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 water at a specified temperature (usually 4°C where water has its maximum density of 1 g/cm³).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple formula:

Where:

• \( SG \) — Specific Gravity (dimensionless)
• \( Density \) — Density of the substance in g/cm³

Explanation: Since the density of water is 1 g/cm³, the specific gravity is numerically equal to the density in g/cm³ units.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity

Details: Specific gravity is used in many industries including brewing, urine analysis in medicine, gemology, and petroleum. It helps identify substances and assess their purity.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the density of your substance in g/cm³. The calculator will divide this by the density of water (1 g/cm³) to give the specific gravity.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is specific gravity dimensionless?
A: Because it's a ratio of two quantities with the same units (density/density), the units cancel out.

Q2: What does a specific gravity of 1 mean?
A: A specific gravity of 1 means the substance has the same density as water (1 g/cm³).

Q3: What is the specific gravity of common materials?
A: Examples: Ethanol (0.789), Ice (0.92), Aluminum (2.7), Gold (19.3).

Q4: Does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Yes, since density changes with temperature, specific gravity measurements should specify the temperature at which they were taken.

Q5: How is specific gravity different from density?
A: Density is an absolute measurement (mass/volume) while specific gravity is a relative measurement compared to water.