The method of allows us to determine the average () of an object without the need for a measurement. Instead, we measuring only the objects weight (
) and apparent weight (
) when submerged and enter them into the equation below to calculate the density. To see how we arrive at this useful result, follow the steps in the at the end of this chapter.
(1)
Reinforcement Exercises
The previous equation is very similar to the equation used to determine body density from , but you will notice a slight difference. To ignore air and other gasses trapped inside the body, known as the residual volume (RV), the previous equation is modified to approximate the body density ()::
(2)
The residual volume needed to determine body density is approximated from equations based on empirical observations:
For women:
For men:
Finally, the body fat percentage () can be calculated using equations based on empirical measurements. Two of the most common are the Siri Equation and the Schutte Equation:
Siri Equation:
(3)
Schutte Equation:
(4)
Keep in mind that if you look up these equations from other sources you might see different symbols used, but the equations are actually the same. For example, the image below shows how the body density, residual volume, and body fat equations are related, but the symbols used are: body density = , water density =
, body weight =
, and apparent weight =
(for under-water weight).
![Equations for residual volume are given for men and women. For men: 0.0115 x age (years) + 0.019 x height (cm) -2.24. For women: 0.009 x age (years) + 0.032 x height (cm) -3.90. An arrow shows where these values are used in an equation calculating body density: Db = BW/[(BW-UWW)/Dh2o –(RV +0.1)]. Arrows indicate where the body density is used in computing body fat percentage by two methods. Siri: BF% = 495/Db -450. Shutte: BF% = 437/Db -393](https://cdn.instructables.com/FN2/08UL/GQ8FQ73Z/FN208ULGQ8FQ73Z.LARGE.jpg)
Specific Gravity
The ratio of the of a substance to that of water is known as the . Specific gravity can be determined by . If we simply divide both sides of our density equation by the density of water we will have a formula for the specific gravity with weight and apparent weight as input:
(5)
Reinforcement Exercises
Hydrostatic Weighing Equation Derivation
We arrived at equation (1) by starting with the definition of an object’s as object divided by object :
We can find the mass of an object if we divide its weight by g:
Inserting that result for mass into the density equation we have:
For a completely submerged object the volume of water is equal to the volume of the object, so we can replace with
.
Using the definition of density again, we can replace with the displaced water mass (
) divided by water density (
) and then simplify a bit:
We can look up the density of water, but it depends on the water temperature, which is why its important to measure the water temperature when . Notice that we happen to have the mass of displaced water multiplied by g in the previous equation. That is exactly how we calculate the weight of the displaced water (), so we can make that substitution:
which tells us that the pushing upward on objects in a fluid is equal to the weight displaced fluid. Therefore we can replace with
.
For an object in (holding still), the forces must all cancel out. Therefore, when the buoyant force helps to lift the submerged object, a smaller force will be required to hold it still and its apparent weight will be less than the actual weight by an amount equal to the buoyant force. We know the bouyant force () must then be equal in size to the difference between the weight (
) and the apparent weight (
):
Making that replacement in our density equation we have:
We now have an equation that allows us to calculate the density of an object by measuring only its and , as long as we know the of the fluid we are using.
a technique for measuring the mass per unit volume of a living person's body. It is a direct application of Archimedes' principle, that an object displaces its own volume of water
relation between the amount of a material and the space it takes up, calculated as mass divided by volume.
a quantity of space, such as the volume within a box or the volume taken up by an object.
a sequence of steps, logical, mathematical, or computational, combining one or more results to obtain another result
the ratio of the density of a substance to the density of a standard, usually water for a liquid or solid, and air for a gas
a measurement of the amount of matter in an object made by determining its resistance to changes in motion (inertial mass) or the force of gravity applied to it by another known mass from a known distance (gravitational mass). The gravitational mass and an inertial mass appear equal.
pushed out of original position, typically in reference to fluid pushed out of the way by an object placed in the fluid, or an object being displaced from its equilibrium position
The upward buoyant force that is exerted on a body immersed in a fluid, whether fully or partially submerged, is equal to the weight of the fluid being displaced by the body
the state being in equilibrium (no unbalanced forces or torques) and also having no motion
the force of gravity on on object, typically in reference to the force of gravity caused by Earth or another celestial body
the reading on a scale that is used to measure the weight of an object that is submerged in a fluid