Home
Back
Specific Gravity Formula:
| From: | To: |
Specific gravity (SG) is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance (typically water). It indicates whether a substance will float or sink in water.
The calculator uses the specific gravity formula:
Where:
Explanation: The formula compares the density of any material to the density of water, providing a relative measure of density.
Details: Specific gravity is crucial in various fields including geology, brewing, urinalysis, and material science. It helps identify substances, assess purity, and determine material properties.
Tips: Enter the density value in either kg/m³ or lb/ft³, select the appropriate unit system, and click calculate. All values must be valid (density > 0).
Q1: What does specific gravity tell us?
A: Specific gravity indicates whether a substance will float (SG < 1) or sink (SG > 1) in water, and helps identify materials based on their density.
Q2: Why is water used as the reference?
A: Water is universally available, has a well-defined density, and serves as a convenient benchmark for comparison across different substances.
Q3: What are typical specific gravity values?
A: Most solids have SG > 1, most liquids are close to 1, and gases have SG << 1. For example, gold has SG ~19.3, while wood floats with SG < 1.
Q4: How does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Both substance density and water density change with temperature, so measurements should be taken at standard conditions (usually 4°C or 20°C).
Q5: Can specific gravity be used to measure concentration?
A: Yes, in solutions like battery acid or sugar solutions, specific gravity correlates with concentration and is used for quality control.