---
title: "What is the use of specific gravity?"  
description: "What is the use of specific gravity?"  
author: "samay srivastava"  
published: 2018-03-06  
canonical: https://answers.mindstick.com/qa/36874/what-is-the-use-of-specific-gravity  
category: "science"  
reading_time: 3 minutes  

---

# What is the use of specific gravity?

What is the use of specific gravity?

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## Answers

### Answer by Sanjay Goenka

The **use of specific Gravity** is can be seen in the case of the **floating of any substance in water**. To **find viscosity** in the case of a liquid, it is **used to find the pressure of any liquid.**\
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![What is the use of specific gravity?](https://answers.mindstick.com/questionanswer/9cf0f55c-4671-4e70-bb27-2c5f6d457604/images/b36eff1e-481b-4688-8217-454fd5b36127.jpeg)\
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What is **[Specific Gravity](https://www.britannica.com/science/specific-gravity)?** At a **specific temperature**, the specific gravity is the **density of the liquid** when it is **compared with the density of the equal volume of water**. The **temperature** which is used in the case of the specific gravity is **39.2 degrees Fahrenhei**t and this temperature is taken because **at this time the density of water is at its idle condition.** \
In the system of Metric the density of water has the density of **1gram/ml**, so here we can say that the **density and the Specific Gravity are equal.** And if we will compare any liquid which has less than the SG of **1gram/ ml** then it **will sink** and if the density will go **beyond the 1gram/ml** then it will **float above the water.** \
**The density of water in the Imperial system is 8.345lbs/ gallon**. And thus in the case of imperial, the used formula will be the same as the density of the product and it will depend on the ratio of the material. \

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**Calculation of Specific Gravity** Here are **two methods** with the help of which we can find the **Specific Gravity** and those are as follows- \
**[Hydrometer](https://www.britannica.com/technology/hydrometer)** This is usually a **cylindrical glass stem** and has a scale inside it which has a bulb at one end of it. The weight of mercury or lead is filled in it. **now dip the glass in a container which is filled with water** and the stem will be started to **float** freely and at this time we can take the **reading of the liquid** which will be **known as the Specific Gravity of that liquid.** \
**Specific Gravity Bottle** This is a flask that is **made to hold the exact volume of liquid at a specified temperature**. The bottle is weighed and filled with the liquid whose Specific Gravity is to be calculated. After filling the liquid it is again weighed and the **difference between both the weights** will be divided with the weight of an equal volume of water to give the **Specific Gravity of the Liquid.** **\**

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