why does a human body weigh heavier after death?

Answer 1

Not only human body, even the animals become heavy after death because the body temperature becomes nil due to non functioning of organs and non-circulation of blood. This makes the body cells start getting decomposed and become heavy, when lying in the outside temperature. For this reasons only the dead bodies are kept in ice in he mortuary to avoid decomposition.-

Answer 2

I'm pretty sure that it doesn't, but any changes in weight are directly related to the changes the body goes through, which include the following: decomposition as a result of enzimes breaking down, and microbes "eating" the flesh; inflation of the stomach and other organs with gas a result of the decomposition; the drying up of skin and flesh.

Things filled with gas are heavier than normal, unless it's "floating" gas (like helium). However, with decomposition and the drying up of skin, it's more likely that the body will be lighter after death.

Answer 3

Even when you are sleeping, we still have muscle control (for example, bladder control). When you die, all of your neurological controls shut off and you "relax" physically to a point that you can't achieve in life, and your muscles are completely out of your control. Think about picking up a small child and carrying him. He might be "relaxed," but he can hold his head, legs, etc. into position, and that makes what you're carrying actually lighter than if you were carrying dead weight.

Answer 4

i'd heard it weighs less after death - where did u get this info?

Answer 5

Gee, I always heard it weighed less, about 4 ounces less or something?

Answer 6

where did you get that info from? it is very inaccurate...

my gf has been a mortician for 18 years and is sitting next to me laughing at this question.

Answer 7

This is a very good question but I could not answer your question.

Answer 8

I didn't realize that this was the case. Interesting!

Answer 9

b/c it is dead weight