Cambridge Encyclopedia :: Cambridge Encyclopedia Vol. 20

density (physics)

The mass of a substance divided by its volume; symbol ?, units kg/m3. The density of water is 1000 kg/m3. An object placed in a liquid more dense than itself will float, whereas an object more dense than the liquid will sink. Density is measured using a hydrometer.

A table of masses of various substances:

Substance Density in kg/m3 Particles per cubic metre
Iridium 22650 1.06 ×10
Osmium 22610 7.16 ×10
Platinum 21450 6.62 ×10
Gold (0°C) 19300 5.90 ×10
Tungsten 19250 6.31 ×10
Uranium 19050 4.82 ×10
Mercury 13580 4.08 ×10
Palladium 12023 6.8 ×10
Lead 11340 3.3 ×10
Silver 10490 5.86 ×10
Copper 8960 8.49 ×10
Iron 7870 8.49 ×10
Steel 7850
Tin 7310 3.71 ×10
Titanium 4507 5.67 ×10
Diamond 3500 1.75 ×10
Basalt 3000
Granite 2700
Aluminium 2700 6.03 ×10
Graphite 2200 1.10 ×10
Magnesium 1740 4.31 ×10
PVC 1300
Seawater (15°C) 1025
Water (25 °C) 998 3.34 ×10
Ice (0°C) 917 3.07 ×10
Polyethylene 910
Ethyl alcohol 790 1.03 ×10
Gasoline 730
Liquid Hydrogen 68 4.06 ×10
Aerogel 3
any gas 0.0446 times the average molecular mass (in g/mol), hence between 0.09 and ca. temperature °C
T in °C ρ in kg/m3
- 10 1.341
- 5 1.316
0 1.293
+ 5 1.269
+ 10 1.247
+ 15 1.225
+ 20 1.204
+ 25 1.184
+ 30 1.164

Note the low density of aluminium compared to most other metals.

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