A graduated cylinder contains 50 mL of water. You carefully place a rock into the cylinder, causing the water level to rise to 70 mL. If the mass of the rock is 100 grams, explain how to calculate the density of the rock in two to four sentences. Describe each step of the process and provide the final density value for full points. You may write your answer in complete sentences or as a numbered/bulleted list but you must explain all steps for full points. Make the answer as simple as possible

3 answers

To calculate the density of the rock, follow these steps:

  1. Determine the volume of the rock: Measure the change in water level in the graduated cylinder. The initial water level was 50 mL, and after adding the rock, it rose to 70 mL. Thus, the volume of the rock is 70 mL - 50 mL = 20 mL.

  2. Calculate density using the formula: Density is calculated by dividing the mass of the rock by its volume. The mass of the rock is 100 grams, and its volume is 20 mL. Using the formula: \[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}} = \frac{100 \text{ grams}}{20 \text{ mL}} = 5 \text{ grams/mL}. \]

  3. Final result: The density of the rock is 5 grams/mL.

Simpler

Here’s a simplified explanation to calculate the density of the rock:

  1. Calculate the volume of the rock: The water level rose from 50 mL to 70 mL, so the rock's volume is 70 mL - 50 mL = 20 mL.

  2. Use the density formula: Density = mass / volume. The rock's mass is 100 grams, so:
    \[ \text{Density} = \frac{100 \text{ grams}}{20 \text{ mL}} = 5 \text{ grams/mL}. \]

  3. Conclusion: The density of the rock is 5 grams/mL.