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.

1 answer

To determine whether the ice block will float or sink, we need to calculate its density and compare it to the density of water (1 g/cm³).

First, calculate the volume of the ice block: \[ \text{Volume} = \text{height} \times \text{length} \times \text{width} = 2 , \text{cm} \times 2 , \text{cm} \times 5 , \text{cm} = 20 , \text{cm}^3 \]

Next, calculate the density of the ice block using its mass and volume: \[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}} = \frac{18.4 , \text{g}}{20 , \text{cm}^3} = 0.92 , \text{g/cm}^3 \]

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 when dropped into the water.