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Specific Gravity Formula:
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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. It provides a measure of relative density and is commonly used in various scientific and industrial applications.
The calculator uses the Specific Gravity formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula calculates the relative density of a substance compared to water, providing a dimensionless value that indicates whether the substance will float or sink in water.
Details: Specific gravity is crucial in geology, material science, brewing, and other fields for identifying substances, determining purity, and predicting buoyancy behavior in fluids.
Tips: Enter the density of your sample material and the density of water reference. Ensure consistent units (both in kg/m³ or both in lb/ft³). All values must be positive numbers.
Q1: Why is specific gravity dimensionless?
A: Specific gravity is a ratio of two densities with the same units, so the units cancel out, leaving a dimensionless number.
Q2: What are typical specific gravity values?
A: Most materials have SG values greater than 1 (sink in water), while materials with SG less than 1 float in water. Pure water has SG = 1.
Q3: When should I use different water reference densities?
A: Use 1000 kg/m³ for metric calculations and 62.4 lb/ft³ for imperial calculations. The reference should match your sample density units.
Q4: Are there limitations to specific gravity measurements?
A: Temperature affects density measurements, so both sample and reference densities should be measured at the same temperature for accurate results.
Q5: Can specific gravity be used to identify materials?
A: Yes, many materials have characteristic specific gravity values that can help in identification and quality control processes.