Ounce

Ounce is a unit of mass, weight, or volume that is used in most British derived customary systems of measurement. The international avoirdupois ounce is defined as exactly 28.349523125 grams under the international yard and pound agreement of 1959, signed by the United States and countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. In the United States, the customary ounce is defined as 1/16 of a pound, while the fluid ounce is defined as 1/128 of a gallon.

Etymology

The term "ounce" is derived from the Latin uncia, a unit that was one-twelfth of the Roman pound (libra). Uncia is the source of the word "inch" as well as the word "ounce".

Types of Ounces

There are three different kinds of ounces used in different systems of measurement:

• Avoirdupois Ounce (Avoirdupois system): This is the most commonly used ounce today. It is used in the United States and around the world for everyday measurements. The avoirdupois ounce is equal to 28.349523125 grams.

• Troy Ounce (Troy weight): This ounce is used for precious metals like gold, silver, and platinum. The troy ounce is equal to 31.1034768 grams.

• Fluid Ounce (Fluid ounce): This is a unit of volume typically used for liquids and gases. The size of a fluid ounce varies depending on whether it is a US fluid ounce (29.5735296 milliliters) or an imperial fluid ounce (28.4130625 milliliters).

Usage

The ounce is commonly used in cooking and other domestic tasks, in the pharmaceutical industry, and for measuring various items, including food, postage, hair color, and the size of electronic parts.

See Also

• Pound (mass)
• Gram
• Kilogram
• Stone (unit)

References

Ounce Resources
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