The Nautical Encyclopedia
Patterson’s Illustrated Nautical Encyclopedia — Howard Patterson, 1891

A Table of Specific Gravities

The comparative weights of metals, woods and waters, as given for the shipbuilder.

A TABLE OF SPECIFIC GRAVITIES

Lead11,325
Fine Copper9,000
Gun Metal8,784
Fine Brass8,350
Iron from7,827 to 7,645
Cast Iron7,425
Sand1,520
Lignum Vitae1,327
Ebony1,177
Pitch1,150
Rosin1,100
Mahogany1,063
Box Wood1,030
Sea Water1,030
Tar1,015
River Water1,009
Rain Water1,000
Oak925
Ash800
Beech700
Elm600
Fir548
Cork240
Common Air1,232

These numbers being the weight of a cubic foot, or 1,728 cubic inches, of each of the bodies in avoirdupois ounces; by proportion the quantity in any other weight, or the weight of any other quantity, may be readily known.

For Example.--Required the contents of an irregular piece of oak, which weighs 76 pounds, or 1,216 ounces.

Sp. gr. Oz. wt. oz. cub. in. cub. in.

Here as 925 1,216:: 1,728: 2,271=1 ft. 543 inches cubic, the contents.

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