The specific gravity and its application in determining the fraction of an iceberg above the water surface

The concept of Specific Gravity

Specific gravity is a fundamental concept in physics and material science that is defined as the ratio of the density of a material to the density of water. It is denoted by the symbol "SG" and is used to determine the relative density of a substance compared to water. The specific gravity of water is always considered to be 1.

Application in determining the fraction of an iceberg above the water surface

The specific gravity of ice is 0.917, while the specific gravity of seawater is 1.025. To determine the fraction of an iceberg above the surface of the water, we can use the concept of specific gravity. The fraction of an iceberg above the water surface is calculated by dividing the specific gravity of seawater by the specific gravity of ice: Fraction of iceberg = Specific gravity of seawater / Specific gravity of ice Fraction of iceberg = 1.025 / 0.917 Fraction of iceberg = 1.11 ppm

Geotextile specific gravity

In the field of geosynthetics, a similar concept of specific gravity is used to determine the relative density of the polymeric raw material used to make geotextiles. The specific gravity of polyethylene and polypropylene, which are common materials in geotextiles, typically ranges from 0.90 to 0.96. Substances with a specific gravity less than 1 float in water, so it is important to consider this property when working with geosynthetics in water.

What is specific gravity and how is it calculated? How is the concept of specific gravity applied in determining the fraction of an iceberg above the water surface?

Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of a material to the density of water. It is calculated by dividing the density of the material by the density of water. In the context of determining the fraction of an iceberg above the water surface, specific gravity is used to compare the densities of ice and seawater and calculate the relative portion of the iceberg above water level.

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