In various sources translated into Russian, you can often find mention of an ounce. It is a unit of mass, weight or volume used in most British traditional systems of measurement. A typical ounce of avoirdupois (approximately 28.3 g) is 1/16 of the total weight of a pound.
This is a classic unit of measurement for the USA and Britain. It is mainly used in the United States of America for weighing packaged foods and portions, postal items, as well as for determining the density of fabric and paper, boxing gloves, etc. It can sometimes be found in the English-speaking sphere for other processes.
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Varieties
In addition to the regular one, several other ounces are currently in use. These can be measurements of different quantities. This unit is used not only to clarify weight. It is used in the following cases:
- A troy ounce, weighing about 31.1 grams, is used to determine the mass of precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, etc.
- Ounce-force is a measure of weight, that is, mass.
- Fluid ounce is a measure of volume.
Historically, it was used in many industries in various fields where it was necessary to measure mass or volume.
Measures
So, an ounce is, of course, not only a weight standard. These are also two units of volume and one of force. In general, to find out the mass, there are several ounces. The Romans, as mentioned above, also used it to measure length, area, capacity and even the size of an inheritance. Thus, 1 ounce of length in Ancient Rome was equal to 0.0246 meters. And the surface (area) there was measured using jugers. Accordingly, one twelfth of it - 1 ounce - is equal to 209.91 meters.
Etymology of the name
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Where does the term "ounce" come from? This name comes from the Latin uncia, a unit that was one twelfth of the Roman pound (a measure of weight).
The name was borrowed twice. Old English was first spoken as "insan" or "indsan" (a corrupted form of Latin). Then the word "ounce" began to be used in late medieval English.
The abbreviation oz came later from the related Italian word onza (now spelled oncia).
Density and mass
Airplanes often use composite materials instead of pure metals, since, unlike metals, such materials have high elasticity and low weight. The propellers of this Bombardier Q400 aircraft are made entirely of composite materials.
Some industries, such as aviation, require materials that are as light as possible. Since low-density materials also have low mass, in such situations they try to use materials with the lowest density. For example, the density of aluminum is only 2.7 g/cm³, while the density of steel is from 7.75 to 8.05 g/cm³. It is due to the low density that 80% of aircraft bodies use aluminum and its alloys. Of course, one should not forget about strength - today few people make airplanes from wood, leather, and other lightweight but low-strength materials.
Airplanes often use composite materials instead of pure metals, since, unlike metals, such materials have high elasticity and low weight. The propellers of this Bombardier Q400 aircraft are made entirely of composite materials.
An artistic depiction of a black hole by NASA.
Why is there no single standard
An ounce is a unit that is measured in different ways. The explanation for this is as follows. It has been used historically in many parts of the world, at different points in history, and for different applications. Therefore, unequal mass standards were taken as a basis.
How much does an ounce weigh in different values? The international version of avoirdupois calls 28.349523125 437.5 grams. An international troy ounce is 31.1034768 480 grams, a French ounce is 30.59 grams. There are other numerical values. It is worth learning more about what types of this unit of measurement are used in the modern world.
Density of water
If the density of the material from which the object is made is greater than the density of water, then it is completely immersed in water. Materials with a density lower than that of water, on the contrary, float to the surface. A good example is ice, which is less dense than water, floating in a glass on the surface of water and other drinks that are mostly water. We often use this property of substances in everyday life. For example, when constructing ship hulls, materials with a density higher than the density of water are used. Since materials with a density higher than the density of water sink, air-filled cavities are always created in the ship's hull, since the density of air is much lower than the density of water. On the other hand, sometimes it is necessary for an object to sink in water - for this purpose, materials with a higher density than water are chosen. For example, in order to sink light bait to a sufficient depth while fishing, anglers tie a sinker made of high-density materials, such as lead, to the fishing line.
The density of fat is lower than the density of water, so it is easy to remove from the surface of soups, especially those cooled in the refrigerator to the temperature where the fat solidifies. It is convenient to remove them from both aspic and aspic, as in the photo. Photo published with permission of the author.
