Question

question 4. a plastic ball with a volume of 19.7 cm³ has a mass of 15.8 g. calculate the density of the plastic ball. would this ball sink or float in a container of water? explain. (the density of water is 1.00 g/cm³.)

Explanation:

Step1: Calculate the density of the plastic ball

The formula for density is $
ho=\frac{m}{V}$, where $m$ is mass and $V$ is volume.
Given $m = 15.8\ g$ and $V=19.7\ cm^{3}$, then $
ho=\frac{15.8}{19.7}\ g/cm^{3}$.
Using a calculator, $
ho\approx0.802\ g/cm^{3}$.

Step2: Compare the density of the ball with the density of water

The density of water is $
ho_{water} = 1.00\ g/cm^{3}$.
Since $
ho_{ball}\approx0.802\ g/cm^{3}<
ho_{water} = 1.00\ g/cm^{3}$.

Answer:

The density of the plastic ball is approximately $0.802\ g/cm^{3}$. The ball will float in water because its density ($0.802\ g/cm^{3}$) is less than the density of water ($1.00\ g/cm^{3}$). Objects with a density less than that of a fluid will float on the surface of the fluid.