What is area density?

Area density is the mass of an object per unit area of its surface. It is commonly represented by the symbol ρ (rho) and is expressed in units of kg/m² or g/cm².

This physical property is related to the thickness or thinness of an object and can be used to measure the amount of material used in manufacturing. For example, the area density of a fabric is an important factor in determining its durability, strength, and comfort.

Area density is calculated by dividing the mass of the object by its surface area. For instance, to find the area density of a 2 meter by 2 meter piece of fabric with a mass of 1 kg, we would divide the mass (1 kg) by the surface area (4 m²) resulting in an area density of 0.25 kg/m².

In addition to fabric and textiles, area density is also used in the calculation of other materials such as paper, plastic, and metals.