Al-Biruni's specific gravity measurements
Determinación de pesos específicos de al-Biruni
- Date
- c. 1030 · confidence medium
- Place
- Ghazni, Afghanistan
- Credited to
- Abu Rayhan al-Biruni
- People
- 👤 Al-Biruni973–1048
- Field
- Cosmos & Earth
What was discovered
With a conical overflow vessel, he measured the water displaced by metals and precious stones and tabulated their specific gravities with errors of under 1% in many cases. It is a landmark of quantitative experimental physics.
Recorded in his Kitab al-Jamahir (mineralogy) and in the work of al-Khazini.
What it led to
- specific gravity tables of al-Khazini
- checking the purity of metals and gems
- quantitative mineralogy