect volume reading
Your notes
Safety Considerations
There is a lot of glassware in this experiment, ensure this is handled carefully
Water should not be poured into the measuring cylinder when it is on the electric balance
This could lead to electric shock
Make sure to stand up during the whole experiment, to react quickly to any spills
Exam Tip
There is a lot of information to take in here! When writing about experiments, a good sequence is
as follows:
If you need to use an equation to calculate something, start off by giving it as this will give you
some hints about what you need to mention later
List the apparatus that you need
State what measurements you need to make (your equation will give you some hints) and
how you will measure them
Finally, state that you will repeat each measurement several times and take averages
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1.3.4 Floating
Your notes
Floating Objects
Upthrust
Upthrust is a force that pushes upwards on an object submerged in a fluid i.e. liquids and gases
It is always in the opposite direction to the object's weight
This is why boats, and objects that are less dense than water, float
The siz e of the upthrust depends on the density of the fluid as well as the volume of fluid that is
displaced (which is equal to the volume of the object)
The denser the liquid, the greater the upthrust it will exert on an object
Upthrust is in the opposite direction to the weight of the boat and the fisherman
Factors Affecting Floating & Sinking
Whether an object sinks or floats depends on the upthrust:
If the upthrust on an object is equal to (or greater than) the object’s weight, then the object
will float
If the upthrust is smaller than the weight then the object will sink
The outcome also depends on the object's density:
If it has a density less than the density of the fluid it is immersed in, the object will float
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If it has a density more than the density of the fluid it is immersed in, the object will sink
This is because if the density of the object is greater than the density of the fluid, the object can Your notes
never displace enough fluid to create an upthrust that will hold its weight up (and therefore sinks)
Objects which are less dense than water will float and which are more dense will sink
A polystyrene block will float in water
This is because polystyrene has a density of 0.05 g/cm3 which is much less than the density
of water (1.0 g/cm3)
A wooden block will be partially submerged but will still float
This is because the density of a wooden block (0.9 g/cm3) is slightly less than the density of
water
An iron block will sink
This is because iron has a density (7.9 g/cm3) that is much higher than water
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Exam Tip
Your notes
The main thing to remember is that density is mass per unit volume
In Physics, mass is almost always measured in kg
Density is the only topic in which physicists sometimes use grams instead
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Floating Liquids
EXTENDED Your notes
A liquid with a lower density will float on a liquid with a higher density if the liquids do not mix
Lower density liquids float on higher density liquids as long as the liquids do not mix
Worked example
Liquid A has a density of 0.76 g/cm3 and liquid B has a density of 0.93 g/cm3.
If the two liquids do not mix, which liquid will float on top of the other?
Step 1: List the known quantities

Liquid A = 0.76 g/cm3
Liquid B = 0.93 g/cm3
Step 2: Determine which liquid has the lowest density
The liquid with the lowest density will float on top of the liquid with the higher density
0.76 is less than 0.93
Therefore, liquid A has the lowest density
Step 3: State your answer
Liquid A will float on top of liquid B
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1.3 Mass, Weight & Density

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CIE IGCSE Physics Your notes

1.3 Mass, Weight & Density

1.3.1 Mass & Weight

1. State the conversion between g and kg

Use the formula triangle to help you rearrange the equation

Gravitational Field Strength

Gravitational field strength of the planets in our solar system

A balance can be used to compare two different weights

Gases are less dense than solids

Density, mass, volume formula triangle

Volumes of common 3D shapes

Step 1: List the known quantities

Step 2: Write out the equation for density

Step 3: Substitute in values

Step 4: Round the answer to two significant figures

1.3.3 Measuring Density

Resolution of measuring equipment:

Calculating the volume of an object depends on its shape

Apparatus for measuring the density of irregular objects

Experiment 3: Measuring Density of Liquids

Apparatus for determining the density of a liquid

Evaluating the Experiments

Step 1: List the known quantities

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