Which sequence of conversions is typically required to compute water weight from a tank's dimensions?

Which sequence of conversions is typically required to compute water weight from a tank's dimensions?

• A. Volume in cubic feet; convert to gallons using 7.48 gal/ft^3; convert to pounds using 8.34 lb/gal
• B. Volume in liters; convert to gallons; convert to pounds
• C. Volume in cubic feet; convert to liters; convert to pounds
• D. Volume in gallons; convert directly to pounds

Answer: (A)

Weight of water comes from volume times density. When tank dimensions are in feet, the simplest, standard path is to convert the volume from cubic feet to gallons, then multiply by the weight per gallon to get pounds. One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons, and water weighs about 8.34 pounds per gallon. So the weight is volume (ft^3) × 7.48 × 8.34, giving pounds. This two-step approach uses familiar conversion factors and the common density reference for water, making it the most straightforward method in typical practice. Using liters would require a different density reference, and jumping straight from gallons to pounds would still rely on the same weight-per-gallon factor, but the taught sequence usually goes through gallons after starting with cubic feet.

Weight of water comes from volume times density. When tank dimensions are in feet, the simplest, standard path is to convert the volume from cubic feet to gallons, then multiply by the weight per gallon to get pounds. One cubic foot equals 7.48 gallons, and water weighs about 8.34 pounds per gallon. So the weight is volume (ft^3) × 7.48 × 8.34, giving pounds. This two-step approach uses familiar conversion factors and the common density reference for water, making it the most straightforward method in typical practice. Using liters would require a different density reference, and jumping straight from gallons to pounds would still rely on the same weight-per-gallon factor, but the taught sequence usually goes through gallons after starting with cubic feet.