1. What is Specific Weight?

Definition: Specific weight (γ) is the weight per unit volume of a material, calculated by multiplying specific gravity (SG) by the density of water (ρ) and gravitational acceleration (g).

Purpose: This calculator converts dimensionless specific gravity to specific weight in N/m³, which is useful in fluid mechanics and material science.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• \( \gamma \) — Specific weight (N/m³)
• \( SG \) — Specific gravity (unitless)
• \( \rho_{water} \) — Density of water (1000 kg/m³)
• \( g \) — Gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²)

Explanation: Specific gravity is multiplied by water density and gravity to convert from a ratio to absolute weight per volume.

3. Importance of Specific Weight

Details: Specific weight is crucial for calculating buoyancy forces, designing hydraulic systems, and analyzing fluid behavior in engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the specific gravity (typically 0.5-20 for common materials), water density (default 1000 kg/m³), and gravity (default 9.81 m/s²). All values must be > 0.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between specific gravity and specific weight?
A: Specific gravity is dimensionless (ratio to water), while specific weight has units (N/m³) and includes gravity.

Q2: When would I need to change the water density?
A: For extreme temperatures (water density changes slightly with temperature) or when working with other reference fluids.

Q3: What's a typical specific gravity value?
A: Water is 1.0, mercury ~13.6, aluminum ~2.7, gold ~19.3, air ~0.0012.

Q4: Why include gravity in the calculation?
A: Weight is mass times gravity (F=ma), so we multiply by g to convert from mass to weight units.

Q5: Can I use this for gases?
A: Yes, but gases typically have very low specific gravity values (<<1).