Density, Specific Weight and Specific Gravity

An introduction and definition of density, specific weight and specific gravity - formulas with examples.

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

ρ = m / V (1)

where:- ρ = density (kg/m3), m = mass (kg), V = volume (m3)

The SI units for density are kg/m3. The imperial (BG) 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.

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.
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

ρ = [18.5 (g) / 1000 (g/kg)] / [23.4 (ml) / 1000 (ml/l) 1000 (l/m3) ]

= 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. Our unknown liquid may likely 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

γ = ρ g (2)

where

γ = specific weight (kN/m3)

g = acceleration of gravity (m/s2)

The SI-units of specific weight are kN/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.
Specific Gravity

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 = = ρ / ρH2O (3)

where

SG = specific gravity

ρ = density of fluid (kg/m3)

ρH2O = 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.

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 millimeter, 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

(the density of water is 1000 kg/m3)

DESCRIPTION
Steam is used throughout the industry for process and space heating. Within the process
industries, steam is used in oil refineries; pulp and paper mills; chemical production, such as
ethylene and ammonia; food and grain processing; and textiles.

Refineries and chemical plants use steam tracing to reduce pumping costs of viscous material
and prevent freezing of process piping. Steam is used for heat exchangers and reactors to assist
or create process chemical or thermal reactions. Paper mills utilize major steam generation
systems to generate power and dry paper products. Steam is widely used for district energy
systems found in major municipalities and central plants of universities and hospitals.

To minimize piping cost, steam is generated and distributed at much higher pressures and
temperatures than are required by the process load. Emerson regulators are utilized in these
applications to reduce the steam pressure to a usable level and to accurately maintain process
fluid temperatures.