You are playing a game called "Will It Float?" In this game, you are given a large, square can of tuna. If you know the density of water, what is the minimal information you need to decide if the tuna will float in the water?

Question

A.
the mass of the can of tuna
B.
the mass and the volume of the can of tuna
C.
the volume of water displaced by the can of tuna
D.
the volume of the can of tuna

Answer 1

To determine if the can of tuna will float in water, you need to compare its density to the density of water.

The formula for density is:

\[ \text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}} \]

To find out if the can of tuna will float, you would need:

1. The mass of the can of tuna (to calculate its density).
2. The volume of the can of tuna (also required to calculate its density).

With both the mass and the volume, you can compute the density of the can of tuna and then compare it to the density of water (which is approximately 1 g/cm³). If the density of the can of tuna is less than that of water, it will float; if it is more, it will sink.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

B. the mass and the volume of the can of tuna