🌐 EN

Density Calculator

Calculate density, mass, or volume of materials and check density references.

Material Density Reference

MaterialDensity
Water1.00 g/cm³
Iron7.87 g/cm³
Aluminum2.70 g/cm³
Copper8.96 g/cm³
Gold19.32 g/cm³
GUIDE

Learn more

01

Definition and Formula of Density

Density (ρ) is mass per unit volume, representing an intrinsic property of matter. Formula: Density (ρ) = Mass (m) ÷ Volume (V). Units include g/cm³, kg/m³, g/mL. Water density is 1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³, serving as the reference standard. High density means more mass in the same volume. Iron density is 7.87 g/cm³ (8× heavier than water), aluminum is 2.70 g/cm³, and gold is 19.32 g/cm³ (19× heavier than water).

02

Calculation Methods and Examples

Example 1 (Find Density): Object with mass 500g and volume 200cm³: ρ = 500 ÷ 200 = 2.5 g/cm³. Example 2 (Find Mass): Iron (density 7.87 g/cm³), volume 100cm³: m = 7.87 × 100 = 787g. Example 3 (Find Volume): Gold (density 19.32 g/cm³), mass 1000g: V = 1000 ÷ 19.32 = 51.76cm³.

03

Material Density Reference Table

Common Metals: Aluminum 2.70 g/cm³, Iron 7.87 g/cm³, Copper 8.96 g/cm³, Zinc 7.14 g/cm³, Lead 11.34 g/cm³. Precious Metals: Gold 19.32 g/cm³, Platinum 21.45 g/cm³, Silver 10.49 g/cm³. Non-metals: Water 1.0 g/cm³, Ice 0.92 g/cm³, Glass 2.5 g/cm³, Concrete 2.3~2.4 g/cm³.

04

Density and Buoyancy

According to Archimedes Principle, buoyant force equals the weight of displaced fluid. Objects with density less than 1 g/cm³ float in water, while denser objects sink. Wood (0.5~0.6 g/cm³) floats, iron (7.87 g/cm³) sinks. Ice (0.92 g/cm³) floats because its density is lower than water (1.0 g/cm³). Ships float because their average density (including air space) is less than water.

05

Density Measurement Methods

1. Direct Method: Measure mass with a scale, measure volume with a graduated cylinder. Density = Mass ÷ Volume. 2. Pycnometer: Precision volume bottle for accurate liquid density measurement. 3. Hydrometer: Float device reading a density scale, used for battery electrolyte and milk testing. 4. Digital Density Meter: Vibrating tube principle with 0.0001 g/cm³ precision.

06

Practical Applications

Material Selection: Aircraft use lightweight aluminum alloys (2.7 g/cm³), cars use steel (7.9 g/cm³) and plastics (1.0~1.5 g/cm³). Quality Testing: Gold purity testing by density measurement, pure gold (19.32 g/cm³) vs. alloys. Medical: Bone density testing for osteoporosis diagnosis. Construction: Concrete density (2.3 g/cm³) for quality control. Food: Milk density (1.03 g/cm³) to detect water dilution.

Frequently asked questions

If I know mass and volume, can I identify the material?
Comparing the calculated density (mass ÷ volume) against the reference table (water 1.0, aluminum 2.70, iron 7.87, copper 8.96, gold 19.32 g/cm³, etc.) lets you estimate which material it is likely to be.
How do I find volume if I know density and mass?
Use V = m ÷ ρ. For example, 1000g of gold (19.32 g/cm³) has a volume of 1000 ÷ 19.32 ≈ 51.76cm³.
How can density help check gold purity?
Pure gold (19.32 g/cm³) has a different density than alloys or counterfeits of the same mass, so measuring mass and volume to get density can help flag lower-purity items.
Can this calculator tell me if an object floats or sinks in water?
Yes. If the calculated density is less than water's density (1.0 g/cm³) it floats; if greater, it sinks — wood (0.5~0.6) floats while iron (7.87) sinks.
How do I compare values given in g/cm³ versus kg/m³?
Since 1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³, the two units convert directly — water's density is the same value in both systems (1.0 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³).