The Weight of an Empty 12 oz Soda Can: Understanding Fluid Ounces vs. Avoirdupois Ounces

Many people often misunderstand the relationship between fluid ounces (oz) and ounces (oz) used in weight measurement. Fluid ounces are a unit of volume, equivalent to cubic inches or other volume units, while avoirdupois ounces are the standard unit of weight in the United States. This article will break down these concepts and provide a detailed explanation of the weight of an empty 12 oz soda can.

Fluid Ounces vs. Avoirdupois Ounces

Fluid ounces measure volume, not weight. For example, 12 fluid ounces of water are nearly identical to 12.17 avoirdupois ounces in terms of weight. This is purely coincidental and the relationship between them can vary due to temperature changes. Avoirdupois ounces are the most common type of ounces used for weight in the US and are simply referred to as ounces.

The weight of ounces can be further divided into troy ounces, primarily used for precious metals, and avoirdupois ounces, which are generally used for other objects. The conversion between these is as follows:

1 avoirdupois ounce 0.9114 troy ounces 12 troy ounces 1 troy pound

It's important to note that there are no fluid pounds, and if a product lists weight in pounds, it is referring to a measurement of weight, not volume.

Weight of a 12 oz Soda Can

The weight of an empty soda can, such as a classic 12 oz can of soda, includes the weight of the can itself and the soda it contains. Let's break down the weight of a 12 oz soda can:

Weight of the Soda: The soda in a 12 oz can (355ml) weighs slightly more than 12.17 avoirdupois ounces due to its composition. Diet Coke, being slightly denser (1.015), would weigh approximately 12.7 avoirdupois ounces. Regular Coke, due to its higher sugar content, is even denser and would weigh around 12.5 avoirdupois ounces. Weight of the Can: An empty 12 oz soda can weighs roughly 14 grams, or 0.5 avoirdupois ounces.

To provide a more concrete example, let's consider a specific case:

A can of Diet Coke:
- Total weight: 13.1 ounces (avoirdupois)

The breakdown includes:

Soda: 12.5 ounces (avoirdupois) Can: 0.6 ounces (avoirdupois)

Thus, the empty can weighs:

17 grams (0.6 ounces) - the weight of the can itself.

In addition, measurements for water and soda show that even in perfect conditions, the weight of 8 fluid ounces of water (which equals about 8 avoirdupois ounces at 4°C) is not always exactly 8 ounces except under very specific conditions.

Conclusion

To summarize, fluid ounces measure volume, and avoirdupois ounces measure weight. The weight of an empty 12 oz soda can is approximately 0.5 ounces, while the weight of the soda inside is slightly more than 12.17 ounces. This distinction is crucial for accurate measurements and understanding the properties of liquids and solids.