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Choose pounds or ounces to measure weight

Sal discusses US customary units of mass or weight such as ounce, pound, and ton. Created by Sal Khan.

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  • primosaur ultimate style avatar for user KBenjamin
    What does a atom weigh?
    (15 votes)
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    • purple pi pink style avatar for user carrollalexp
      An atom is so small that normal measurement units like "grams" or "ounces" don't really make sense. You can use them, but it's like trying to measure the length of your cat in kilometers; you end up with a very tiny number that's hard to picture. Scientists actually use a special unit called the "atomic mass unit" (shortened to u) to measure atoms. So for instance one Carbon atom is 1u, and a heavier Uranium atom is about 238u.
      (22 votes)
  • aqualine ultimate style avatar for user Rashik
    Can anyone explain me these units like pounds, ounces, yards and gallons? I only know the metric system. We don't use these other units in India.
    (10 votes)
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    • aqualine sapling style avatar for user Orna Mukhopadhyay
      These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.
      (18 votes)
  • blobby blue style avatar for user lol
    does a truck weigh 2 tons
    or 2.5 tons?



    (note that 2.5 is 5/2 or 2 1/2).
    (6 votes)
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  • winston baby style avatar for user benjvo06
    Are lb heavier then kilograms?
    (5 votes)
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  • old spice man blue style avatar for user Elena Zagrai
    how many pounds does our sun weigh?? :1
    (5 votes)
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  • starky tree style avatar for user COOPERW
    Why are the latest comments 8 years old?
    (4 votes)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user Keen Tan
    I'm not american I'm not familiar with those units lol
    (2 votes)
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    • primosaur seed style avatar for user Ian Pulizzotto
      I understand. Most countries use the metric system, but for some strange reason, America is one of the few countries using a different system.

      In America, a ton is 2,000 pounds, and a pound is 16 ounces. These American units are related to metric units in the following ways (on Earth's surface):

      1 (American) ton is about 0.907 metric tons (tonnes).
      1 metric ton (tonne) is about 1.10 (American) tons.
      1 pound is about 0.454 kilograms.
      1 kilogram is about 2.20 pounds.
      1 ounce (weight) is about 28.3 grams.
      1 gram is about 0.035 ounces (weight).

      Have a blessed, wonderful day!
      (3 votes)
  • starky seedling style avatar for user 2jacosmakenzie
    way is the cow 700 kilgurm
    (1 vote)
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  • blobby green style avatar for user ChristopherA
    These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.These are all units part of the Customary System in the United States, also known as the Imperial System by people who use the metric system. Khan Academy is originally an American company, so they use this system. Pounds and ounces are kind of like grams and kgs in other countries. They are used to measure weight and mass. 16 ounces make a pound, and 2,000 pounds make a ton (not to be confused with tonne, which is in the metric system). Yards, inches, miles, and feet are kind of like meters and centimeters. They are used to measure distance. 12 inches equal to one foot, 3 feet are equal to one yard, and 5280 feet, or 1760 yards. Gallons, pints, cups, and fluid ounces (not to be confused with regular ounces) are used to measure volume, kind of like liters (litres) and milliliters (millilitres). 2 cups equal one pint, 2 pints equal one quart, and 4 quarts equal 1 gallon. For more information, you can use the google converter tool to help.
    (1 vote)
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  • sneak peak blue style avatar for user Amelia Stanson
    How do you know if you should weigh it in ounces or pounds? Like for example your dad which should be 200 pounds if he's 50. How?
    (1 vote)
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Video transcript

Identify the most reasonable units to measure the weight of the choices below. So we have an average adult, a slice of bread, a kitchen table, or a pack of gum. So I am an average adult, and I know that I weigh about 160 pounds. So I know that pounds are a pretty good measurement for about something the weight of an adult. So I'll put adults in that category right over there. Now we have a single slice of bread. So even a full loaf of bread doesn't weigh a lot. Maybe that gets close to a pound, but a slice of bread is going to be less than a pound. So I would do this in ounces. A kitchen table. Well, a kitchen table kind of weighs the same-- it could, if it's a very large kitchen table, could weigh the same or more than an adult. So I would do this in pounds. And then a pack of gum. So once again, a pack of gum is fairly light. If you've ever been to the gym and held even a 1-pound or 2-pound weight, it weighs more than a pack of gum. So a pack of gum is going to be less than a pound, so ounces seem to make sense here.