Question

The density of an object is defined as its mass divided by its volume. Suppose the mass and volume of a rock are measured to be 8 g and 2.8325 cm^3. What is the correct number of significant figures for the rock's density?

Answer 1

Answer: 3g/cm∧3 (One significant figure)

Explanation:

Density is calculated as mass per volume

That is; Density = mass / volume

For the problem above, we have:

Mass = 8g (This has one significant figure i.e. 8)

Volume = 2.8325cm^3 (This has five significant figures i.e. 2,8,3,2,5)

Plugging in the values into the formula,

Density = 8g / 2.8325cm^3

Density = 2.82436g/cm^3

Now, the correct number of significant figures refers to the smallest number of significant figures out of the values given to us.

From the two values given to us, the smallest is 1 significant figure. So, we have to put our answer is the one significant figure pattern i.e. one figure.

Therefore, the correct number of significant figure for the rock's density is one.

The Density of the rock = 3g/cm^3.