Calculating Object Density with Formulae

In summary: Willem said that "mass" and "volume" are interchangeable, so using the first formula would be correct.
  • #1
Haftred
55
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Can I use either of these formulae to find the desity of an object?

a) ((Weightapparent/Forcebuoyant) + 1)(Densityfluid) = Densityobj

b) (Weightobject/Forcebuoyant *Densityfluid) = Densityobj

Thanks
 
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  • #2
Archimedes law tells you the buoyance force is equal to the gravitational force on the displaced mass:

[tex]F_{buoyance}=g \rho_{fluid} V_{displaced}[/tex]

The apparent weight of the object can be found by evaluating the net downward force [itex]F_g-F_{buoyance}=g[m-\rho_{fluid} V_{displaced}][/itex] Where the term between brackets is the apparent weight.

With [itex]\rho[/itex] density, [itex]m[/itex] mass [itex]V[/itex] volume and g the gravitational acceleration. With this knowledge you can probably work out the answer yourself!
 
  • #3
I still can't figure it out :mad:
 
  • #4
da_willem said:
Archimedes law tells you the buoyance force is equal to the gravitational force on the displaced mass:

[tex]F_{buoyance}=g \rho_{fluid} V_{displaced}[/tex]

The apparent weight of the object can be found by evaluating the net downward force [itex]F_g-F_{buoyance}=g[m-\rho_{fluid} V_{displaced}][/itex] Where the term between brackets is the apparent weight.

With [itex]\rho[/itex] density, [itex]m[/itex] mass [itex]V[/itex] volume and g the gravitational acceleration. With this knowledge you can probably work out the answer yourself!

What's to figure out than applying what Da-willem said??

You may want to write:
[tex] \rho_{body}-\rho_{fluid}=\frac{F_g-F_{buoyance}}{g V_{displaced}}[/tex]
From the previous equation,the density of the body is immediate.
 
  • #5
ok, so my original two formulas are correct then, right?
 
  • #6
Haftred said:
ok, so my original two formulas are correct then, right?

Yes,they are true.But why complicate with calculating buoyant forces,when u can simply say that:
[tex] \rho_{object}=\frac{m_{object}}{V_{displaced}} [/tex]
It's Archimede's law that states that,if the fluid is incompressible (Archimedes didn't think of compressible fluids),then the volume of the body is equal to the volume of the displaced fluid.Since u can easily determine one's body mass,the density is immediate.

Daniel.
 

FAQ: Calculating Object Density with Formulae

What is the formula for calculating object density?

The formula for calculating object density is mass divided by volume. This can be written as D = m/v, where D is density, m is mass, and v is volume.

How do you measure the mass of an object?

The mass of an object can be measured using a scale or balance. The object is placed on the scale and the reading will give the mass in units of grams or kilograms.

How do you determine the volume of an object?

The volume of an object can be determined by measuring its dimensions and using the appropriate formula. For example, the volume of a cube can be calculated by multiplying the length, width, and height. The volume of irregularly shaped objects can be measured by using displacement or water displacement methods.

What units are typically used for density?

The most commonly used units for density are grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3) or kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m3). However, other units such as pounds per cubic inch (lb/in3) or grams per milliliter (g/mL) may also be used.

How does density affect an object's buoyancy?

Density plays a crucial role in an object's buoyancy. Objects with a lower density than the fluid they are placed in will float, while objects with a higher density will sink. This is because the object's weight is compared to the weight of the displaced fluid, also known as Archimedes' principle.

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