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From: terryl@tekcrl.UUCP ()
Newsgroups: net.puzzle
Subject: Re: feathers vs. gold  **SPOILER**
Message-ID: <408@tekcrl.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 20-Dec-85 02:03:17 EST
Article-I.D.: tekcrl.408
Posted: Fri Dec 20 02:03:17 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 21-Dec-85 05:31:35 EST
References: <846@ecsvax.UUCP> <902@ecsvax.UUCP> <456@eneevax.UUCP> <1671@cae780.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Lines: 28

> In article <456@eneevax.UUCP> hsu@eneevax.UUCP (Dave Hsu) writes:
> >In article <902@ecsvax.UUCP> hes@ecsvax.UUCP (Henry Schaffer) writes:
> >>> I) Which weighs more, a pound of feathers or a pound of gold?
> >>
> >>   One pound of feathers weighs 453.59 grams.
> >>   One pound of  gold    weighs 373.2  grams.
> >>   
> >>   One ounce of feathers weighs 28.35  grams.
> >>   One ounce of  gold    weighs 31.103 grams.
> 
> >Gosh, I always thought that weight and pounds referred to FORCE.  Is it
> >time to resurrect the slug?
> 
> Have I missed something?  Grams and pounds are both units of the same thing -
> feel free to call it FORCE if you wish.  The "puzzle" makes use of the wild
> inconsistencies of "English measures", with different sized ounces and a
> different number of those ounces in the corresponding pounds.  So what's the 
> problem?


      Whoever > > is(Henry Schaffer), is right. Whoever > is, is wrong.
A GRAM IS A UNIT OF MASS. A POUND IS A UNIT OF FORCE, DEPENDENT ON EXTERNAL
VARIABLES. MASS IS INDEPENDENT OF EXTERNAL VARIABLES. As Henry said, although
not very clear, and it may confuse some people, a gram is the metric unit of
mass. A slug is the American (English??) unit of mass. Can't remember the
mathematical equation relating grams and slugs(boy, sounds like it was devel-
oped in Oregon, as everyone knows the slug is the "Official State Mascot"
of Oregon (-:!!!!)