Density Calculator

Ice is less dense than liquid water — 917 kg/m³ vs 1,000 kg/m³ for water. This unusual property occurs because ice forms a hexagonal crystal lattice with hydrogen bonds that spaces molecules further apart than in liquid water. This is why lakes freeze from the top down, protecting aquatic life below.

Relative density compares a substance's density to that of water (1,000 kg/m³ or 1 g/cm³). Relative density = density of substance ÷ density of water. A substance with relative density > 1 sinks in water; < 1 floats. Relative density has no units.

Geologists measure rock density to identify minerals and study Earth's interior. The Earth's average density is 5,515 kg/m³, much higher than surface rocks (~2,700 kg/m³), indicating a dense metallic core. Density measurements from seismic waves help map Earth's internal layers.