2006-06-14 15:52:49 · 21 answers · asked by JOHN B 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Mathematics
hang on, i'll go ask the guy who buried the survivors of the plane crash, he was just weighing the eggs his rooster laid the other day.
2006-06-14 15:56:58 · answer #1 · answered by hellion210 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
This reminds me of a similar but subtly different question: which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?
The answer to this trick question is: a pound of feathers. The reason: precious metals and gems are traditionally weighed by a system called "troy weight", which is NOT the same as the "avoirdupois weight" system used to measure common substances (like feathers).
As everyone knows, a pound is 16 ounces (in the avoirdupois system). BUT, in the troy weight system, a (troy) pound weighs 12 (troy) ounces. A troy ounce is slightly heavier than an avoirdupois ounce, but not enough heavier to make a troy pound (= 12 ozt) as heavy as an avoirdupois pound (= 16 oz avdp).
Troy ounces are still used today to measure fine metals for trade as commodities. This is the only surviving use of the troy system in commerce today. The "troy pound" is a relic, and the "which weighs more" question is essentially a trivia quiz relating to the history of weights and measures.
But the trick doesn't work with feathers and sand, as both of these would be weighed in the common avoirdupois system. So a pound of feathers really does weigh the same as a pound of sand (by definition).
2006-06-15 00:25:09 · answer #2 · answered by logician1989 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
How many times is this question or ones just like it going to be asked? I mean, they're not even funny to teenagers. They are the same, Dufus, but why would anyone want to carry around a pound of feathers. It'd take two truck loads.
2006-06-14 22:57:39 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
a pound of feathers weighs the same as a pound of sand.
2006-06-14 22:57:56 · answer #4 · answered by potato 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
try get the heck out by giving these type of questions. A pound is the same for any kind'a material.
2006-06-14 23:18:05 · answer #5 · answered by Rajesh K 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pound is a pound no matter what the material is..
2006-06-14 22:55:59 · answer #6 · answered by Elizabeth 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The weigh the same amount. This works better when you say it aloud because when someone reads it they catch the joke.
2006-06-14 22:56:27 · answer #7 · answered by Oneofthesedays 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A pound is a pound is a pound.
2006-06-14 22:57:13 · answer #8 · answered by southernserendipiti 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Who's got more time on there hands: a person asking a stupid question on line or a person answering a stupid question on line.
2006-06-14 23:38:23 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Theyre both the same.
2006-06-14 22:55:36 · answer #10 · answered by martster38 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