Chapter 3, Problem 84A

Interpretation Introduction

Interpretation : The ball will sink or float in a container of gasoline is to be examined.

Concept Introduction : The connectivity between mass and volume is density. The formula of density is given as:

  $\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

Answer to Problem 84A

The plastic ball would sink into a container of gasoline.

Explanation of Solution

Given information :

The volume is $19.7{\text{cm}}^3$ .

The mass of the plastic ball is $15.8\text{g}$ .

Density is defined as the ratio of mass to volume. It gives the connectivity between mass and volume.

The formula of density is given as:

  $\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$

To calculate the density, substitute the values in the density formula.

  $\begin{array}{c}\text{Density =}\frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}\\ =\frac{15.8\text{g}}{19.7{\text{cm}}^3}\\ =0.802{\text{g/cm}}^3\end{array}$

The density of the plastic ball is $0.802{\text{g/cm}}^3$ .

The density of gasoline is $0.66-0.69{\text{g/cm}}^3$ .

Since the density of the plastic ball is higher than the density of gasoline, the ball would sink into the container of gasoline.

Conclusion

The plastic ball would sink into a container of gasoline.