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 relative measure of density.

3. Importance of Specific Gravity

Details: Specific gravity is used in many industries including brewing, petroleum, and gemology. It helps identify substances, assess purity, and determine concentration of solutions.

4. Using the Calculator

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

Q2: What are typical specific gravity values?
A: Pure water has SG=1. Materials less dense than water (like wood) have SG<1, while denser materials (like metals) have SG>1.

Q3: Does temperature affect specific gravity?
A: Yes, since density changes with temperature. Measurements should specify the temperature at which they were taken.

Q4: What industries use specific gravity measurements?
A: Brewing (beer/wine making), petroleum, gemology, chemical manufacturing, and hydrology among others.

Q5: How is specific gravity measured experimentally?
A: Common methods include hydrometers (for liquids) and the water displacement method (for solids).