Question

Sofia is trying to find the density of a 25.0 g irregularly shaped solid. She filled a graduated cylinder with 25.0 mL of water. After adding the solid the water rises to 56.5 mL. What is the density of the solid? Does this solid float or sink in water

Answer 1

The volume of the solid is
56.5 ml - 25 ml = 31.5 ml
The mass of the solid = 25g
So the density is Mass/ Volume
25/ 31.5 = 0.79 g/ml

Since the solid has a lower density (0.79 g/ml) than the density of water (1g/ml) it will float on water

Answer 2

Answer: Density: 0.794 g/ml. It would float.

Explanation: The mass of 25.0 grams displaces (56.5 - 25.0) = 31.5 ml of water, it's volume (when submerged). Density is mass per unit volume:

25.0 grams/31.5 ml = 0.794 g/ml

Water's density is 1 g/ml, so this obect would float. (Don't ask me why it displaced 31.5 ml. It won't unless it is pushed down, then the volume of the finger needs to be determined and subtracted from the calculated volume.