Two identical beakers with different liquids are balanced on a beam balance.
Two identical beakers with different liquids are balanced on a beam balance. The first beaker contains water. Determine the density of the liquid in the second beaker.
Path h1 is the liquid level in the first beaker and h2 is the liquid level in the second beaker (where the water is). Then the volume of liquid in the first beaker will be equal to h1 * S, and in the second beaker h2 * S (where S is the cross-sectional area of the beaker).
The mass of liquid in the first beaker will be equal to m1 = p * V = p * h1 * S.
The mass of water in the second beaker will be m2 = 1000 * V = 1000 * h2 * S (1000 is the density of water.
Since the beakers are balanced, that is, m1 = m2, or
p * h1 * S = 1000 * h2 * S, hence:
p = 1000 * h2 / h1.
It can be seen from the formula that if the levels in the beakers are the same, then the density of the liquid will be equal to the density of water (1000 kg / m ^ 3).