How to Figure Out the Weight of Copper Tubing
If you're considering selling scrap copper tubing or adding some to a vehicle, determine its weight, without the use of a scale, before acting. Copper tubing resists corrosion making it a great material for transporting water, refrigerant or other liquids in heating and cooling applications. Weight density relates the weight of any substance to its volume. Higher density materials have a more compact structure. For example, the weight density of copper is about 0.3 pounds per cubic inch. Volume describes how much space an object occupies which depends on its shape.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Measure the length of the copper tubing in inches. For example, the length might be 60.0 inches.
-
2
Measure the thickness of the copper tubing as well as its radius in centimeters. The radius extends from the center of the copper tube to its edge. Assume a thickness of 0.25 inch and a radius of 2.0 inches.
-
-
3
Multiply 2 times the number pi times the radius times the length to get the area of the curved part of the tubing in square inches. (See References 4) This is the curved surface area of hollow cylinder. Use 3.14 for pi. Performing this step leads to 2 times 3.14 times 2.0 inches times 60.0 inches which equals 753.6 square inches.
-
4
Multiply the curved surface area by the thickness to obtain the volume of the copper tubing in cubic inches. Continuing the exercise, you have 753.6 square inches times 0.25 inches, or 188.4 cubic inches.
-
5
Multiply the volume by the weight density of copper to get the weight of the tubing in pounds. This step leads to 188.4 cubic inches times 0.3 pounds per cubic inch which equals a weight of 56.5 lb.
-
1
