Density Calculator

What is density?

Density tells you how much mass is packed into a given volume. It is what makes a small lump of lead feel heavy while a large piece of foam feels light. You find it by dividing an object's mass by its volume.

For reference, water has a density of about 1000 kilograms per cubic metre, which is why objects denser than water sink and lighter ones float.

How to use this calculator

1. Enter the mass of the object or substance.
2. Enter its volume in the correct units.
3. Click calculate to find the density.
4. Check that your units make sense, such as \(\text{g}/\text{cm}^3\) or \(\text{kg}/\text{m}^3\).

The formula explained

The formula \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\) computes density by dividing mass by volume. It tells you how concentrated the mass is in each unit of space.

• \(\rho\) = density
• m = mass
• V = volume

Step by step method

1. Write down the mass and the volume.
2. Divide the mass by the volume using \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\).
3. Keep the units consistent before calculating.
4. State the density with the correct units.

Worked example

Problem. A metal sample has a mass of \(24\,\text{g}\) and a volume of \(8\,\text{cm}^3\). Find its density.

1. Use \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\).
2. Substitute the values, \(\rho = \frac{24}{8}\).
3. Compute the result, \(\rho = 3\,\text{g}/\text{cm}^3\).

Tips and common mistakes

• Make sure mass and volume are in compatible units before dividing.
• If you know density and volume instead, you can rearrange the formula to find mass, because \(m = \rho V\).

Frequently asked questions