Science 101

[tapshoes 2]

A unit of measurement is constant. An inch is always an inch - it does not matter whether it is measured in 1/8ths, 1/16ths, or by the width of elastic bands...an inch is always an inch. (although measurements by men may vary...:tongue2:) This is also true in the measurement of weight.

What does this have to do with anything? If I read one more time that a pound of fat weighs less than a pound of muscle, I think my eyes will start to bleed, and steam pour out of my ears!!! A pound = a pound. The space they occupy will be different (for example, your waist may be smaller but your total weight the same), but the weight will be constant.

A ton of feathers is the same weight as a ton of gold coins...but the amount of space required to achieve that weight will be significantly different.

OK. Class dismissed.

[babygrl1234 6]

So what you are saying is if I loose a pound of fat and gain a pound of muscle my pants will be loser? :tongue2:

[Gone4Now 4]

What if I lose a pound of fat, but gain a ton of gold coins? Then, can I say whatever the hell I want to say...because, well - I have a ton of gold.

Kinda like Oprah.

[tapshoes 2]

What if I lose a pound of fat, but gain a ton of gold coins? Then, can I say whatever the hell I want to say...because, well - I have a ton of gold.

Yes indeedy!

[tapshoes 2]

So what you are saying is if I loose a pound of fat and gain a pound of muscle my pants will be loser? :tongue2:

Just maybe...depends on where the fat was!

[Gone4Now 4]

Just maybe...depends on where the fat was!

Doh...mine's in my head - guess my pants won't fit smaller afterall.

Okay...I'm definitely silly today.

Back to OP - It is annoying to hear that a pound of something doesn't equal a pound of something else. Sometimes I wonder if people can hear themselves speak? Or if they can, are they playing some sick practical joke on the people listening and nodding? "Oohh....did you hear what he said? A pound of fat is lighter than a pound of muscle. Wow. FASCINATING." Really? Who buys that crap?

I've explainded that theory to my daughter, and I try to say a spoonful of fat vs. a spoonful of muscle. That way it is still a visual, but doesn't defy science 101. :tongue2:

[MacMadame 81]

What if I lose a pound of fat, but gain a ton of gold coins? Then, can I say whatever the hell I want to say...because, well - I have a ton of gold.

Kinda like Oprah.

Except I think Oprah would be gaining a pound of fat these days.

I've explainded that theory to my daughter, and I try to say a spoonful of fat vs. a spoonful of muscle.

What theory? A spoonful of muscle does weigh more than a spoonful of fat.

You people are confusing me!!

[Michee 2]

It is time to go back to science 101 literally.

A pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of fat (weight)

A pound of muscle takes up less space than a pound of fat (volume)

Just like a cup of lead weighs more than a cup of feathers.

[Daisalana 33]

I used that story back in 6th grade, and 2 of the smart boys in class (I was always in competition with them) did not understand the concept. I can still remember them arguing.

I said, what weighs more.. a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks. They were adament that it was bricks. I even explained how a POUND is a POUND, and they disagreed because bricks are heavier. I never felt like I was in competition with them again!

[tapshoes 2]

I used that story back in 6th grade, and 2 of the smart boys in class (I was always in competition with them) did not understand the concept. I can still remember them arguing.

I said, what weighs more.. a pound of feathers or a pound of bricks. They were adament that it was bricks. I even explained how a POUND is a POUND, and they disagreed because bricks are heavier.

FF - I think those 2 boys work with me!!

[Gone4Now 4]

What theory? A spoonful of muscle does weigh more than a spoonful of fat.

You people are confusing me!!

:biggrin: Sorry...! I guess I'm not all that clear sometimes - and not very accurate when throwing around scientific terms. Theory s/b replaced with something else, I guess.

I meant, when I was explaining to DD about a specific amount of fat being lighter than the same specific amount of muscle. Like a tsp, or a cup vs. a measurment of weight. I don't say pound to pound, fat is lighter, cause that's stupid and wrong. I say tsp vs tsp, fat is lighter than muscle.

[plain 12]

A unit of measurement is constant. An inch is always an inch - it does not matter whether it is measured in 1/8ths, 1/16ths, or by the width of elastic bands...an inch is always an inch. (although measurements by men may vary...:thumbup:) This is also true in the measurement of weight.

What does this have to do with anything? If I read one more time that a pound of fat weighs less than a pound of muscle, I think my eyes will start to bleed, and steam pour out of my ears!!! A pound = a pound. The space they occupy will be different (for example, your waist may be smaller but your total weight the same), but the weight will be constant.

A ton of feathers is the same weight as a ton of gold coins...but the amount of space required to achieve that weight will be significantly different.

OK. Class dismissed.

Ahhh! But......a ton of feathers does not weigh the same as a ton of gold. There's some weird weight scale pertaining to gold (and some other precious metals) that is different than our standard system of weights, even though the jargon is the same. That makes comparing anything with gold a "trick question" weightwise. Confused? me too. I'll look for a link.

Edited September 10, 2008 by plain

[raedelicious 0]

Density=Mass/Volume

Mass is a constant...weight fluctuates with gravity

Muscle is more dense than fat.

[babygrl1234 6]

How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?

[plain 12]

Ahhh! But......a ton of feathers does not weigh the same as a ton of gold. There's some weird weight scale pertaining to gold (and some other precious metals) that is different than our standard system of weights, even though the jargon is the same. That makes comparing anything with gold a "trick question" weightwise. Confused? me too. I'll look for a link.

Ok, I found it....Click the link only if you're geeky like me and want to know why a pond of feathers is not equal to a pound of gold.

Troy weight - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia