Question

Perform this operation and report the answer to the correct number of significant figures: What is the mass of a cube of aluminum that is 4.0 cm on each edge? The density of aluminum is 2.7 g/cm^3. Show all calculations leading to an answer.

Answer 1

The answer is 172.8 g.

The volume of the cube (V) is:
V = a³            (a - the side of the cube)

The density (D) is quotient of mass (m) and volume (V):
D = m/V = m/a³
⇒ m = D · a³


It is given:
D = 2.7 g/cm³
a = 4 cm
Therefore:
m =  D · a³ = 2.7 · 4³ = 172.8 g