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Density

Definition

Density is a measure of mass per unit volume. It tells us how much stuff (mass) is packed into a certain amount of space (volume).

Analogy

Think about packing for vacation with two suitcases - one small and one large. If you pack 20 pounds into each suitcase, the smaller suitcase will be denser because it has more weight packed into less space.

Related terms

Mass: Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object or substance – think about it as how many clothes you're trying to pack into your suitcase.

Volume: As mentioned before, volume is about how much space something takes up – this would be your suitcase size in our analogy.

Specific Gravity: This term compares an object’s density to water’s density. If you've ever wondered why some things float while others sink when placed in water, specific gravity has your answer!

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AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.