A geologist wants to determine the mass and volume of a small palladium nugget to verify its density.
Before placing the nugget on the digital balance, the geologist notices that the balance reads −0.03 g-0.03\text{ g}−0.03 g when empty. How should the geologist use this reading to determine the correct mass of the nugget from any subsequent measurement?
The geologist suspended the nugget using a thick copper wire to lower it into a displacement can filled with water. Suggest one reason why they should have used a very thin monofilament line instead.
The measuring cylinder used to collect the overflow water has markings every 0.5 cm30.5\text{ cm}^30.5 cm3. The true volume of the nugget is 0.76 cm30.76\text{ cm}^30.76 cm3. Explain why this measuring cylinder cannot provide an accurate value for the volume of the nugget.
The density of palladium is 12 020 kg/m312\,020\text{ kg/m}^312020 kg/m3. Knowing that the true volume of the nugget is 0.76 cm30.76\text{ cm}^30.76 cm3, calculate the mass of the nugget in kilograms. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.
22 exam-style questions on AQA GCSE Physics 3.1 Changes of state and the particle model, covering 3.1.1 Density of materials and 3.1.2 Changes of state. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.