A regular metal block has a mass of 240 g and a volume of 30 cm3. Calculate its density.
[2 marks]
Total for this question: 2
Physics required practicals
Density of materials
AQA 4.3 · RP5
GCSE Physics (8463) · Required practical 5 — method, variables, the marks examiners report students losing.
Board and spec code confirmed against AQA 8463 · registry checked 2026-07-17How this checking works
Determine the densities of regular solids, irregular solids and liquids using density = mass / volume, finding volume from dimensions or by displacement.
Apparatus
- Balance to measure mass
- Ruler or vernier calipers (for regular solids)
- Displacement (eureka) can and measuring cylinder (for irregular solids)
- Measuring cylinder (for liquids)
- The objects and liquids being tested
Method
- 1Regular solid: measure the mass on a balance, measure its dimensions with a ruler, and calculate the volume from the dimensions.
- 2Irregular solid: measure the mass, fill a displacement can to the spout, lower the object in and collect the overflow water; the volume of water collected equals the object's volume.
- 3Liquid: measure the mass of an empty measuring cylinder, add a known volume of the liquid and reweigh; the liquid's mass is the difference.
- 4In every case calculate density = mass / volume.
Results & processing
- Calculate density = mass / volume, in g/cm3 or kg/m3.
- Volume from a displacement can equals the volume of water pushed out; read the measuring cylinder at eye level, at the bottom of the meniscus.
Where students lose marks
Not filling the displacement can to the spout first.
Fix: Fill to the spout and let it stop dripping before adding the object, or the collected volume is wrong.
Parallax error reading the measuring cylinder.
Fix: Read the bottom of the meniscus with your eye level with the scale.
Forgetting to subtract the container's mass for a liquid.
Fix: Mass of liquid = (cylinder + liquid) − empty cylinder; only the liquid's mass goes into density = mass / volume.
Improve the method
- Zero (tare) the balance before measuring mass.
- Use vernier calipers for small regular objects to measure dimensions precisely.
- Repeat measurements and take a mean.
Try it — exam-style
Easy
ORIGINAL
Medium
ORIGINAL
Describe how you would find the volume of an irregularly shaped stone.
[3 marks]
Total for this question: 3
Questions are written in the style of past AQA papers — never copied from them.
Drill it properly
Stuck on density of materials?
Density marks are lost on the displacement method and unit choice, not the formula — I drill the technique until it's automatic. Free intro call, then a free first lesson.