Changes

'''Specific gravity''' is a property of any given sample of matter, defined as the [[ratio]] of its [[mass]] per unit [[volume]] to [[water]] at [[standard temperature and pressure]].

'''Specific gravity''' is a property of any given sample of matter, defined as the [[ratio]] of its [[density]] to that of [[water]] at a given temperature.  

Water has a specific gravity of 1; anything that is lower will typically float and anything that is higher will sink.

Substances are denser than water if they have a specific gravity greater than 1, and less dense if it is less than 1. However, it does not follow that water has a specific gravity of 1, since the density of water varies according to the temperature.

 

The use of specific gravity is generally discouraged in present-day scientific and technical writing, with absolute values of density preferred.

[[Category:Physics]]

[[Category:Physics]]