Specific Gravity

As you well aware that all materials having individual properties and weights based on the density. How we can compare the different materials in a same platform. Since water has a density of 1 gram/cm3, and since all of the units cancel, specific gravity is the same number as density but without any units (adimensional).

A 1000kg of pure water = 1 cubic metre. Pure water was chosen as the 'base line' for specific gravity and given the value of 1. The specific gravity of all other materials are compared to water as a fraction heavier or lighter density. For example, beryllium has a specific gravity (sg) of 1.84 (1840 kg/cu.m) 

As specific gravity is just a comparison, it can be applied across any units. The density of pure water is also 62.4 lbs/cu.ft (pounds per cubic foot) and if we know that a sample of aluminium has a sg of 2.5 then we can calculate that its density is 2.5 x 62.4 = 156 lbs/cu.ft.
Note, kg/cu.m divided by 16.02 = lbs/cu.ft

One handy metric link between units to remember is that 1 Litre [1000cc] of pure water weighs 1 kilogram. Equally, 1 millilitre of pure water has a mass of 1 gram or 1mL = 1g. The upper-case L for litre is preferable as the lower case can be confused with the figure one, however it is common to see ml for millilitres on bottles.

Units of Mass

Being a construction engineer we are very often used to measure weight of steel is either Kilogram (Kg) or Metric ton (t). If kilogram is further divided we may know it is grams. If gram is further divided we may not know the units.

Some of the unit of mass are gram (gm), micro gram (µg), milligram (mg), centigram (cm), decigram (dg), dekagram (dag), hectogram (hg), kilogram (kg), mega-gram (Mg) or metric ton (t), grain, pennyweight (dwt), ounce (oz), pound (lb), dram (dr), short & long hundredweight (cwt), short & long ton, scruple (s), carat (c), gamma (y).

It is very interesting if we know other industry how they are measuring. Other than Metric unit of mass are as follows

Troy Mass (Used for measure Gold & Silver)

Avoirdupois Mass (Used for goods / based on pounds)

Apothecaries Mass ( Used in Pharmacy)

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Mass Chart

This is continuation with my previous post Specific Gravity

The mass of over 30 different metals and alloys are listed below. While the data is useful for design, individual samples will differ. Impurities will often have an influence.