1. What is Specific Gravity?

Specific Gravity (SG) is a dimensionless quantity defined as the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance (typically water for liquids and solids). It provides a simple way to compare densities of different materials.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the specific gravity formula:

Where:

• \( SG \) — Specific Gravity (dimensionless)
• Density of Substance — Mass per unit volume of the material (g/cm³, kg/m³, etc.)
• Density of Water — Mass per unit volume of water (typically 1 g/cm³ at 4°C)

Explanation: The calculation is straightforward - divide the density of your substance by the density of water. The result is a dimensionless number that indicates how much denser (or less dense) the substance is compared to water.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity

Details: Specific gravity is used in many industries including brewing, gemology, petroleum, and chemical engineering. It helps identify substances, assess purity, and design processes where buoyancy or density differences are important.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the density of your substance and the density of water in the same units. The default water density is 1.0 g/cm³ (at 4°C). For other temperatures, use the appropriate water density value.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is specific gravity dimensionless?
A: Because it's a ratio of two quantities with the same units, the units cancel out, leaving a pure number.

Q2: What's the specific gravity of water?
A: Exactly 1.000 at standard conditions (4°C). This is by definition since water is the reference substance.

Q3: How does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Temperature affects the density of both the substance and water, so measurements should specify the temperature or be corrected to a standard temperature.

Q4: What does a specific gravity less than 1 mean?
A: It means the substance is less dense than water and will float on water.

Q5: Can specific gravity be used for gases?
A: Yes, but air is typically used as the reference substance instead of water for gases.