A mechanical pencil has a mass of 47.4 grams. The volume of the pencil is 15.8 cubic centimeters. What is the density of the pencil?
Density, denoted by the symbol $\rho$, is defined as mass per unit volume. In this case, the mass of the pencil is 47.4 grams and the volume is 15.8 cubic centimeters.
Therefore, the density of the pencil is $\rho = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}} = \frac{47.4 \, \text{g}}{15.8 \, \text{cm}^3} \approx \boxed{3 \, \text{g/cm}^3}$.
To calculate the density of an object, you need to divide its mass by its volume.
Step 1: Write down the given information:
Mass = 47.4 grams
Volume = 15.8 cubic centimeters
Step 2: Use the formula for density:
Density = Mass / Volume
Step 3: Substitute the given values into the formula:
Density = 47.4 grams / 15.8 cubic centimeters
Step 4: Calculate the density:
Density = 3.00 grams/cubic centimeters (rounded to two decimal places)
Therefore, the density of the mechanical pencil is 3.00 grams per cubic centimeter.