_______ is the weight of a given volume of a liquid divided by the weight of an equal volume of water, when both are measured at the same temperature.

• A. Specific gravity
• B. Density
• C. Viscosity
• D. Buoyancy

Answer: (A)

The concept tested here is specific gravity, which is a simple comparison of how heavy a given volume of liquid is compared with the same volume of water at the same temperature. Because weight is mass times gravity and the volumes are equal, the ratio of the weights is the same as the ratio of the densities. That dimensionless ratio is what we call specific gravity. If the liquid is denser than water, its specific gravity is greater than one; if less dense, it’s less than one. This idea is distinct from viscosity (which describes flow resistance) and buoyancy (the upward force on submerged objects), and it isn’t about mass per volume in isolation—that’s density.