What is heavier a cup of water or a cup of sand?

Answer 1

The mass of a volume of a material depends on its density. A cup of water is likely to have less mass than a cup of sand, because the density of rock is generally much greater than water, and sand is fine particles of rock.

Sand can be packed into a cup at different densities, but even if only lightly poured into the cup, the air between the sand particles will not be sufficient to make the density lighter than that of water, as most rock is at least twice as dense as water.

Some rocks are apparently less dense than water: they even float! But, this is because they have trapped air bubbles in them which lighten them, and once ground into sand, they will be much denser as the air is no longer trapped within the rock.

Some examples of densities are:

• water 1 g/cm3
• granite 2.7 g/cm3
• sandstone 2.3 g/cm3

Answer 2

A cup of water has the bigger mass. Why? Because one tiny droplet of water weighs more than one tiny gran of sand. Therefor more water put in a cup would weigh more than more sand put in a cup.

Answer 3

According to another Yahoo answer, the range of density of sand is 1.4 to 2.0 grams per ml. The density of water is defined at 1.0 grams per ml, so no matter what the volume or size of container, the sand will always be heavier. This DOES include the air space between the particles of sand.

Answer 4

Masses of chemicals (sand and water are both chemicals) are determined in part by their density. Density = Mass x Volume. Seen as the volume is the same (1 cup), density determines why each has a different mass. Water has a density of 1g per cm3. Therefore, sand must have a higher density. Sorry if this was too detailed/patronising an explanation!

Answer 5

The apparent density of rocks (excepting pumice, etc.) is greatest than the density of water; consequently the mass is greater for the same volume.

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-- Therefore, some rocks must have more mass than the same amount of water has.

( ... a big part of the reason why they sink in water.)

Answer 6

rocks

because it has more mass ( that's the right answer )

Answer 7

As sand sinks in water, the sand must be heavier than water, thus a volume of sand will be heavier than the same volume of water.

Answer 8

A cup, generally speaking, is a measure of quantity, not weight. A cup of sand would be heavier than a cup of water. However 8 ounces of sand = 8 ounces of water.

Answer 9

Lead is heavier.

Because the density of lead is heavier than sand.

Answer 10

less than