A piece of wood measures 4 in × 6 in × 3 in and has a mass of 80 grams. What is its density in g/cm^3? (1 in = 2.54 cm)

• A. 0.48 g/cm^3
• B. 0.18 g/cm^3
• C. 0.28 g/cm^3
• D. 0.38 g/cm^3

Answer: (B)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Convert each dimension of the wood from inches to centimeters using the conversion factor \$1 \text{ in} = 2.54 \text{ cm}$. For example, multiply 4 in by 2.54 to get the length in cm, and do the same for the other two dimensions (6 in and 3 in).
2. Calculate the volume of the wood in cubic centimeters by multiplying the converted dimensions: \(\text{Volume} = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{height}\), all in cm.
3. Recall the formula for density: \(\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}\). Here, the mass is given as 80 grams, and the volume is what you just calculated in cm\(^3\).
4. Substitute the mass and volume values into the density formula to find the density in g/cm\(^3\).
5. Make sure to keep track of units throughout the calculation to confirm that the final density is expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm\(^3\)).