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Which is heavier?.......

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by hyo silver, Apr 13, 2011.

?

....a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?

  1. a pound of feathers

    6 vote(s)
    23.1%

  2. a pound of gold

    0 vote(s)
    0.0%

  3. neither; they weigh the same

    14 vote(s)
    53.8%

  4. I hate these stupid questions

    6 vote(s)
    23.1%
  1. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    ...a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?
     
    #1 hyo silver, Apr 13, 2011
  2. JimboPalmer

    JimboPalmer Tsar of all the Rushers

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    #2 JimboPalmer, Apr 13, 2011
  3. richard schumacher

    richard schumacher shortbus driver

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    The pound of feathers is heavier. Feathers are weighed with avoirdupois pounds; gold is weighed with Troy pounds = 144/175 avoirdupois pounds.

    Dontcha just love traditional systems of weights and measures? :_>
     
    #3 richard schumacher, Apr 13, 2011
  4. Stev0

    Stev0 Honorary Hong Kong Cavalier

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    I knew somebody was going to bring this up which is why I hate these stupid questions.
     
    #4 Stev0, Apr 13, 2011
  5. airportkid

    airportkid Will Fly For Food

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    This kind of thing reminds me of a cynical speculation a friend and I once had that if McDonalds were to introduce a 5 oz. burger they'd sell more of them by advertising them as the "Lite Fiver for those who can't eat a whole Quarter Pounder".
     
    #5 airportkid, Apr 13, 2011
  6. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    What if it were an ounce of feathers and an ounce of gold? Which is heavier then?
     
    #6 hyo silver, Apr 14, 2011
  7. twittel

    twittel Senior Member

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    This is like asking if Englands has a 4th of July...:)
     
    #7 twittel, Apr 14, 2011
  8. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    If they have the same mass, then it depends on the gravity to which each is subjected. Weight is a force and therefor dependent on gravity. Mass is independent of gravity.

    Tom
     
    #8 qbee42, Apr 14, 2011
  9. Pri4Us

    Pri4Us Junior Member

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    An avoirdupois ounce(ie- feathers, commodities) = 28.350 grams.

    A troy ounce(ie- gold, jewels) = 31.103 grams.

    An apothecaries' ounce(ie- drugs) = 31.103 grams.
     
    #9 Pri4Us, Apr 14, 2011
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  10. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

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    How about !

    Put both in a plastic ziplock bag, squeeze the air out, and drop both at the same time from a height of 100 feet.
    What will happen?

    My prediction: Gold will land second, because of smaller volume. When both projectiles reach terminal velocity, their speed will be slightly different due to air friction, around the ziplock bag.

    The pound of feathers might "fill" the ziplock bag better, making a rounder shape, less air resistance. The pound of gold, being quite small, even with the air taken out, will flop around creating drag.

    My guess is the gold will arrive 1/4 of a second after the feathers over 100 feet. If dropped from 30,000 feet, terminal velocity of both objects will act for a longer period of time, both packages will arrive many seconds apart.

    Dropping the same objects on the moon, no matter the distance, both arrive at the same time since terminal velocity won't come into play.
     
    #10 markderail, Apr 14, 2011
  11. krelborne

    krelborne New Member

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    I do not know. How many feathers can you buy for a £?
     
    #11 krelborne, Apr 14, 2011
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  12. qbee42

    qbee42 My other car is a boat

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    But that doesn't answer the OP's question. All that does is demonstrate that gravity accelerates all objects equally, regardless of weight.

    Tom
     
    #12 qbee42, Apr 14, 2011
  13. markderail

    markderail I do 45 mins @ 3200 PSI

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    So far I like krelborne answer the best, which would mean feathers. One £ buys precious little Au (79) these days.

    Bird feathers are probably so cheap you could use it for insulation, great cash down on a house.

    Hyo must be getting a kick out of these posts.
     
    #13 markderail, Apr 14, 2011
  14. hyo silver

    hyo silver Awaaaaay

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    Yes, I am. :)

    This is one of my favourite questions. It serves both to illustrate the absurdity of archaic systems of weights and measures, and to reveal a little something of how people think.

    I start with the ounce, having to explain that 'yes, it's a trick question, but there really is a correct answer. And it's not that they're both the same.' After going through the Avoirdupois and Troy difference, and letting that almost sink in, I ask about a pound of feathers and a pound of gold. 'Oh no, you're not fooling me again with that trick.' :p
     
    #14 hyo silver, Apr 14, 2011
  15. Rae Vynn

    Rae Vynn Artist In Residence

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    One pound of feathers = 456.48 grams (16 ounces)
    One pound of gold = 373.236 grams (12 T ounces)

    Thanks to Pri4us for the gram :thumb:
     
    #15 Rae Vynn, Apr 14, 2011
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