How do you tell the difference between stainless steel and titanium?

Answer 1

As a general rule stainless steel is a little less than twice as dense as titanium. One method for determining the material makeup of an object would be to calculate its density. To do this the object would first have to be weighed, and its mass recorded (on earth with a relatively constant rate of acceleration due to gravity of 9.8 m/s^2 mass can be determined using a scale). Next, the volume needs to be determined. This could either be calculated for simple shapes by taking measurements and then applying formulas for volume of shapes or by submersing the object in a fluid and measuring the displacement. After determining the objects mass and volume, the density can then be calculated by dividing the weight by the volume. Stainless steel has a density of between 7480 and 8000 kg/m^3 and titanium 4500.