Density, Specific Weight and Specific Gravity

An introduction and definition of density, specific weight and specific gravity formulas with examples
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Density
Density is defined as an objects mass per unit volume. Mass is a property.

Mass and Weight - the Difference! - What is weight and what is mass? An explanation of
the difference between weight and mass.

The density can be expressed as

= m / V = 1 / vg

(1)

where
= density (kg/m3)
m = mass (kg)
V = volume (m3)
vg = specific volume (m3/kg)
The SI units for density are kg/m3. The imperial (U.S.) units are lb/ft3 (slugs/ft3). While people
often use pounds per cubic foot as a measure of density in the U.S., pounds are really a
measure of force, not mass. Slugs are the correct measure of mass. You can multiply slugs by
32.2 for a rough value in pounds.

Unit converter for other units

The higher the density, the tighter the particles are packed inside the substance. Density is a
physical
property constant at a given temperature and density can help to identify a substance.

Densities and material properties for common materials

Relative Density (Specific Gravity)

Relative density of a substance is the ratio of the substance to the density of water at 4 oC, i.e.

Substance

Relative density

Alcohol

0.82

Mercury

13.95

Paraffin

0.80

Petrol

0.72

Water (4oC)

1.00

Sea water

1.02

Aluminum

2.72

Brass

8.48

Cadmium

8.57

Chromium

7.03

Copper

8.79

Cast iron

7.20

Lead

11.35

Nickel

8.73

Nylon

1.12

Substance

Relative density

PVC

1.36

Rubber

0.96

Steel

7.82

Tin

7.28

Zinc

7.12

Acetylene

0.0017

Dry air

0.0013

Carbon dioxide

0.00198

Carbon monoxide

0.00126

Hydrogen

0.00009

Nitrogen

0.00125

Oxygen

0.00143

Example - Use the Density to Identify the Material:

An unknown liquid substance has a mass of 18.5 g and occupies a volume of 23.4 ml. (milliliter).
The density can be calculated as
= [(18.5 g) / (1000 g/kg)] / [(23.4 ml) / (1000 ml/l) (1000 l/m 3) ]
= (18.5 10-3 kg) / (23.4 10-6 m3)
= 790 kg/m3
If we look up densities of some common substances, we can find that ethyl alcohol, or ethanol,
has a density of 790 kg/m3. The liquid may be ethyl alcohol!

Example - Use Density to Calculate the Mass of a Volume

The density of titanium is 4507 kg/m3. Calculate the mass of 0.17 m3 titanium!
m = (0.17 m3) (4507 kg/m3)
= 766.2 kg

Specific Weight
Specific Weight is defined as weight per unit volume. Weight is a force.

Mass and Weight - the difference! - What is weight and what is mass? An explanation of
the difference between weight and mass.

Specific Weight can be expressed as

=g

(2)

where
= specific weight (N/m3)
= density (kg/m3)
g = acceleration of gravity (m/s2)
The SI-units of specific weight are N/m3. The imperial units are lb/ft3. The local acceleration g is
under normal conditions 9.807 m/s2 in SI-units and 32.174 ft/s2 in imperial units.
Example - Specific Weight Water

Specific weight for water at 39 oF (4 oC) is 62.4 lb/ft3 (9.81 kN/m3) in imperial units. Specific
weight in SI units can be calculated like
= (1000 kg/m3) (9.81 m/s2)
= 9810 N/m3
= 9.81 kN/m3
Example - Specific Weight Some other Materials

Specific Weight -
Product
Imperial Units
(lb/ft3)

SI Units
(kN/m3)

Specific Weight -
Product

Imperial Units
(lb/ft3)

SI Units
(kN/m3)

Aluminium

172

27

Brass

540

84.5

Copper

570

89

Ethyl Alcohol

49.3

7.74

Gasoline

42.5

6.67

Glycerin

78.6

12.4

Mercury

847

133.7

SAE 20 Oil

57

8.95

Seawater

64

10.1

Stainless Steel

499 - 512

78 - 80

Water

62.4

9.81

Wrought Iron

474 - 499

74 - 78

Material Properties

Specific Gravity (Relative Density)

The Specific Gravity - SG - is a dimensionless unit defined as the ratio of density of the material
to the density of water at a specified temperature. Specific Gravity can be expressed as
SG = / H2O

(3)

where
SG = specific gravity
= density of fluid or substance (kg/m3)
H2O = density of water (kg/m3)
It is common to use the density of water at 4 oC (39oF) as reference - at this point the density of
water is at the highest - 1000 kg/m3 or 62.4 lb/ft3.

Thermal Properties of Water Density, Freezing temperature, Boiling temperature, Latent

heat of melting, Latent heat of evaporation, Critical temperature ...

Since Specific Weight is dimensionless it has the same value in the metric SI system as in the
imperial English system (BG). At the reference point the Specific Gravity has same numerically
value as density.
Example - Specific Gravity

If the density of iron is 7850 kg/m3, 7.85 grams per cubic centimeter (cm3), 7.85 kilograms per
liter, or 7.85 metric tons per cubic meter - the specific gravity of iron is:
SG = (7850 kg/m3) / (1000 kg/m3)
= 7.85

water density is 1000 kg/m3

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