1. What is Relative Density of Mercury?

Definition: Relative density (RD) compares the density of a substance to the density of water at 4°C.

Purpose: It helps understand how dense mercury is compared to water, which is important in physics, engineering, and chemistry applications.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( RD \) — Relative density (unitless)
• \( \rho \) — Density of substance (kg/m³)
• \( \rho_{water} \) — Density of water (1000 kg/m³ at 4°C)

Explanation: The density of mercury (13,593 kg/m³) divided by water's density (1,000 kg/m³) gives its relative density of ~13.593.

3. Importance of Relative Density

Details: Mercury's high relative density makes it useful in barometers, manometers, and other pressure-measuring devices.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the substance density (default 13,593 kg/m³ for mercury) and water density (default 1,000 kg/m³). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why is mercury's relative density important?
A: Its high density allows for compact pressure measurement devices and makes it useful in various scientific instruments.

Q2: Does temperature affect relative density?
A: Yes, since density changes with temperature, but the effect is minimal for mercury in typical conditions.

Q3: What's the relative density of other common materials?
A: Gold ~19.3, Lead ~11.3, Aluminum ~2.7, Iron ~7.87.

Q4: Why use water as the reference?
A: Water is abundant, well-studied, and has a density of exactly 1000 kg/m³ at 4°C, making it a convenient reference.

Q5: Can I calculate RD for other substances?
A: Yes, simply enter the density of any substance to find its relative density compared to water.