10. if i have a boulder and i break it into smaller rocks, what can you tell me about the density of the…
10. if i have a boulder and i break it into smaller rocks, what can you tell me about the density of the smaller rocks?
Answer
Explanation:
Step1: Recall density formula
Density $\rho=\frac{m}{V}$, where $m$ is mass and $V$ is volume.
Step2: Analyze mass - volume change
When a boulder is broken into smaller rocks, the total mass of the material remains the same (assuming no loss of material). And the ratio of mass to volume for the material itself doesn't change just because of the physical break - up. Each small rock has the same density as the original boulder because density is a characteristic property of a substance.
Answer:
The density of the smaller rocks is the same as the density of the original boulder.