Perform the following conversion and report the answer to the correct number of significant figures.

b) If a sample of gold measured 17 meters on a side, calculate the mass of the sample.

Answer

So how do we get from the length of a side to a mass? Since we know the density of gold is a mass per unit volume all we need to do is find the volume of the sample of gold. Since the edge of a cube 17 meters to find the volume we need to multiple 17 m x 17 m x 17 m..

17 m x 17 m x 17 m = 4913 m3

But the next problem is the volume units are m3 and we need cm3. So we must convert m3 to cm3. Then use the density of gold to determine the mass of the gold.