Differences between Density and Specific Gravity in NEET Physics
Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity; Clear your concepts with its definition, formula and major difference to prepare well for NEET UG exam.
Praveen Kushwah27 May, 2025
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Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity : Density and specific gravity are two fundamental concepts in physics and materials science, each offering unique insights into the characteristics of substances.
While both relate to the mass and volume of a material, they represent distinct measurements with different applications. Understanding these differences is crucial in various scientific disciplines, including chemistry, physics, and engineering. In this post, we will explore the Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity focusing on their significance in analyzing and characterizing the properties of diverse substances. This understanding will help the aspirants to prepare better for the NEET Exam.Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity Overview
Density and specific gravity are both measures that provide insights into the physical properties of materials, yet they convey distinct information. Density is the ratio of an object's mass to its volume, reflecting the compactness of matter. It serves as a fundamental parameter in various scientific disciplines, helping in material characterization and determining buoyancy. On the other hand, specific gravity is a dimensionless value comparing the density of a substance to the density of a reference material, typically water. It is particularly useful in fields like geology and brewing, offering a relative measure of a substance's density without the need for unit-specific calculations.Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity
Understanding the Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity is crucial for students who are preparing for the NEET UG exam. Having clarity about this concept will help the students while solving numerical problems, also Questions may be asked directly from this area in NEET Exam.| Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity | ||
|---|---|---|
| Parameter | Density | Specific Gravity |
| Definition | Mass per unit volume of a substance. | The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance (usually water). |
| Units | Typically measured in kg/m³ or g/cm³. | Dimensionless; no units. |
| Formula | Density=Mass/Volume | Specific Gravity =Density of Substance/ Density of Reference Substance |
| Nature | Inherent property of a substance. | Comparative measure; indicates how many times a substance is denser or lighter than water. |
| Dependency on Quantity | Independent of the quantity of the substance. | Independent of the quantity; remains constant for a substance. |
| Applications | Used in various scientific and engineering calculations. | Commonly used in industries such as brewing, metallurgy, and petroleum to determine concentrations. |
| Comparative Measure | Does not provide a comparative measure. | Provides a relative measure compared to the density of water. |
| Water Comparison | The density of water is 1000 kg/m³ or 1 g/cm³. | The specific gravity of water is always 1. |
| Examples | Iron has a density of about 7.87 g/cm³. | If a substance has a specific gravity of 2, it is twice as dense as water. |
| Calculation Consistency | Consistent regardless of the reference substance. | Consistent as long as the same reference substance (usually water) is used. |
| Use in Buoyancy | Used to determine whether an object will float or sink in a fluid. | Indicates the buoyancy of a substance with water. A specific gravity greater than 1 means it sinks. |
What is Density?
Density is a measure of how much mass is packed into a given volume. Mathematically, it is expressed as mass divided by volume.Density = mass/volume
For example, if you have a rock that weighs 200 grams and takes up a space of 50 cubic centimeters, the density of the rock would be 4 grams per cubic centimeter.What is Specific Gravity?
Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a reference substance, usually water. It provides a measure of how much denser or lighter a substance is compared to an equal volume of water. The formula for specific gravity isSpecific Gravity = Density of Substance/Density of Water
Note - Water has a specific gravity of 1
Example: Consider a liquid with a density of 0.8 g/cm³. If the density of water is 1 g/cm³, then the specific gravity of the liquid would be 0.8 g/cm³1 g/cm³=0.8 . This means the liquid is 0.8 times as dense as water.
Difference Between Density and Specific Gravity FAQs
What is the difference between density and specific gravity?
Density represents the mass per unit volume of a substance, while specific gravity is the ratio of the substance's density to the density of a reference substance, usually water.
How are the units of density and specific gravity different?
Density is typically measured in units like kg/m³ or g/cm³, whereas specific gravity is a dimensionless quantity without any units.
Why is specific gravity used in certain industries, like brewing and petroleum?
Specific gravity is used in these industries to determine the concentration of substances compared to the density of water, aiding in quality control and production processes.
Can the density of a substance change with the quantity of the material?
No, density remains constant regardless of the quantity of the substance. It is an inherent property that does not depend on the amount of material present.
How does specific gravity relate to buoyancy?
A substance with a specific gravity greater than 1 is denser than water and sinks, while a specific gravity less than 1 indicates buoyancy, causing the substance to float on water.
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