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Question 34

A student determines the density of a liquid by two methods.

Method 1

  1. The student measures the weight of a solid object in air using a forcemeter. The reading is W1=2.4 NW_1 = 2.4\text{ N}W1​=2.4 N.
  2. The student records the initial volume V1V_1V1​ of the liquid in a measuring cylinder: V1=125 cm3V_1 = 125\text{ cm}^3V1​=125 cm3.
  3. The student lowers the object into the liquid so that it is completely submerged.
  4. The new reading of the forcemeter is W2=1.6 NW_2 = 1.6\text{ N}W2​=1.6 N.
  5. The new reading of the measuring cylinder with the submerged object is V2=205 cm3V_2 = 205\text{ cm}^3V2​=205 cm3.

Calculate the first value ρ1\rho_1ρ1​ of the density of the liquid using the equation:

ρ1=W1−W2V2−V1×k \rho_1 = \frac{W_1 - W_2}{V_2 - V_1} \times k ρ1​=V2​−V1​W1​−W2​​×k

where k=100 g/Nk = 100\text{ g/N}k=100 g/N.

Method 2

  1. The student removes the object and places the measuring cylinder containing only the liquid on a balance. The balance reads 193.2 g193.2\text{ g}193.2 g.
  2. Record this mass m1m_1m1​ of the cylinder and liquid to the nearest gram.
  3. The student then pours the liquid out and measures the mass of the empty measuring cylinder as m2=70 gm_2 = 70\text{ g}m2​=70 g.

Calculate the second value ρ2\rho_2ρ2​ for the density of the liquid using the equation:

ρ2=m1−m2V1 \rho_2 = \frac{m_1 - m_2}{V_1} ρ2​=V1​m1​−m2​​

Finally, calculate the average density ρAV\rho_{\text{AV}}ρAV​ of the liquid using your values for ρ1\rho_1ρ1​ and ρ2\rho_2ρ2​. State your final answer with appropriate units.

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Markscheme

Density Questions

  1. IGCSE
  2. /Physics
  3. /Density

169 exam-style questions on CIE IGCSE Physics Density, covering Density. Each one has a worked solution and a mark scheme showing where the marks go.

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