Oil, grease and petroleum remain on the surface of the water because their density is lower than that of water. Thanks to this property, oil spilled in the ocean is much easier to clean up. If it mixed with water or sank to the seabed, it would cause even more damage to the marine ecosystem. This property is also used in cooking, but not of oil, of course, but of fat. For example, it is very easy to remove excess fat from soup as it floats to the surface. If you cool the soup in the refrigerator, the fat hardens, and it is even easier to remove it from the surface with a spoon, slotted spoon, or even a fork. In the same way it is removed from jellied meat and aspic. This reduces the calorie content and cholesterol content of the product.
Information about the density of liquids is also used during the preparation of drinks. Multilayer cocktails are made from liquids of different densities. Typically, lower-density liquids are carefully poured onto higher-density liquids. You can also use a glass cocktail stick or bar spoon and slowly pour the liquid over it. If you take your time and do everything carefully, you will get a beautiful multi-layered drink. This method can also be used with jellies or jellied dishes, although if time permits, it is easier to chill each layer separately, pouring a new layer only after the bottom layer has set.
The cherry tomato floats on the boundary between the pink-colored salt water below and the lower-density fresh water above. The density of a tomato is greater than the density of pure water and less than the density of salt water, which is why it ended up in the middle.
In some cases, the lower density of fat, on the contrary, interferes. Products with a high fat content often do not mix well with water and form a separate layer, thereby deteriorating not only the appearance, but also the taste of the product. For example, in cold desserts and smoothies, high-fat dairy products are sometimes separated from low-fat dairy products such as water, ice and fruit.
Density of salt water
The cherry tomato floats on the boundary between the pink-colored salt water below and the lower-density fresh water above. The density of a tomato is greater than the density of pure water and less than the density of salt water, which is why it ended up in the middle.
The density of water depends on the content of impurities in it. In nature and in everyday life, pure H2O water without impurities is rarely found - most often it contains salts. A good example is sea water. Its density is higher than that of fresh water, so fresh water usually “floats” on the surface of salt water. Of course, it is difficult to see this phenomenon under normal conditions, but if fresh water is enclosed in a shell, for example in a rubber ball, then this is clearly visible, since this ball floats to the surface. Our body is also a kind of shell filled with fresh water. We are made up of 45% to 75% water - this percentage decreases with age and as we gain weight and body fat. Fat content of at least 5% of body weight. Healthy people have up to 10% body fat if they exercise a lot, up to 20% if they are of normal weight, and 25% or more if they are obese.
If we try not to swim, but simply float on the surface of the water, we will notice that it is easier to do this in salt water, since its density is higher than the density of fresh water and the fat contained in our body. The Dead Sea's salt concentration is 7 times the average salt concentration in the world's oceans, and it is famous around the world for allowing people to easily float on the surface of the water without drowning. Although, it is a mistake to think that it is impossible to die in this sea. In fact, people die in this sea every year. The high salt content makes the water dangerous if it gets into your mouth, nose, or eyes. If you swallow such water, you can get a chemical burn - in severe cases, such unlucky swimmers are hospitalized.
International avoirdupois system (oz)
An international ounce is 28.349523125 grams, according to the International Yard and Pound Agreement of 1959. It was signed by the United States of America and the countries of the Commonwealth of Nations.
In the avoirdupois system, sixteen ounces equal a pound with the same name. It is defined as follows: 7000 grains. Therefore, one ounce totals 437.5 grains.
It is still the standard unit of weight in the United States. In the UK it ceased to be a legal unit of measurement in 2000, but is still widely used on an informal basis. It is also the traditional measure of portion sizes in British restaurants.
Measure in different countries
Until the 20th century, which greatly unified the units of measurement of mass, length and other parameters, residents of different countries used their own measures, different from those preferred by their neighbors. This complicated trade even then, and modern man is even more confused in the diversity. If you came across an ounce in fiction or historical literature, it could be:
- 1/8 German mark (Germany until the end of the 19th century);
- 1/12 pound (Italy);
- 1/16 trade pound (Portugal and Spain);
- 1 doubloon (South America);
- 3 ducat coin (Sicily);
- 1 liang, also known as tael (China).
International troy ounce (ozt)
This unit of measurement is 480 grains. Therefore, a troy unit is equal to 31.1034768 grams. There are 12 troy ounces in the now obsolete pound of the same name.
Today this measure is used only to express the mass of precious metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, rhodium or silver. Bullion coins are the most common product produced and sold in troy ounces. However, precious metal bars also exist in grams and kilograms.
