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Free density calculator to compute density, mass, volume with 40+ material database. Calculate buoyancy, specific gravity & material properties instantly with comprehensive unit conversion.
Enter mass and volume to calculate density (ρ = m/V)
Choose from Calculate Density (basic ρ = m/V), Material Database (40+ materials), or Buoyancy Analysis (float/sink prediction).
Input mass (kg, g, lb, oz) and volume (m³, L, cm³, ft³, gal) or select material from database with volume.
Get density in kg/m³ and g/cm³, specific gravity, and buoyant force (if applicable) with visual result cards.
Access your last 10 calculations with timestamps, material names, and density values for reference.
Density is a fundamental physical property that measures how much mass is contained in a given volume. It's defined as mass per unit volume (ρ = m/V) and is expressed in units like kg/m³ or g/cm³. Density determines whether objects float or sink, helps identify materials, and is crucial in engineering, chemistry, and physics applications.
The basic density formula is ρ = m/V, where ρ (rho) represents density, m is mass, and V is volume. Common units include kg/m³ (SI standard), g/cm³ (convenient for small objects), and lb/ft³ (US engineering). Water's density of 1000 kg/m³ (or 1 g/cm³) serves as the reference standard for specific gravity calculations.
Identify unknown substances by comparing measured density to reference values in material databases.
Detect counterfeit products, verify material purity, and ensure manufacturing consistency.
Select materials based on strength-to-weight ratio for aerospace, automotive, and construction.
The fundamental method for calculating density by dividing mass by volume. Works for any substance in solid, liquid, or gas state. Our calculator handles automatic unit conversion for accurate results.
ρ = m / V
Specific gravity (SG) is the ratio of a substance's density to water's density. Formula: SG = ρ_substance / ρ_water. It's dimensionless and indicates if materials float (SG < 1) or sink (SG > 1) in water. Our calculator automatically computes specific gravity for all density calculations.
Temperature affects density as substances expand when heated. Most materials become less dense at higher temperatures. Our calculator includes optional temperature input for more accurate calculations, especially important for liquids and gases where density varies significantly with temperature.
Common metal densities at room temperature (20°C). Dense metals like gold and platinum are used in jewelry and electronics, while light metals like aluminum and titanium are preferred in aerospace.
Liquid densities at standard conditions. Water serves as the reference standard at 1000 kg/m³. Seawater is denser due to dissolved salts, affecting ship buoyancy and marine engineering.
Gas densities at Standard Temperature and Pressure (0°C, 1 atm). Gases are much less dense than liquids and solids. Helium and hydrogen are lighter than air, enabling balloons to float.
Solid material densities for construction, manufacturing, and everyday materials. Wood density varies by species. Ice is less dense than water, which is why it floats.
Buoyancy is the upward force exerted by a fluid on an object submerged in it. This force opposes the weight of the object and determines whether it floats or sinks. Buoyancy is why ships float, submarines can control their depth, and hot air balloons rise.
The buoyant force equals the weight of fluid displaced by the object. Formula: F_b = ρ_fluid × V_object × g, where ρ_fluid is fluid density, V_object is submerged volume, and g is gravitational acceleration (9.81 m/s²).
F_buoyant = ρ_fluid × V_displaced × g
Example: 1m³ object in water experiences 9810 N buoyant force
Floating behavior depends on density comparison between object and fluid:
Object Floats
When ρ_object < ρ_fluid (e.g., wood in water: 600 < 1000 kg/m³)
Object Sinks
When ρ_object > ρ_fluid (e.g., steel in water: 7850 > 1000 kg/m³)
Neutral Buoyancy
When ρ_object = ρ_fluid (object hovers at any depth)
Archimedes' principle states: "Any object, wholly or partially immersed in a fluid, is buoyed up by a force equal to the weight of the fluid displaced by the object." This fundamental principle explains why massive ships float (they displace huge volumes of water) and why submarines can control depth by adjusting their density through ballast tanks. Our buoyancy calculator applies this principle to predict floating behavior for any object-fluid combination.
kg/m³ (SI Unit)
Standard for scientific work. Water = 1000 kg/m³
g/cm³
Convenient for small objects. 1 g/cm³ = 1000 kg/m³
lb/ft³
US engineering. 1 kg/m³ = 0.062428 lb/ft³
kg/L
For liquids. 1 kg/L = 1000 kg/m³
kg/m³ to g/cm³
Divide by 1000
kg/m³ to lb/ft³
Multiply by 0.062428
g/cm³ to kg/m³
Multiply by 1000
lb/ft³ to kg/m³
Multiply by 16.0185
Identify unknown substances by measuring density and comparing to reference databases. Used in geology for mineral identification, forensics for evidence analysis, and quality control for material verification.
Detect counterfeit products (fake gold has lower density), verify material purity in manufacturing, ensure consistency in production processes, and identify defects like voids or inclusions in materials.
Select materials based on strength-to-weight ratio for aerospace (aluminum, titanium), automotive (high-strength steel), and construction (concrete, steel). Optimize designs for weight reduction while maintaining structural integrity.
Design ships and submarines with proper buoyancy, calculate cargo capacity, determine stability, and control submarine depth using ballast tanks. Critical for naval architecture and offshore platform design.
Prepare solutions of specific concentrations, measure sugar content in beverages using hydrometers, determine alcohol content in spirits, and analyze chemical composition through density measurements.
Calculate cargo weight from volume for transportation planning, optimize container loading, determine freight costs, and ensure compliance with weight restrictions for trucks, ships, and aircraft.
Identify minerals and rocks using density measurements, locate ore deposits, assess soil composition, and determine rock porosity for oil and gas exploration. Essential for resource exploration and extraction.
Measure sugar content in beverages, determine fat content in dairy products, assess oil quality, verify product authenticity, and ensure consistency in food manufacturing processes.
Density is the mass per unit volume of a substance, measuring how tightly matter is packed. Formula: ρ = m/V, where ρ (rho) is density, m is mass, and V is volume. For example, if an object has mass 500g and volume 250cm³, density = 500/250 = 2 g/cm³. Our calculator supports multiple units including kg/m³, g/cm³, lb/ft³ for mass (kg, g, lb, oz) and volume (m³, L, cm³, ft³, gallons).
To calculate density, divide mass by volume using the formula ρ = m/V. Steps: 1) Measure the object's mass using a scale. 2) Determine volume through measurement or water displacement. 3) Divide mass by volume. 4) Convert to desired units. Example: A 2kg object with 0.001m³ volume has density = 2/0.001 = 2000 kg/m³.
Specific gravity is the ratio of a substance's density to water's density (1000 kg/m³). Formula: SG = ρ_substance / ρ_water. It's dimensionless while density has units. Specific gravity indicates if objects float (SG < 1) or sink (SG > 1) in water.
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