
Specific Gravity
Specific gravity is a measure of the density of a substance compared to the density of water. It is a dimensionless number, meaning it has no units. If a substance has a specific gravity less than 1, it will float in water; if it's greater than 1, it will sink. For example, if a material has a specific gravity of 2, it is twice as dense as water. This property helps identify materials and understand their behavior in different environments, such as in fluid dynamics and geology.
Additional Insights
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Specific gravity is a measure that compares the density of a substance to the density of water. It is calculated by dividing the substance's density by the density of water (which is 1 g/cm³ at 4°C). If a material has a specific gravity less than 1, it will float in water; if it's greater than 1, it will sink. This property helps in identifying materials, understanding buoyancy, and is crucial in industries like mining and manufacturing. Specific gravity is dimensionless, meaning it has no units, as it is a ratio.