Question

You are determining the density of an unknown solid. You figure out the volume by water displacement. Then you weigh the solid, but forget to dry it off first. The calculated density will be larger, smaller, or the correct value? Why?

Answer 1

The calculated density will be larger

Step-by-step explanation:

The calculated density will be larger. Because, the volume is taken accurately, by the water displacement method. But, when we the took the mass, the water was present on the unknown solid. So, the mass of that water was added to the original mass of the solid. Hence, the mass measured was larger than the original mass. We, know from the formula of density that density is directly proportional to the mass of the object.

Density = Mass/Volume

Hence, the larger measured mass means the larger value of density.