Units of Density- Examples, Definition, Units, Conversion Chart

Density is a fundamental property that describes the mass per unit volume of a substance. This measurement is crucial in various scientific and industrial fields, allowing us to understand the compactness of materials and how they will interact with their environments.

What are Units of Density?

Transitioning to other units, grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) offer precision for smaller quantities, common in laboratory settings for their ease of use in calculations involving smaller samples.

SI Unit of Density

The SI unit of density is the kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m³). This unit comprehensively measures the mass of a material contained within one cubic meter of space. Widely adopted across various scientific and engineering disciplines, kilograms per cubic meter provide a universal standard, facilitating precise and consistent calculations of material compactness and concentration.

CGS Unit of Density

The CGS (centimeter-gram-second) unit of density is grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). This unit effectively measures the mass of a substance contained within a cubic centimeter of volume. It is particularly useful in fields such as chemistry and materials science, where precise density measurements are essential for experiments and product formulations.

List of Density Units

Kilogram per Cubic Meter (kg/m³)

The kilogram per cubic meter is the SI unit of density, representing the mass contained within one cubic meter of volume. It is universally used in science and engineering to quantify the density of substances, from gases to solids.

Gram per Cubic Centimeter (g/cm³)

A gram per cubic centimeter is a unit of density commonly used in chemistry and material sciences. It measures the mass of a substance in a volume of one cubic centimeter, providing a convenient scale for precise measurements.

Pound per Cubic Foot (lb/ft³)

The pound per cubic foot is used primarily in the United States for industrial and commercial applications. It defines the mass of a substance per cubic foot of volume, commonly used in the building materials industry.

Pound per Cubic Inch (lb/in³)

This unit is extremely dense, measuring the mass of material per cubic inch. It is often used in engineering fields to describe the density of metals and other heavy materials.

Ounce per Cubic Inch (oz/in³)

An ounce per cubic inch is used to express the density of smaller, more precious materials, particularly in manufacturing and jewelry industries. It provides a fine scale suitable for detailed work where precision is paramount.

Conversion of Density Units

Here’s a conversion table for density, illustrating how to convert between common units of density such as kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³), and pounds per cubic inch (lb/in³):

Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Grams per Cubic Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) = 1000 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
• Example: To convert 2 kg/m³ to g/cm³, divide by 1000. 2 kg/m³ / 1000 = 0.002 g/cm³

Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Foot

• Conversion: 1 pound per cubic foot (lb/ft³) = 16.0185 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
• Example: To convert 50 kg/m³ to lb/ft³, divide by 16.0185. 50 kg/m³ / 16.0185 ≈ 3.12 lb/ft³

Kilograms per Cubic Meter to Pounds per Cubic Inch

• Conversion: 1 pound per cubic inch (lb/in³) = 27,680 kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³).
• Example: To convert 100,000 kg/m³ to lb/in³, divide by 27,680. 100,000 kg/m³ / 27,680 ≈ 3.614 lb/in³

Grams per Cubic Centimeter to Kilograms per Cubic Meter

• Conversion: 1 kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m³) = 0.001 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
• Example: To convert 5 g/cm³ to kg/m³, multiply by 1000. 5 g/cm³ × 1000 = 5000 kg/m³

Grams per Cubic Centimeter to Pounds per Cubic Foot

• Conversion: 1 pound per cubic foot (lb/ft³) = 0.0160185 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
• Example: To convert 8 g/cm³ to lb/ft³, multiply by 62.428. 8 g/cm³ × 62.428 = 499.424 lb/ft³

Grams per Cubic Centimeter to Pounds per Cubic Inch

• Conversion: 1 pound per cubic inch (lb/in³) = 27.68 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³).
• Example: To convert 10 g/cm³ to lb/in³, divide by 27.68. 10 g/cm³ / 27.68 ≈ 0.361 lb/in³

Pounds per Cubic Foot to Kilograms per Cubic Meter

• Conversion: 1 kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m³) = 0.06243 pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³).
• Example: To convert 20 lb/ft³ to kg/m³, multiply by 16.0185. 20 lb/ft³ × 16.0185 = 320.37 kg/m³

Pounds per Cubic Foot to Grams per Cubic Centimeter

• Conversion: 1 gram per cubic centimeter (g/cm³) = 62.43 pounds per cubic foot (lb/ft³).
• Example: To convert 15 lb/ft³ to g/cm³, divide by 62.43. 15 lb/ft³ / 62.43 ≈ 0.240 g/cm³

Pounds per Cubic Inch to Kilograms per Cubic Meter

• Conversion: 1 kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m³) = 0.00003613 pounds per cubic inch (lb/in³).
• Example: To convert 30 lb/in³ to kg/m³, multiply by 27,680. 30 lb/in³ × 27,680 = 830,400 kg/m³

FAQ’S

Is g mL a unit of density?

Yes, grams per milliliter (g/mL) is indeed a unit of density, commonly used to express the mass per volume of liquids in laboratory settings.

What is a common unit of density?

A commonly used unit of density is kilograms per cubic meter (kg/m³), especially for solids and gases in scientific and engineering contexts.

Is g/mL³ a unit of density?

No, g/mL³ is not a recognized unit of density. Density is typically expressed as mass per unit volume, not volume cubed.