Density Calculator (mass / volume)
Calculate density from mass and volume (g/cm³ = g/mL).
Result
Density (g/cm³)
2.0000
How it works
Density is mass per unit volume: divide the mass by the volume and you get how tightly matter is packed. Water is the reference — 1 gram per cubic centimetre, or 1,000 kg per cubic metre — which makes it a convenient yardstick for everything else. Density is a property of the material, not of the object. A steel bolt and a steel girder have the same density; the girder is merely bigger. That is why density identifies substances: measure mass and volume, divide, and the number tells you what you are holding. Some landmarks: cork 0.24, ice 0.92, water 1.0, aluminium 2.7, iron 7.9, lead 11.3, gold 19.3 g/cm³. Note that ice is less dense than water — an unusual property, and the reason ice floats and lakes freeze from the top down rather than solid from the bottom.
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Frequently asked questions
How is density calculated?
Divide the mass by the volume. 100 g ÷ 50 cm³ = 2 g/cm³.
What is the density of water?
About 1 g/cm³ (1 g/mL) at room temperature.
Why do some objects float?
An object floats when its overall density is lower than the fluid's. A steel ship floats because its hull encloses air, making the average density of ship-plus-air less than water's — even though steel itself sinks.
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