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 water at a specified temperature (typically 4°C where water's density is 1 g/cm³).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the Specific Gravity formula:

Where:

• \( SG \) — Specific Gravity (dimensionless)
• Density of Substance — Mass per unit volume of the material (g/cm³)
• Density of Water — 1 g/cm³ (at 4°C)

Explanation: The formula compares how dense a substance is compared to water. Values greater than 1 indicate the substance is denser than water.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity

Details: Specific gravity is used in many industries including geology, brewing, medicine, and petroleum to characterize materials and assess purity or concentration.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the density of your substance in g/cm³. The calculator will automatically divide by the density of water (1 g/cm³) to give the specific gravity.

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 (1 g/cm³).

Q2: What are typical specific gravity values?
A: Most rocks: 2-3, gold: 19.3, ethanol: 0.789, seawater: ~1.025, urine: 1.002-1.030.

Q3: Does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Yes, since density changes with temperature. Measurements should specify the reference temperature.

Q4: How is specific gravity different from density?
A: Density has units (g/cm³), while specific gravity is dimensionless (a ratio).

Q5: Why use water as the reference?
A: Water is abundant, well-studied, and has a conveniently rounded density of 1 g/cm³ at 4°C.