What is "relative density"?

1 Answer
anor277
Nov 20, 2016

The density of a material relative to that of a reference substance....

Explanation:

....And the reference substance is typically water, for which rho=1*g*cm^-3.

And thus iron, which has rho=7*g*cm^-3, has a relative density of..

"Reltive density of iron" = (rho_"iron")/(rho_"water")=(7*g*cm^-3)/(1*g*cm^-3)=7.

The relative density is thus a dimensionless quantity. Given its superior relative density, iron will sink in water as it displaces a volume of water whose mass is LESS than the mass of the iron.

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