Density
Convert between different units of density used in physics, chemistry, and engineering
Density Converter
Convert between different units of density used in physics, chemistry, and engineering
Conversion Result
Fun Facts
About Density
Explore density units from physics, chemistry, engineering, and industry-specific applications
Historical Context
Density measurement has been crucial throughout scientific history. Ancient civilizations like the Greeks and Egyptians recognized that different materials had different densities, with Archimedes famously discovering the principle of buoyancy around 250 BCE. The concept of specific gravity—comparing a substance's density to water—became a standard practice for material identification. As science evolved, more precise measurements became possible, leading to the development of various density scales like the Baumé scale (1768) for liquids and the API gravity scale for petroleum. The metric system eventually standardized density measurements with kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³) as the SI unit.
Modern Standards
Today, the kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m³) is the standard SI unit for density. In laboratory settings, gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) is commonly used, being numerically equivalent to specific gravity. The petroleum industry uses API gravity to classify crude oils, while brewers and vintners use degrees Brix to measure sugar content. Environmental scientists often use milligrams per liter (mg/L) for water quality measurements. In the United States, pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³) remains common in construction and engineering applications. Modern physics explores extreme densities from the near-vacuum of space (10⁻²⁵ kg/m³) to neutron stars (10¹⁷ kg/m³) and theoretical Planck density (10⁹⁷ kg/m³).
Did you know?
Select a unit to see interesting facts about it.
Conversion Reference
Quick reference for common density conversions