Modern Electronics (was Re: List charter mods & headcount... ;

From: der Mouse <mouse_at_Rodents.Montreal.QC.CA>
Date: Wed Jun 23 22:07:12 2004

> A gallon (US) of water weighs *about* 8 pounds. There are *about* 8
> gallons in a cubic foot (to within 10%). So, a cubic foot of water
> weighs *about* 60 pounds. And, that 8*20*30 foot swimming pool holds
> *about* 350,000 pounds of water. (am I still within 10%?? <shrug>)

No, but within 20%. I fired up units and did the work to decent
precision (28.316847 litres in a cubic foot, 2.2046226 kilograms in a
pound[%]. Looking at my CRC, I see that the density of water varies
comparatively little with temperature, less than 5% difference between
the 4? and 100? figures; using the approximation that 1 litre weighs 1
kilogram[%], I get 8*20*30*28.316847*2.2046226 = 299654+ pounds. Given
that 5% variation and a few other errors (the density of water is not
quite 1 g/cc even at 3.98?), that figure looks more precise than it is,
but even putting all the errors together and assuming they all go in
the same direction, I can't get to within 10% of 350000lb.

[%] Strictly, this is a units clash; a kilogram is a mass unit, whereas
    pounds and other weights are force. For the picky, read
    kilogram-weight for kilogram throughout.

> So, when the kid at the local grocery store rings up your *two* $9.95
> items and tells you the total is *$40*, you can just smile and say
> "What's wrong with this picture?"

Uhhh...a recent sales tax increase? :)

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Received on Wed Jun 23 2004 - 22:07:12 BST