When immersing a solid in liquid to find its density, what relationship should their densities have?

A. The solid should have a lower density than the liquid.

B. The solid should be more dense than the liquid.

C. Their densities should be about the same.

D. It does not matter

I thought the answer was B. The solid should be more dense than the liquid but that was wrong. Please explain. Thank you!

Question

When immersing a solid in liquid to find its density, what relationship should their densities have? 


A. The solid should have a lower density than the liquid. 

B. The solid should be more dense than the liquid. 

C. Their densities should be about the same. 

D. It does not matter 

I thought the answer was B. The solid should be more dense than the liquid but that was wrong. Please explain. Thank you!

kj4uts · Answer

I am working on a lab where I have to put different grades of plastic (PET, HDPE, LDPE, and PP) on a water, a 10% NaCl solution and on isopropyl alcohol.

cuanchi · Answer

check for the soulubility in isopropyl alcohol

kj4uts · Answer

I found out that B. is wrong because "when immersing a solid in liquid to find its volume, the solid should be denser than the liquid".

kj4uts · Answer

I am stuck between either C. Their densities should be about the same or D. It does not matter?

agent0smith · Answer

"When immersing a solid in liquid to find its density,"

 "when immersing a solid in liquid to find its volume, the solid should be denser than the liquid".

What is the actual question about. Volume or density?

If you're trying to find the volume, the density doesn't matter.

kj4uts · Answer

To me it seems that the question is about density, because it says "what relationship should their densities have."

agent0smith · Answer

Then explain why you wrote this

 "when immersing a solid in liquid to find its volume, the solid should be denser than the liquid".

kj4uts · Answer

That's what I just found in my textbook...

agent0smith · Answer

Do you see what i mean? 
"when immersing a solid in liquid to find its volume,"
"When immersing a solid in liquid to find its density,"

Density is mass over volume, and to find volume you submerge the object in liquid.

kj4uts · Answer

From what I understand if im trying to find the volume the solid should be denser than the liquid.

kj4uts · Answer

Oh I see what you mean.

agent0smith · Answer

It'd help to more dense so you don't have to push it down to submerge it, not required though

kj4uts · Answer

Ok I got you, so basically what your saying is that it does not matter then?

agent0smith · Answer

Yes.

kj4uts · Answer

Ok sorry for the confusion and thank you for your time and help :)