Specific weight
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The specific weight (also known as the unit weight) is the weight per unit volume of a material, or:
where
- γ is the specific weight [ML−2T−2 or N·m−3]
- ρ is the density of the material [ML−3 or kg·m−3]
- g is acceleration due to gravity at the Earth's surface [LT−2 or m·s−2]
Specific weight can be used in mechanical engineering to determine the weight of a structure designed to carry certain loads while remaining intact and remaining within limits regarding deformation. It is also used in fluid dynamics as a property of the fluid (e.g., the specific weight of water on Earth is 9807 Nm−3 at 5°C).
The terms specific gravity, and less often specific weight, are also used for relative density.
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