On Sun, 21 Dec 2003 18:58:22 GMT, Ted Edwards wrote:
Gary Coffman wrote:
Gary Coffman wrote:
Now, with the knowledge gained from this thought experiment, here's
another brain teaser. Which weighs more (at the Earth's surface, in
air), a metric ton mass of feathers, or a metric ton mass of lead?

A metric ton is 1000 kilograms, mass not weight. Mass is a
measure of inertia, which is a fundamental property of matter.
Weight is a force, which isn't a fundamental property of
matter.

Actually, the SI unit of weight is the Newton in spite of the fact that
some folk use Kilogram-weight, approx. 9.8Newtons.

Correct. In the Imperial system, the pound is a unit of force, the
slug is the unit of mass. In either case, weight is a force, not a
mass.

Since you said "weighs" not "masses", the lead weighs more. Although
the difference is small, there is a slight bouyancy effect since air is
not massless and the amount of air displaced is larger for the feathers.

Correct.

Gary