Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

#1

Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/1/06 at 11:14pm

If you said they are both the same- you are W-R-O-N-G!!!!



If you took a pound (mass) of lead and a pound (mass) of feathers, and weighed them on scales (on Earth, which has an atmosphere), the lead would be heavier. This is because the feathers displace more air (for non-scientists, something similar to what makes things float.)

It was an extra credit math question on my test.

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"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule "I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178

#2

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/1/06 at 11:16pm

Ummmm......DUH!!!!???????????

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"The Spectacle has, indeed, an emotional attraction of its own, but, of all the parts, it is the least artistic, and connected least with the art of poetry. For the power of Tragedy, we may be sure, is felt even apart from representation and actors. Besides, the production of spectacular effects depends more on the art of the stage machinist than on that of the poet."
--Aristotle

#3

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:12am

And you are always theeeeeere

To catch meeeeeeeeeeeee

Always there

TO CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATCH MEEEEEEEEEEE!

#4

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:40am

But then how did you get a pound of feathers? You added enough feathers to compensate for the air to equal a pound, right?

I get what the trick question is trying to imply, but I don't buy it. A pound is a pound.

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johnraymondbarker.com

#5

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:44am

Yeah I'm thinking the same thing. They would both be a pound. If you had a pound of feathers you would have a pound of feathers. I guess I don't really understand how you would weigh them to a pound in the first place if one is lighter than the other.

Updated On: 4/2/06 at 01:44 AM

#6

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:49am

I don't know how the whole thing works.

I think it's weighed differently. One is measured in Troyan Pounds,(or something like that) which weighs slightly more than regular pounds.

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"How bout a little black dress?"~hannahshule "I have a penis, not a vagina." ~munkustrap178

#7

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:59am

is this kinda like which is more a cup of flour or a cup of water, because they are measured differently too!

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#8

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 4:51am

The mass of an object is a fundamental property of the object; wouldnt change even in zero gravity.

The weight of an object is the force of gravity on the object.

thats all i really remember

Updated On: 4/2/06 at 04:51 AM

#9

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 9:57am

The correct answer is "depends on where you weigh it" - on Earth they would be the same

yes, it is a matter of definition - pound (mass) v. pound (force)
the real kicker is explaining to someone that a kilogram isn't a unit of weight, it's a unit of mass - the metric unit of weight is Newtons

and a cup is a cup is a cup - a cup is a unit of volume
a cup of water on earth at standard temperature and pressure weighs 8 ounces - a cup of something else will weigh differently depending upon the density of the material

#10

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:16am

Talk like this makes my head hurt.

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If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

#11

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:20am

I would have to say a pound of lead

Have you ever heard anyone say light as lead but they have said light as a feather ? Ergo etc etc

Personally I like a pound of swiss - Alpine Lace

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#12

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:22am

But "Will It Float"?

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" ...the happiness in the tune convinces me that I'm not afraid."

#13

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:25am

If you're considering the situation mass wise, where volume doesn't matter, they would theoretically be the same mass. (I remember being ask this question yet again in Chemistry.)But one may mistaken it for like 16 ounces in volume, where obviously the lead would weigh more. And for all intents and purposes if this question was asked in a science class you would consider the situation where the conditions would be under standard temperature and pressure...rendering the "exact scientific" results. Odd question for math extra credit...

Ahh...the good old days when I actually understood science and math...

#14

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:45am

The way the question was asked could allow one to answer that both are the same or that the lead is more massive because both are true. If you are talking in terms of weight, they both weigh the same amount, but lead is more massive than feathers. The mass of an object is the same no matter where it is weighed while weight depends on the gravitational force on the object. You would have to specify which terms you are speaking in. It's not necessarily "wrong" if someone says they are the same as long as they are referring to weight.

#15

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:51am

"Will It Float?" - apply Archimedes' principle - it's all about displacement and relative density

#16

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 12:13pm

Ouch. My brain hurts now.

I think the real question is, what would someone be doing with a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?!? :) Especially a pound of feathers because a pound of lead (as measured on a normal little scale) would be a pretty tiny chunk of metal. If you kept adding feathers to the other side of the balance that would be one darn big pile o' feathers.

#17

re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?

Posted: 4/2/06 at 12:17pm

boas, darling
boas and fake awards