what is heavier an ounce of gold or an ounce of flour?

[j1_69]

This was a question that my mate asked me.
I'm sure this is a trick question. My firtst inclination is to say they're both the same, but don't think its as simple as that.

Just looking for that bit of inspiration thats all!

[somebyrd]

They'd both weigh the same, you'd just get more flour than gold quantity wise iyswim?

SB
x x x

[quizling]

Going back to my childhood, I remember that as a trick question and the answer then was flour because it was weighed by avoirdupois weight ( 16 ounces to the pound) and gold by troy weight ( 14 ounces to the pound).

[JoolsTwo]

A troy ounce is 480 grains, somewhat heavier than an avoirdupois ounce (437.5 grains). So the ounce of Gold is the heavier

[THECORBYLOON]

quizling I thinkk you're a wee bit awry in yir calculations.

In everyday use it's the avoirdupois system we use and there's sixteen ounces in a pound. In the Troy system, there's twelve Troy ounces in a Troy pound.

There's 7,000 grains in the pound we use and 5760 grains in the Troy pound (have I lost anyone yet?)

That means then, there are about 13.2 avoirdupois ounces in a Troy pound.

[Trussell]

If you weighed any item on the same scales, with the same calibration - it's the same ounce! So it must be an identical weight.

[quizling]

Thanks Corbyloon, Well it was a long time ago but I thought I could remember that better than I could something from last week. I never looked at the grains bit but I'd like to get it right. I'm sure yours is a better answer

[smurff]

the answer was gold
did the same quiz at work and the answeres are now out

[j1_69]

somebyrd - thats what i thought! then i said to myself i'm sure theres more to that..

the corbyloon and quizling - thanks. it took a lng while for corbyloon's answer to make sense!

my pride is riding on getting this right!