Which weighs more, a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks? This old riddle plays with the distinction between mass and density. A ton is a ton, of course; but bricks have much greater density than feathers, and so we are tempted to think of them as heavier.
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Neither weighs more; a ton of feathers and a ton of bricks weigh the same.
Explanation (300 words):
This riddle—“Which weighs more: a ton of feathers or a ton of bricks?”—often tricks people into thinking there’s a difference in weight due to how we perceive the materials involved. However, the key is in the wording: a ton is a ton, regardless of what material it measures.
A ton is a unit of weight (or mass), and it equals:
- 2,000 pounds in the U.S. (short ton)
- 1,000 kilograms in most other countries (metric ton)
Whether you’re weighing feathers, bricks, gold, or water—if each pile weighs one ton, then their weights are identical.
So, a ton of feathers and a ton of bricks weigh exactly the same: one ton.
Why the riddle is tricky:
The confusion often arises due to density and volume:
- Bricks are dense and heavy for their size. A small pile of bricks could easily weigh a ton.
- Feathers are light and fluffy, so it would take an enormous volume of feathers to add up to a ton.
Because of this, we tend to visualize the brick pile as more compact and solid—and mentally associate it with being heavier—whereas the mountain of feathers, despite being the same weight, seems “lighter” due to how it looks and feels.
Conclusion:
This riddle cleverly teaches us to distinguish between mass (or weight) and density/volume. The material doesn’t matter—a ton is a ton. What differs is the space each material takes up. A ton of bricks may fit in a wheelbarrow, while a ton of feathers could fill an entire room!