Suppose you cut the magnetite sample in half.What is the density of each piece

Question

Physical science

 

Answer 1

Since density is an intensive physical property (as opposed to an extensive physical property), its value is the same regardless of the size of the sample.  Each half will have the same density as the uncut original sample.

 

Look at it this way:

 

m/V = density of uncut sample

 

(m/2)/(V/2)= density of each half after cutting

 

But 

 

(m/2)/(V/2) = m/V

 

The density does not change.