How Do You Calculate Mass with Density and Volume

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Mass, Density & Volume Calculator

kg/m³ (Kilograms/cubic meter) g/cm³ (Grams/cubic centimeter) lb/ft³ (Pounds/cubic foot)
m³ (Cubic meters) cm³ (Cubic centimeters) ft³ (Cubic feet) L (Liters) mL (Milliliters)

Calculated Mass (m)

function calculateMassValue() { var density = parseFloat(document.getElementById('densityInput').value); var volume = parseFloat(document.getElementById('volumeInput').value); var dUnit = document.getElementById('densityUnit').value; var vUnit = document.getElementById('volumeUnit').value; var resultDiv = document.getElementById('massResultWrapper'); var resultValue = document.getElementById('massResultValue'); var formulaDisplay = document.getElementById('calculationFormula'); if (isNaN(density) || isNaN(volume) || density <= 0 || volume = 1) { massOutput = massKg.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 4}) + " kg"; } else if (massKg >= 0.001) { massOutput = (massKg * 1000).toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 4}) + " g"; } else { massOutput = (massKg * 1000000).toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 4}) + " mg"; } // If input was Imperial, also provide lbs if (dUnit === "lb/ft3" || vUnit === "ft3″) { var massLb = massKg * 2.20462; massOutput += " (" + massLb.toLocaleString(undefined, {maximumFractionDigits: 4}) + " lbs)"; } resultValue.innerHTML = massOutput; formulaDisplay.innerHTML = "Formula used: " + density + " " + dUnit + " × " + volume + " " + vUnit; resultDiv.style.display = "block"; }

How do you calculate mass with density and volume?

In physics and chemistry, mass is a fundamental property that represents the amount of matter in an object. When you know the density of a substance and the volume it occupies, you can determine its mass using a simple algebraic formula.

The Mass Calculation Formula

Mass (m) = Density (ρ) × Volume (V)

Where:

  • Mass (m): Usually measured in kilograms (kg) or grams (g).
  • Density (ρ): The mass per unit volume (e.g., kg/m³ or g/cm³).
  • Volume (V): The space the object takes up (e.g., m³, cm³, or Liters).

Step-by-Step Example

Suppose you have a block of iron. You know that:

  1. The density of iron is approximately 7,874 kg/m³.
  2. The volume of your block is 0.2 m³.
  3. Multiply the two: 7,874 × 0.2 = 1,574.8 kg.

Important: Units Must Match

The most common mistake when calculating mass is using mismatched units. If your density is in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), your volume should be in cubic centimeters (cm³) to ensure the units cancel out correctly, leaving you with mass in grams.

Substance Density (kg/m³)
Water 1,000
Aluminum 2,700
Gold 19,300
Air (at sea level) 1.225

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