Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#0Which 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.
#1re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/1/06 at 11:16pmUmmmm......DUH!!!!???????????
--Aristotle
Cruel_Sandwich
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/30/05
#2re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:12am
And you are always theeeeeere
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Always there
TO CAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAATCH MEEEEEEEEEEE!
#3re: 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.
JustChillin8908
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/31/06
#4re: 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
SweetQintheLights
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
#5re: 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.
#6re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:59amis this kinda like which is more a cup of flour or a cup of water, because they are measured differently too!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#7re: 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
Yawper
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/13/04
#8re: 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
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#9re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:16amTalk like this makes my head hurt.
Mr Roxy
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/17/03
#10re: 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
#11re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:22amBut "Will It Float"?
#12re: 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...
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#13re: Which is heavier- A pound of feathers or a pound of lead?
Posted: 4/2/06 at 11:45amThe 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.
Yawper
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/13/04
#14re: 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
#15re: 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.
Yawper
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/13/04
#16re: 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
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