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Why 8 fl. oz. of water, frozen does not weigh equal 8 fl. oz. of liquid water (minus weigh of container)

Mark Sterling
Mark Sterling
Research Editor · Mar 26, 2026 · Updated Apr 13, 2026

If you take 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it, it should be 0.52 pounds. If you freeze that 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it again, it should be 0.52 pounds. The *volume* will change because at normal pressure, because water expands when it freezes.

74
Words

1 min
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#203
of 500 in Science

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The Short Answer

If you take 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it, it should be 0.52 pounds. If you freeze that 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it again, it should be 0.52 pounds. The *volume* will change because at normal pressure, because water expands when it freezes. "ounces" are sometimes weight, and sometimes volume. That may explain any difference you note. A volume of 8 oz of ice will weigh less than a volume of 8 oz of water.

Analysis

Key Concepts: Water, volume, ounces

This explanation focuses on water, volume, ounces and spans 74 words across 6 sentences. The depth is typical for Science questions (category average: 72 words), striking a balance between accessibility and completeness.

What This Answer Covers

The explanation opens with: “If you take 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it, it should be 0.52 pounds.” It then elaborates by explaining the root cause, ultimately building toward a complete picture across 6 connected points.

How This Compares in Science

Ranked #203 of 500 Science questions by answer depth (top 41%). This falls in the detailed tier — above average depth. The explanation goes beyond surface-level but keeps things accessible.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a simple explanation for why why 8 fl. oz. of water, frozen does not weigh equal 8 fl. oz. of liquid water (minus weigh of container)?

If you take 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it, it should be 0.52 pounds. If you freeze that 8 fluid ounces of water and weigh it again, it should be 0.52 pounds. The *volume* will change because at normal pressure, because water expands when it…

How detailed is this explanation compared to similar Science questions?

This is an above-average answer at 74 words, ranked #203 of 500 Science questions by depth. The key concepts covered are water, volume, ounces.

What approach does this answer take to explain why 8 fl. oz. of water, frozen does not weigh equal 8 fl. oz?

The explanation uses root cause analysis across 74 words. It is categorized under Science and addresses the question through 1 analytical lens.