Final answer:
Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance, influencing whether an object sinks or floats. It varies among different materials and changes with temperature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Density is an important characteristic of substances and plays a crucial role in determining whether an object will sink or float in a fluid. Density is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance or object. The equation for density can be expressed as ρ = m/V, where ρ (rho) represents density, m is mass, and V is volume. Materials have different densities, and a substance's density can also change with temperature, typically decreasing as temperature increases.
For example, ice floats in water because it is less dense than water. Similarly, a substance like corn syrup, which is denser than water, would sink if placed in water. Understanding the concept of density helps to identify the composition of an object and reveals something about the phase of the matter and its substructure.