Final answer:
The amount of water in a sample does not influence ocean water density because density is an intrinsic property that does not change with sample size. Density is influenced by salinity, temperature, and depth due to factors like dissolved salts and thermal expansion.
Step-by-step explanation:
The density of a sample of ocean water can be influenced by several factors, but not all of them have the same level of impact. Speaking strictly in terms of density, which is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance, certain factors such as temperature, depth, and salinity are known to have a notable effect on the water's density. However, the amount of water in a sample, to be precise, does not directly affect the density because density is an intrinsic property that does not change with the quantity of substance. The salinity of water is a crucial factor as well; the more salts dissolved in the water, the higher the density. When it comes to temperature, it is widely known that an increase in temperature can cause water to expand, leading to a decrease in density.
The depth from which the sample is taken can also play a role due to the relationship between pressure and density. At greater depths, the water can be slightly denser due to higher pressure, although in the case of liquids like water this effect is minimal. The various factors that influence density are interconnected and can lead to phenomena such as thermal expansion, which has been observed as a contributing factor to sea level rise in the context of global climate change.
To answer the original question, the factor that does not influence the density of a sample of ocean water is the amount of water in the sample. This is because density is characteristic of a material and remains constant regardless of the sample size, assuming uniform composition.