WHAT IS A HYDROMETER USED FOR?
Many industries and sciences measure the densities of both liquids and solids for products that need to be measured by either mass (weight) or volume. Hydrometers are used to determine the specific gravity of liquids and operate on the Archimedes principle that a solid body displaces its own weight within a liquid in which it floats. Hydrometers can be of two types: • Liquids heavier than water • Liquids lighter than water. The standard hydrometer scale is the specific gravity scale which when used in distilled water the scale reading is 1.000 at the point of measurement. Therefore liquids lighter than water are measured on a scale below 1.000 specific gravity and those liquids heavier than water are scaled above 1.000 specific gravity. The standard calibration method used on hydrometers is the Cuckow method. It is very exact and involving, designed by F.W Cuckow using sophisticated equipment and precise cleaning practices.