What is the ounce weight of these items? A kilogram bar contains 32.15074657 troy ounces. Throughout history, this measure was actively used to weigh gold. It has the following classification:
- Fine is a troy ounce that measures the pure gold content of a bar. It is calculated as follows: sample multiplied by gross weight.
- The standard is a measure of 22 carat gold with a purity of 91.66% (the proportion of precious metal to alloy is 11: 1).
How to convert ounce to grams
This can be done using an online calculator. To find out how many grams there are in an ounce of gold, you need to enter the number of ounces and the calculator will automatically convert it to grams. The troy ounce is a kind of royal symbol for measuring gold.
Some coins are equal in weight to exactly a troy ounce:
- USA golden eagle
- golden buffalo usa
- Gold bar Australia
- Panda China
- Krugerrand South Africa
- Maple Leaf Canada
- Philharmonic Australia
The ancient city of Troy in no way influenced the name of the troy ounce. The troy ounce was named after a small town in France - Troyes. This city became popular in the twelfth century because it hosted fairs with the participation of merchants from all over the world.
Previously, each country used its own system to measure the value of gold, which constantly created difficulties. At first it was proposed to take the livre as the universal standard; the same system included the troy pound. Soon the troy ounce became the main way to determine precious metals.
Metric ounces
Some countries have revised these units to the metric system. Therefore, the question of how many grams are in an ounce will have different answers. This depends on the country of application. For example, the German apothecary ounce weighing 30 grams is very close to the previously widespread Nuremberg one. However, its divisions and multiples are expressed in the metric system.
In 1820, the Dutch redefined their ounce (in that country its abbreviation is ons). In the Netherlands it is 100 grams. Such amendments to the metric system were also adopted and used in Indonesia. In particular, they are studied according to the general education curriculum of primary schools. This measure is also mentioned in the Indonesian national dictionary.
How much is 1 ounce of gold worth?
The cost of a 999 gold unit for 81 years (1919–2015, excluding war and post-war years) was determined by the London fixing established on the London Interbank Exchange. In 2015, the evaluation system underwent changes - electronic auctions are now held. The new price is set twice daily (at 10:30 and 15:00 GMT).
Until 2015, the price of gold was determined by 5 companies - the main traders and producers of gold bars in the world. Currently, 13 banks from different countries are participating in the auction, including Canada, South Africa, China, Switzerland, the USA and France. In Russia, there are no organizations accredited to participate in interbank trading.
Since the rate changes every day, it is best to track its fluctuations using a live chart.
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Fluid ounce
It is a unit of volume equal to approximately 28.4 ml in the English system. In the US the figure is about 29.6 ml.
A fluid ounce (fl oz) was originally the volume occupied by products such as wine (in England) or water (in Scotland). The meaning of the unit in question varied depending on the system of liquid measurement (such as used for wine or ale).
Various ounces have been used over the centuries, such as Tower and Troy. In international trade, the French one was especially popular. Therefore, the value of ounce in ml has always been different. The situation was aggravated by medieval practice, when a unit of measurement was not necessarily equal to the sum of its parts.
In 1824, the British Parliament defined a gallon as the volume of ten pounds of water at a standard temperature. It was divided into four quarts, a quart into two pints, a pint into four jills, and the last into five ounces. For many, this system seems quite confusing. According to it, there were 160 British fluid ounces per gallon. The result was that the weight of water in this measurement system was approximately 28.4 grams. This relationship is approximately correct even though the definition of the imperial gallon has already been revised to 4.54609 liters, resulting in a fluid ounce volume of 28.4130625 ml.
Word
Without a doubt, this is a term of Latin origin. In ancient Rome, this was the name given to one twelfth of the libra, the basic measure of weight. However, not only mass was measured with it. In general, it may seem that the Romans were very fond of this word.
They often said: “I walked four ounces of the way to...” or “I read three ounces of the book.” What did this mean? Is it really possible to measure distance using scales? Of course not. An ounce is another twelfth of something. Well, either one tenth or thirteenth - depending on the country and time. So what else was measured for her? And How? Also in Ancient Rome, an ounce was called a coin. When minting, one dot was placed on it. The coin, of course, had a small denomination. It was made from an alloy of tin, copper and lead. Some Spanish (doubloons) and Chinese gold coins were also called this way.
