Sand is one of the most abundant materials on earth.
It’s not only found on the beach but is used in building materials and landscaping all over the world.
It’s also heavier than you might think.
How Much Does Sand Weigh?
The weight of any amount of sand depends on how much water is in it. It’s estimated that dry sand weighs approximately 100 pounds (45 kg) per cubic foot.
Wet sand is naturally heavier and weighs between 120 and 130 pounds (54 to 58 kg) per cubic foot.
How Much Does A Gallon Of Sand Weigh?
A gallon of sand weighs approximately 12.5 pounds (5.6 kg). This weight depends on how wet the sand is, the materials in the sand, and the size of the sand particles.
How Much Does A Cubic Yard Of Sand Weigh?
One cubic yard of sand, or 27 cubic feet of sand weighs 2,600 to 3,000 pounds (1,179 to 1,360 kg).
Ultimately, it depends on its moisture content and the type of sand it is.
How Much Does A 5 Gallon Bucket Of Sand Weigh?
A 5-gallon bucket of sand weighs approximately 68 pounds (31 kg).
How Much Does A Grain Of Sand Weigh?
The weights of the different grains of sand range from 0.017 to 0.011 grams
Sand is split into 5 different grain size categories. These categories include:
- Very coarse (2 mm to 1 mm)
- Coarse (1 mm to 0.5 mm)
- Medium (0.5 mm to 0.25 mm)
- Fine (0.25 mm to 0.10 mm) and
- Fine sand (0.10 mm to 0.05 mm)
~ Fun Fact ~
Research was carried out by the University of Hawaii to find out how many grains of sand there are on the Earth’s beaches and deserts. This study estimated that there are seven quintillion, five quadrillion grains of sand or 7,500,000,000,000,000,000 grains of sand!
Resources:
https://sciencing.com/calculate-weight-sand-8149924.html
https://www.aqua-calc.com/calculate/volume-to-weight
https://www.sandatlas.org/brain-games-with-sand-grains/
https://hypertextbook.com/facts/2003/MarinaTheodoris.shtml