Answer to Question #235265 in General Chemistry for Zach

Question

Assume that after you made your measurements, you realized that your solid rod had a nick in the side and a portion was missing. When comparing the density that would be calculated using the ruler method with the result of the displacement method of the rod, would the calculated density for the ruler method be higher, lower or the same as the water displacement density? Explain.

Answer 1

Since ruler method is being used the density will be lesser.

This is because density = mass/volume

We know volume to be = length × breadth × height

A nick will not reduce bthe volume but the mass would reduce, thereby reducing the density.