IB Physics SL B.1.2 Density Question Bank

Practise calculating density from mass, volume, pressure, temperature and water’s life-supporting anomaly in exam questions.

Exam points

Calculate density from mass and volume or pressure-volume changes, showing substitutions and units clearly.
Explain water’s density anomaly and its consequences for floating ice, tides and life in aquatic environments.
Apply density to mass-flow and volume calculations for liquids, gases, icebergs and moving systems.

[Maximum number: 2]

This question is about a tidal power station.

A tidal power station is built for a coastal town. Sea water is stored in a tidal basin behind a dam at high tide and released in a controlled manner between high tides, so that it passes through turbines to generate electricity.

The following data are available.

Table for Question B.1.2—Density question 1 — IB Physics SL

Show that the mass of sea water released between successive high and low tides is about $2.8 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{~kg}$ .

$m=\rho \Delta V=\rho A \Delta h$ ;

\begin{aligned} & =1.1 \times 10^{3} \times 1.4 \times 10^{5} \times 1.8 ; \\ & \left(\approx 2.8 \times 10^{8} \mathrm{~kg}\right) \end{aligned}

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B.1.2—Density question 1