How much does a gallon of water WEIGH?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A gallon of water weighs approximately 8.34 pounds (lbs) in the United States, based on the standard US gallon measurement. This weight can vary slightly depending on temperature, but 8.34 lbs is the accepted average for fresh water at 4°C (39.2°F), which is its maximum density.
To understand how this works, we first need to know that 1 US gallon is equivalent to 3.785 liters. The density of water at 4°C is about 1 kilogram per liter (kg/L), which means that 1 liter of water weighs about 1 kg.
Given that 1 liter of water weighs 1 kg, 3.785 liters (1 US gallon) would weigh approximately 3.785 kg. Since 1 kg = 2.20462 lbs, we can convert the weight from kilograms to pounds:3.785 kg×2.20462 lbskg=8.34 lbs3.785 \, \text{kg} \times 2.20462 \, \frac{\text{lbs}}{\text{kg}} = 8.34 \, \text{lbs}3.785kg×2.20462kglbs=8.34lbs
This weight is specific to the US gallon measurement. In the UK, the imperial gallon is slightly different, being approximately 4.546 liters, and a gallon of water would weigh about 10 pounds (4.546 kg × 2.20462 lbs/kg).
It’s important to remember that the weight of a gallon of water will change slightly with temperature because water expands or contracts depending on its heat content. At higher temperatures, water becomes less dense, so a gallon of warm water would weigh slightly less, and the reverse is true for colder temperatures. However, these variations are minimal for everyday purposes.
