Which property determines whether a material will sink or float in a liquid?

• A. The density of the material compared to the density of the liquid
• B. The color of the material
• C. The total amount (mass) of the material present
• D. The temperature of the material

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand that whether an object sinks or floats in a liquid depends on the concept of buoyancy, which is related to the densities of the object and the liquid.
2. Recall that density is defined as mass divided by volume, expressed as \(\rho = \frac{m}{V}\), where \(\rho\) is density, \(m\) is mass, and \(V\) is volume.
3. Compare the density of the material to the density of the liquid: if the material's density is greater than the liquid's density, the material will sink; if it is less, the material will float.
4. Recognize that other factors like color, total mass, or temperature alone do not directly determine sinking or floating, although temperature can affect density indirectly.
5. Conclude that the key property determining whether a material sinks or floats is the relative density of the material compared to the liquid.