National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Educators' Corner

When dividing, the powers of 10 are subtracted.

Example:

4.2x106 ------- 2.1x102

= 2x104

To calculate the density of an object the following equation is used:

D = M/V

where D = density, M = mass, and V = volume.

7. Calculate the density of the Sun.
   mass = 1.989x10³³g volume = 1.41x10³³ cm³

8. Calculate the density of a white dwarf star.
   mass = 1x10³³ g volume = 5.23x10²⁶ cm³

9. Calculate the mass of a neutron star.
   density = 6.55x10¹⁴ g/ cm³ volume = 3.05x10¹⁸ cm³

CHALLENGE:
A teaspoon has a volume of 1.5 cm³. Using the density in problems 7, 8, and 9 above, determine how much mass would be contained in 5 teaspoons of each object.

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