A Pound of feathers, or a Pound of Gold?

Rowee

Rowee

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You know the question, whats heavier, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold.
Honest answers pre google is preferred :)

- Answer will be revealed this evening (for those who resisted google)
 
I know the lay answer is "they both weigh the same" but from what I can remember the technicality is to do with the difference between definitions of weight and mass.
 
Without googling the terms, I seem to remember that the feathers would be heavier because they are weighed in a different pound measurement to gold, gold is weighed in troy pounds which aren't as heavy as a normal pound used to weigh everything else.
 
Pound of feathers is heavier.

Gold is measured in troy weight.

Been watching too much QI I'm afraid.

Ken
 
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Nah, they dont weigh the same, feathers are heavier cos they are weighe with the imperial pound and prescious are measured with the troi(?) pouns which is a few onces less,,,I believe.
 
If it's all the same with you I'll have the 1lb of gold though :D
 
It depends as some feathers are heavier than others. :thinking:

:lol:
 
so where did the phrase 'you don't get many of them to the pound' come from? :thinking:
 
leftcurl said:
so where did the phrase 'you don't get many of them to the pound' come from? :thinking:
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From pound weight sellers?
 
I would guess a pound of feathers would be heavier, marginally. Put a pound of feathers on scales and there will be air trapped in there, which weighs a small amount.
 
ZoneV said:
Stray St. Bernards? (Because they're too big for the dog warden's van.)
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Groans and rolls eyes!!! LOL
 
Well, apologies for the delay all, I managed to go out at take some photos last night (yay for me :))

The answer has been mentioned - Gold is weighed using the Troy system. Each Troy ounce is slightly heavier than the ounces me and you use for weighing, but there is only 12 Troy Ounces to a Troy Pound rather than the usual 16.

This means that a (Troy) pound of Gold is lighter than a (normal) pound of feathers, or meat, or any other solid item excluding precious metals and precious stone which are measured using Troy weight.
 
Dave1 said:
Without googling the terms, I seem to remember that the feathers would be heavier because they are weighed in a different pound measurement to gold, gold is weighed in troy pounds which aren't as heavy as a normal pound used to weigh everything else.
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Win for you :)

Nikon Ken said:
Pound of feathers is heavier.

Gold is measured in troy weight.

Been watching too much QI I'm afraid.

Ken
Click to expand...
Win for you :)

Russ77 said:
I know the lay answer is "they both weigh the same" but from what I can remember the technicality is to do with the difference between definitions of weight and mass.
Click to expand...
kind of a win for you :)

On the Huh said:
Nah, they dont weigh the same, feathers are heavier cos they are weighe with the imperial pound and prescious are measured with the troi(?) pouns which is a few onces less,,,I believe.
Click to expand...
Win for you :)
gramps said:
If it's all the same with you I'll have the 1lb of gold though :D
Click to expand...

Definitely agree with you
 
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