AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Higher tier · Particle model of matter › Changes of state and the particle model
Practise Density of materials. 19 exam-style questions plus unlimited generated ones on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
Required practical:Density (method, variables and exam tips)
Quick recall
Cover the answers and test yourself. The app has these as flashcards that come back just before you'd forget them.
Name a measuring instrument the student could use to measure the length, width and height of the block.
A ruler (or vernier callipers).
Name a piece of apparatus a student could use to measure the volume of a liquid.
A measuring cylinder.
Identify the independent variable and the dependent variable.
Independent: the volume (size) of the cube. Dependent: the density of the cube.
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy3 marks
(a) Which of these is a unit of density? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
kg
m3
kg/m3
N/kg
(b) Name a piece of apparatus a student could use to measure the volume of a liquid.[1]
(c) Name a piece of apparatus a student could use to measure the mass of a solid object.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: kg/m3
(b)Answer: A measuring cylinder.
measuring cylinder (allow burette / pipette)
(c)Answer: A (top-pan) balance.
(top-pan) balance / scales
Question 2Medium5 marks
The density of air is 1.2 kg/m3. A classroom measures 9.0 m by 7.0 m and has a ceiling height of 3.0 m.
(a) Calculate the volume of air in the classroom.[1]
(b) Calculate the mass of the air in the classroom. Give your answer to 3 significant figures.[2]
(c) A student says the air in the classroom has a mass of about a quarter of a tonne. 1 tonne = 1000 kg. Comment on whether the student is correct.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: 189 m3
189 (m3)
(b)Answer: 227 kg
m = 1.2 × 189
227 (kg)
(c)Answer: A quarter of a tonne is 250 kg. The actual mass, 227 kg, is close to this, so the student's estimate is reasonable.
a quarter of a tonne is 250 kg
227 kg is reasonably close to 250 kg, so the student's estimate is about right / a fair approximation
Question 3Hard9 marks
A student has a small, irregularly shaped piece of rock. The rock fits inside a measuring cylinder. The student also has a top-pan balance, water and some thread.
(a) Describe a method the student could use to determine the density of the rock. Your answer should include the measurements the student should make and how the student should use them.[6]
(b) The student's results were: mass of rock = 64.8 g reading on the measuring cylinder before the rock was added = 50.0 cm3 reading on the measuring cylinder after the rock was added = 74.0 cm3 Calculate the density of the rock in kg/m3.[3]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Find the mass on a zeroed balance. Read the water level in a measuring cylinder, lower the rock in on a thread until submerged and read the level again; the difference is the volume. Density = mass ÷ volume. Repeat and take a mean.
measure the mass of the rock using the top-pan balance (zeroed first)
partly fill the measuring cylinder with water and record the volume reading
tie the rock to the thread and lower it gently into the water until it is completely submerged (without splashing)
record the new volume reading, with the eye level with the bottom of the meniscus
volume of rock = new reading − first reading
calculate density = mass ÷ volume (and convert g/cm3 to kg/m3 if needed)
repeat the measurements and calculate a mean value of the density
Marked with levels of response: the full level descriptors are in the app.