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Specific Volume Formula:
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Specific Volume (SV) is defined as the volume occupied by a unit mass of a substance. It is the reciprocal of density and is commonly used in thermodynamics and fluid mechanics to describe material properties.
The calculator uses the specific volume formula:
Where:
Explanation: The specific volume represents how much volume one kilogram of a substance occupies. It's particularly useful in gas laws and phase change calculations.
Details: Specific volume is crucial in engineering applications, particularly in thermodynamics for calculating work done by gases, analyzing phase changes, and designing HVAC systems and refrigeration cycles.
Tips: Enter density in kg/m³. The value must be valid (density > 0). The calculator will compute the corresponding specific volume in m³/kg.
Q1: What's the difference between specific volume and volume?
A: Volume is the total space occupied, while specific volume is volume per unit mass, making it an intensive property independent of the amount of substance.
Q2: How is specific volume used in ideal gas law?
A: In the ideal gas law (PV = nRT), specific volume appears as v = V/m = RT/(MP), where M is molar mass.
Q3: What are typical specific volume values?
A: For water at 4°C: ~0.001 m³/kg; for air at room temperature: ~0.833 m³/kg; for steam: can be much higher depending on pressure and temperature.
Q4: Can specific volume be used for all states of matter?
A: Yes, specific volume applies to solids, liquids, and gases, though it's most commonly used for gases and vapors in thermodynamic calculations.
Q5: How does specific volume relate to specific gravity?
A: Specific gravity is the ratio of a substance's density to water's density, while specific volume is the inverse of density. They are related but represent different physical concepts.