Specific Gravity

Specific Gravity (pronunciation: spe-si-fik 'gra-vi-tee) is a term used in Physics and Chemistry to describe the relative density of a substance compared to a reference substance, usually water.

Etymology

The term "Specific Gravity" originates from the Latin words "specifus" meaning "certain kind" and "gravitas" meaning "weight".

Definition

Specific Gravity is a dimensionless unit, which means it does not have any physical units associated with it. It is calculated as the ratio of the density of the substance to the density of the reference substance at a specified temperature.

Formula

The formula for Specific Gravity (SG) is:

SG = ρ / ρ₀

where:

ρ is the density of the substance
ρ₀ is the density of the reference substance

Application in Medicine

In Medicine, Specific Gravity is often used in urinalysis, a test performed on urine. It measures the concentration of all chemical particles in the urine.

Related Terms

External links

Medical encyclopedia article on Specific Gravity
Wikipedia's article - Specific Gravity

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Specific Gravity