Final answer:
Density is defined as mass per unit volume, with the SI derived unit being kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³). In laboratory contexts, density is often expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or grams per milliliter (g/mL) for convenience, despite kg/m³ being the standard SI unit.
Step-by-step explanation:
The density of a substance is the measure of its mass per unit volume. In the SI system, the units of density are kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), which are derived from the fundamental SI base units for mass (kilogram) and length (meter). Density can be calculated by dividing the mass of an object by its volume. Although kg/m³ is the SI unit, for practical purposes in a laboratory, density is often expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or grams per milliliter (g/mL) for solids and liquids, and grams per liter (g/L) for gases.
Using the provided context, if you are looking to express the density of a ball in terms of the fundamental SI units, you would likely use kg/m³, but depending on the size and mass of the ball, you might find g/cm³ or g/mL to be more convenient units for reporting purposes.