The mass-to-volume ratio is a measure that compares the mass of an object to the space it occupies. It is calculated by dividing the mass (usually in grams) by the volume (usually in cubic centimeters or liters). This ratio helps determine how dense a substance is, which can be important in various scientific fields, including chemistry and physics. For example, if you have a block of gold weighing 200 grams and it occupies a volume of 10 cubic centimeters, the mass-to-volume ratio would be 20 grams per cubic centimeter. Understanding this ratio is essential for applications like material selection and quality control in manufacturing.