User:Milton Beychok/Sandbox: Difference between revisions
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{{Image|Hydrometer.png|right|223px| | {{Image|Hydrometer.png|right|223px|A schematic of a specific gravity hydrometer}} | ||
A '''hydrometer''' is an instrument used to measure the [[specific gravity]] (or ''relative density'') of [[Liquid/Definition|liquid]]s; that is, the ratio of the [[Density (chemistry)|density]] of the liquid to the density of [[water]] with both at the same [[temperature]]. It is usually made of glass and consists of a small diameter cylindrical stem and a larger diameter section weighted with [[mercury]] or [[Lead|lead shot]] to make it float upright. | A '''hydrometer''' is an instrument used to measure the [[specific gravity]] (or ''relative density'') of [[Liquid/Definition|liquid]]s; that is, the ratio of the [[Density (chemistry)|density]] of the liquid to the density of [[water]] with both at the same [[temperature]]. It is usually made of glass and consists of a small diameter cylindrical stem and a larger diameter section weighted with [[mercury]] or [[Lead|lead shot]] (sealed with [[wax]]) to make it float upright. The larger diameter section is necessary to provide the displacement volume needed for the proper [[buoyancy]] of the hydrometer | ||
The stem contains a rolled paper marked with the scale being used. There are a great many different hydrometer scales commonly used to measure liquid densities in: [[petroleum crude oil]] marketing and refining; making [[wine]], brewing [[beer]] and making [[whiskey]]; producing [[sulfuric acid]] and other industrial [[chemical]]s; and refining [[sugar]]. | The stem contains a rolled paper marked with the scale being used. There are a great many different hydrometer scales commonly used to measure liquid densities in: [[petroleum crude oil]] marketing and refining; making [[wine]], brewing [[beer]] and making [[whiskey]]; producing [[sulfuric acid]] and other industrial [[chemical]]s; and refining [[sugar]]. | ||
== Scales == | |||
Revision as of 14:28, 2 February 2010
A hydrometer is an instrument used to measure the specific gravity (or relative density) of liquids; that is, the ratio of the density of the liquid to the density of water with both at the same temperature. It is usually made of glass and consists of a small diameter cylindrical stem and a larger diameter section weighted with mercury or lead shot (sealed with wax) to make it float upright. The larger diameter section is necessary to provide the displacement volume needed for the proper buoyancy of the hydrometer
The stem contains a rolled paper marked with the scale being used. There are a great many different hydrometer scales commonly used to measure liquid densities in: petroleum crude oil marketing and refining; making wine, brewing beer and making whiskey; producing sulfuric acid and other industrial chemicals; and refining sugar.