What is the Difference Between Relative Density and Specific Gravity?

The difference between relative density and specific gravity lies in their definitions and applications. Here are the key differences:

1. Definition:

• Relative density (also known as specific gravity) is a measure of the density of a substance with respect to the density of a reference material, usually water for liquids and air for gases.
• Density is the mass of an object per unit volume.

1. Units:

• Relative density is a dimensionless quantity, as it is the ratio of the densities of two substances.
• Density is represented in units like kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).

1. Applications:

• Specific gravity is used in various industries to measure the concentration of solutions and to compare the densities of different substances.
• Density is used in domestic and commercial applications, such as determining the mass of an object from its volume.

In summary, relative density (specific gravity) is a dimensionless quantity that compares the density of a substance to the density of a reference material, while density is a measure of the mass of an object per unit volume. Specific gravity is often used in industries to measure concentrations and compare densities, while density is used in various applications where the mass and volume of an object are important factors.

Comparative Table: Relative Density vs Specific Gravity

Here is a table comparing the differences between relative density and specific gravity:

Both relative density and specific gravity are used to describe the mass of a substance in relation to its volume. However, specific gravity is an absolute quantity, while relative density is a relative quantity. Additionally, specific gravity is represented in kilograms per cubic meter, while relative density is represented as a ratio.