Density Lab

Measure mass and volume to determine density

Density is the ratio of mass to volume (ρ = m/V). Different materials have characteristic densities — iron is ~7874 kg/m³, water is 1000 kg/m³, and wood is typically 400–900 kg/m³. Water displacement is the standard method for measuring irregular volumes: immerse an object in water and measure the volume increase. Density determines whether an object floats or sinks.