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. It provides a measure of relative density compared to water.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Specific Gravity formula:

Where:

• \( Density \) — Density of the substance (kg/m³ or lb/ft³)
• \( Density_{water} \) — Density of water (1000 kg/m³ or 62.4 lb/ft³)

Explanation: The formula calculates how many times denser a substance is compared to water at standard conditions.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity Calculation

Details: Specific gravity is crucial in various fields including geology, petroleum industry, brewing, and medicine. It helps identify substances, determine purity, and assess concentration in solutions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the density of the substance and the density of water in consistent units (either both in kg/m³ or both in lb/ft³). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is specific gravity dimensionless?
A: Specific gravity is a ratio of two densities with the same units, so the units cancel out, making it a dimensionless quantity.

Q2: What is the reference density for water?
A: For metric system: 1000 kg/m³ (at 4°C), for imperial system: 62.4 lb/ft³ (at 4°C).

Q3: How does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Both substance density and water density change with temperature, so measurements should be taken at standard temperature (usually 4°C or 20°C) for accurate comparisons.

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

Q5: How is specific gravity used in industry?
A: It's used in petroleum industry to characterize oils, in brewing to monitor fermentation, in geology to identify minerals, and in medicine for urinalysis.