1. What is Specific Gravity?

Specific Gravity (SG) is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance (typically water at 4°C). It's a dimensionless quantity that compares how dense a material is compared to water.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the specific gravity formula:

Where:

• \( \rho \) — Density of the substance (kg/m³)
• \( \rho_{water} \) — Density of water (typically 1000 kg/m³ at 4°C)
• \( SG \) — Specific gravity (dimensionless)

Explanation: The formula simply divides the substance's density by water's density to get a ratio 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, petroleum, chemistry, and medicine. It helps identify substances, assess purity, and determine concentrations in solutions.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the density of your substance in kg/m³ and the reference water density (default is 1000 kg/m³). Both values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What does a specific gravity of 1.0 mean?
A: A specific gravity of 1.0 means the substance has the same density as water (it would neither sink nor float in pure water).

Q2: What are typical specific gravity values?
A: Most solids and liquids range from 0.5 to 3.0. Gases are typically much less (e.g., air is about 0.0012).

Q3: Why is 4°C used for water reference?
A: Water reaches its maximum density at 4°C (1000 kg/m³), making it a consistent reference point.

Q4: How does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Since density changes with temperature, specific gravity measurements should specify the temperature at which they were taken.

Q5: What's the difference between specific gravity and density?
A: Density is an absolute measurement (mass/volume), while specific gravity is a relative measurement comparing a substance's density to water's density.