Specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity that represents the ratio of a substance’s density to the density of a reference substance, typically water for liquids and solids, and air for gases. Calculation involves dividing the density of the substance by the density of the reference material. For example, if a material has a density of 2000 kg/m and water’s density is 1000 kg/m, the specific gravity of the material is 2.0.
Determining this ratio is essential in various scientific and industrial applications. It provides a convenient method for comparing the relative heaviness of different materials. This ratio has applications ranging from quality control in manufacturing, where consistent material properties are critical, to geological surveys estimating mineral content. Historically, the concept enabled early scientists to classify and understand matter without precise density measurement tools.