What term describes the weight of a given volume of material divided by the weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature?

What term describes the weight of a given volume of material divided by the weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature?

• A. Specific gravity
• B. Density
• C. Viscosity
• D. Mass per volume

Answer: (A)

Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of material to the weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature. Because weight is proportional to mass and density, this weight ratio equals the ratio of densities, with water serving as the reference. In practice, specific gravity is a dimensionless number that equals the material’s density divided by the density of water (and, at 4°C, numerically matches the density in g/cm³). Density alone is mass per volume, not a ratio to water, and viscosity is about flow resistance, which isn’t part of this comparison.

Specific gravity is the ratio of the weight of a given volume of material to the weight of an equal volume of water at the same temperature. Because weight is proportional to mass and density, this weight ratio equals the ratio of densities, with water serving as the reference. In practice, specific gravity is a dimensionless number that equals the material’s density divided by the density of water (and, at 4°C, numerically matches the density in g/cm³). Density alone is mass per volume, not a ratio to water, and viscosity is about flow resistance, which isn’t part of this comparison.