Density is a fundamental property of matter that describes how much mass is contained within a given volume. It is commonly expressed in units like grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) or kilograms per liter (kg/L). However, when dealing with planetary-scale measurements, such as Earth’s density, more significant units like gigagrams per liter (Gg/L) may be necessary.
In this article, we will explore how to convert 0.90 Earth’s density into gigagrams per liter (Gg/L) step by step.
Understanding Earth’s Density
Earth’s average density is approximately 5.51 g/cm³ (grams per cubic centimeter). This value represents the total mass of Earth divided by its total volume. In our case, we are working with 0.90 of Earth’s density, meaning:0.90×5.51 g/cm3=4.959 g/cm30.90 \times 5.51 \text{ g/cm}^3 = 4.959 \text{ g/cm}^30.90×5.51 g/cm3=4.959 g/cm3
We will now convert 4.959 g/cm³ into gigagrams per liter (Gg/L).
Understanding the Units Involved
To accurately convert densities, we must first understand the units we are working with:
- Gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³): This is a common unit for density, often used in geology and material sciences.
- Gigagram per liter (Gg/L): A gigagram (Gg) is equal to one billion grams (1 Gg = 10⁹ g), and a liter (L) is equivalent to 1,000 cubic centimeters (cm³).
Thus, our goal is to express 4.959 g/cm³ in terms of Gg/L.
Step-by-Step Conversion
Step 1: Expressing the Density in Base Units
We start with:4.959 g/cm34.959 \text{ g/cm}^34.959 g/cm3
Since 1 cm³ = 0.001 L, we can rewrite this as:4.959 g/cm3=4.959 g/mL=4.959×1000 g/L4.959 \text{ g/cm}^3 = 4.959 \text{ g/mL} = 4.959 \times 1000 \text{ g/L}4.959 g/cm3=4.959 g/mL=4.959×1000 g/L =4959 g/L= 4959 \text{ g/L}=4959 g/L
Step 2: Converting Grams to Gigagrams
4959 g/L×
10
9
g
1 Gg
=
4.959
×
10
−
6
Gg/L
=4.959×10
−6
Gg/L
Final Answer
The converted value of 0.90 Earth’s density in gigagrams per liter is:
4.959×10−6 Gg/L