1. What is Specific Weight?

Specific weight (also known as unit weight) is the weight per unit volume of a material. It is calculated by multiplying density by the acceleration due to gravity (g).

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the simple equation:

Where:

• Density — Mass per unit volume (kg/m³)
• g — Acceleration due to gravity (9.81 m/s² on Earth)

Explanation: This equation converts mass density to weight density by accounting for gravitational acceleration.

3. Importance of Specific Weight Calculation

Details: Specific weight is crucial in fluid mechanics, civil engineering, and material science for calculating forces exerted by fluids and designing structures to withstand these forces.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter density in kg/m³ and gravitational acceleration in m/s² (9.81 m/s² for Earth). All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What's the difference between density and specific weight?
A: Density is mass per unit volume, while specific weight is force per unit volume (weight per unit volume).

Q2: What are typical units for specific weight?
A: The SI unit is N/m³, but lb/ft³ is also commonly used in imperial systems.

Q3: Does specific weight change with location?
A: Yes, since g varies slightly with elevation and latitude, though this variation is often negligible for most applications.

Q4: How does temperature affect specific weight?
A: Temperature affects density, which in turn affects specific weight. Most materials expand when heated, decreasing their specific weight.

Q5: What's the specific weight of water?
A: At 4°C, water has a density of 1000 kg/m³, so its specific weight is 1000 × 9.81 = 9810 N/m³.