The density of water is approximately 1 g/cm3 . An ice block with a height of 2 cm, length of 2 cm, width of 5 cm, and mass of 18.4 g is dropped in water. Will it float or sink? In 3–5 sentences, show your calculations and explain how you arrived at your conclusion.(4 points)

1 answer

To determine whether the ice block will float or sink, we first need to calculate its volume and then its density. The volume \( V \) of the ice block can be calculated using the formula for volume of a rectangular prism:

\[ V = \text{height} \times \text{length} \times \text{width} = 2, \text{cm} \times 2, \text{cm} \times 5, \text{cm} = 20, \text{cm}^3 \]

Next, we calculate the density \( \rho \) of the ice block using its mass and volume:

\[ \rho = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}} = \frac{18.4, \text{g}}{20, \text{cm}^3} = 0.92, \text{g/cm}^3 \]

Since the density of the ice block (0.92 g/cm³) is less than the density of water (1 g/cm³), the ice block will float. Objects with a density lower than the fluid in which they are placed will float, while those with a higher density will sink.