Definition

kilogram per meter cubed

Part of the IT standards and organizations glossary:

The kilogram per meter cubed (symbolized kg/m 3 ) is the standard unit of material density in the International System of Units (SI). Material density is expressed directly in base SI units, and cannot be further reduced.

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A substance with a density of 1 kg/m 3 is extremely light for its size. Even styrofoam or bubble-wrap has a density greater than this. A cubic meter of water has a mass of about 1000 kg, more than a conventional English ton in the gravitational field of the earth.

Alternative units are often used to express density. The most common of these is the gram per centimeter cubed (g/cm 3 ). A substance with a density of 1 g/cm 3 has a density of 1000 kg/m 3 . Conversely, a substance with a density of 1 kg/m 3 has a density of 0.001 g/cm 3 .

Also see kilogram , meter , specific gravity , and SI (International System of Units).

This was last updated in September 2005
Posted by: Margaret Rouse

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