How much does 5 gallons of water weigh?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
5 gallons of water weigh approximately 41.7 pounds.
Explanation:
To determine how much 5 gallons of water weigh, we start by understanding the relationship between volume and weight for water. In the United States customary system, 1 gallon of water weighs about 8.34 pounds at standard temperature and pressure (usually around 62°F or 17°C).
So, to calculate the weight of 5 gallons of water:5 gallons×8.34 pounds/gallon=41.7 pounds5 \text{ gallons} \times 8.34 \text{ pounds/gallon} = 41.7 \text{ pounds}5 gallons×8.34 pounds/gallon=41.7 pounds
This means 5 gallons of water has a total weight of 41.7 pounds.
Water’s weight depends primarily on its density, which can vary slightly with temperature. Colder water is denser and therefore weighs a little more per gallon, while warmer water is slightly less dense and weighs a bit less. However, for most everyday purposes, using the average of 8.34 pounds per gallon is accurate enough.
This calculation applies specifically to fresh water. If we were dealing with salt water, the result would be slightly different. Salt water is denser due to the dissolved salts, so 1 gallon of salt water weighs more than 8.34 pounds, closer to 8.6 pounds per gallon. That would make 5 gallons of salt water weigh about 43 pounds.
It is also important to note that this calculation is in U.S. gallons. If using Imperial gallons (used in the UK), 1 Imperial gallon equals approximately 10.02 pounds of water, and 5 Imperial gallons would then weigh about 50.1 pounds.
In summary, using the U.S. system and assuming room temperature water, 5 gallons weighs about 41.7 pounds. This is a useful figure in many real-world applications such as cooking, shipping, or calculating loads in containers and tanks.
