1. What Is Specific Gravity?

Specific Gravity (SG) is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of water at a specified temperature. It's commonly used in science, engineering, and industry to characterize materials.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Specific Gravity formula:

Where:

• Density of Substance — Mass per unit volume of the material (g/cm³)
• Density of Water — Typically 1 g/cm³ at 4°C (standard reference)

Explanation: The formula calculates how much denser or lighter a substance is compared to water. Values less than 1 indicate the substance is less dense than water, while values greater than 1 indicate greater density.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity

Details: Specific gravity is crucial in many applications including:

• Identifying minerals and gemstones in geology
• Quality control in brewing and winemaking
• Determining battery state of charge
• Assessing purity of chemicals
• Calculating buoyancy in fluid mechanics

4. Using the Calculator

Tips:

• Enter the density of your substance in g/cm³
• For standard measurements, use 1.0 g/cm³ for water density
• For precise work, use the exact water density at your measurement temperature
• All values must be positive numbers

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between density and specific gravity?
A: Density is an absolute measurement (mass/volume), while specific gravity is a ratio comparing a substance's density to water's density.

Q2: What is the specific gravity of water?
A: Exactly 1.000 at 4°C (standard reference temperature). It varies slightly with temperature.

Q3: Why is specific gravity dimensionless?
A: Because it's a ratio of two quantities with the same units (density/density), the units cancel out.

Q4: What does a specific gravity less than 1 mean?
A: The substance is less dense than water and will float in water (e.g., most woods, ice).

Q5: How does temperature affect specific gravity measurements?
A: Both densities change with temperature, but the ratio remains relatively stable for small temperature changes.