Specific Gravity Calculator
Calculate specific gravity from substance and reference densities.
Instantly tells you if the material will float or sink.
Specific Gravity
Specific Gravity (SG) is the ratio of a substance’s density to the density of a reference substance (usually water at 4°C).
SG = ρ_substance / ρ_reference
Water density: 1,000 kg/m³ (1.0 g/cm³)
What it tells you:
- SG < 1.0 → floats in water
- SG = 1.0 → neutrally buoyant
- SG > 1.0 → sinks in water
Common specific gravities:
| Material | SG |
|---|---|
| Ice | 0.917 |
| Oak wood | 0.6–0.9 |
| Aluminum | 2.70 |
| Iron | 7.87 |
| Gold | 19.3 |
| Mercury | 13.6 |
| Gasoline | 0.72 |
| Olive oil | 0.92 |