Which of the following is closest to the typical density of seawater in lb/ft^3?

• A. 32 lb/ft^3
• B. 8.3 lb/ft^3
• C. 100 lb/ft^3
• D. 64 lb/ft^3

Answer: (D)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that density is defined as mass per unit volume, typically expressed as \(\text{density} = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}\).
2. Recall that the density of pure water at room temperature is approximately 62.4 lb/ft\(^3\).
3. Recognize that seawater contains dissolved salts, which increase its density slightly compared to pure water.
4. Estimate that the typical density of seawater is therefore a bit higher than 62.4 lb/ft\(^3\), often close to 64 lb/ft\(^3\).
5. Compare the given options to this known value to identify which is closest to the typical density of seawater.