Question

. Gold has a density of 19.32 g/cm3. If a square pyramid has a base edge length of 5 cm, height of 6 cm, and a mass of 942 g, is the pyramid in fact solid gold? If it is not, what reasons could explain why it is not? Recall that density can be calculated with the formula density=mass /volume

Answer 1

See below in bold.

Explanation:

The volume of the pyramid = 1/3 * area of base * height = 1/3 * 6 * 5^2

= 50 cm^3.

Now we work out the density assuming it is solid gold

Density = mass / volume = 942 / 50 = 18.84, but the density of gold is 19.32 g/cm^3 so the pyramid cannot be solid gold.

Answer 2

The answer to your question is: It is not made of gold.

Explanation:

Data

density = 19.32 g/cm³

side = 5 cm

height = 6 cm

mass = 942 g

Formula

V =
`(1)/(3) L^(2)  h`

L² = 5 x 5 = 25 cm²

V =
`(1)/(3) 25 x 6`

V = 50 cm³

density = 942 g / 50 cm³

= 18.84 g/cm³

It is not made of gold because the density calculated is lower than the density reported in books.