1. What is Specific Gravity?

Specific Gravity (SG) is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water. It's a dimensionless quantity that helps determine how much heavier or lighter a substance is compared to water.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the weight formula:

Where:

• Volume — Volume in cubic feet (cu ft)
• SG — Specific Gravity (dimensionless)
• 62.4 — Weight of 1 cubic foot of water in pounds

Explanation: The formula calculates the weight of a substance by multiplying its volume by its specific gravity (relative to water) and then by the weight of an equivalent volume of water.

3. Importance of Weight Calculation

Details: Calculating weight using specific gravity is crucial in various industries including shipping, chemical processing, and construction where precise weight measurements are needed for safety, cost estimation, and material handling.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter volume in cubic feet and specific gravity (a positive number typically between 0 and 20 for most materials). Both values must be greater than zero.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the specific gravity of common materials?
A: Water = 1.0, Aluminum = 2.7, Gold = 19.3, Gasoline = 0.68-0.74, Concrete = 2.4.

Q2: Why use cubic feet and pounds?
A: This is common in US industries. For metric, use cubic meters and multiply by 1000 kg/m³ (density of water).

Q3: Can I use this for gases?
A: Yes, but gas SG is typically relative to air (density 0.001225 g/mL) rather than water.

Q4: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It's theoretically exact if you have precise SG and volume measurements. Accuracy depends on your input data.

Q5: What if my material's SG changes with temperature?
A: Use the SG value at your working temperature or account for thermal expansion in your volume measurement.