A unit of measurement is the standard magnitude of a quantity used to measure the multiples of this quantity. Fluid ounces and ounces are two such units.
Key Takeaways
- Measurement: Fluid ounces measure volume, while ounces measure weight.
- Unit conversion: Fluid ounces are part of the imperial system and are approximately 29.57 milliliters, whereas ounces are approximately 28.35 grams.
- Application: Fluid ounces are used for liquids like beverages or oils, while ounces are used for solids like food or small objects.
Fluid Ounces vs Ounces
The difference between a fluid ounce and an ounce is that a fluid ounce measures fluids and their volumetric properties, whereas an ounce measures the mass and weight of solid materials.
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A fluid ounce is a standard unit for measuring the capacity of a liquid. This capacity is generally volume. It is widely used in the USA and other western countries to count the number of drinks.
An ounce is a standard unit for the primary measurement of the mass of a physical quantity. It is further subdivided into many categories for different types of materials.
Comparison Table
| Parameter Of Comparison | Fluid Ounces | Ounces |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | A fluid ounce is the standard unit of measurement for fluids. | An ounce is the standard unit of measurement for solids. |
| Representation | It is represented by the abbreviation fl oz. | It is represented by the abbreviation oz. |
| Parameter Measured | Fluid ounces measure the volume of a liquid. | Ounces measure the weight or mass of a solid. |
| Type of Measurement | It is a fluid measurement. | It is a dry measurement. |
| Utility | It is commonly used to measure the number of wines, beverages, and other liquids. | It is commonly used to measure the weight of packages, fabric, and paper. |
What are Fluid Ounces?
A fluid ounce is mainly used to measure the volume of fluids. The abbreviation that represents it is fl oz. There are many types of fluid ounces used, namely troy and avoirdupois.
There are two measurement standards for fluid ounces today. One is the imperial fluid ounce, and the other is the US customary fluid ounce. An imperial fluid ounce is equivalent to 1/160th of an imperial gallon.
A US customary fluid ounce is equivalent to 1/128th of a US gallon. It equals 1/32th of a US quart and 1/8th of a US cup.
What are Ounces?
An ounce is mainly used to measure the mass or weight of solids. The abbreviation that represents it is oz. The word ounce has been derived from the Latin word uncia.
There are many measurement standards used by different countries for ounces today. These are the International avoirdupois ounce, International troy ounce, and metric ounce.
The International troy ounce measures the mass of metals such as gold and silver. It is equal to 480 grains or 31.10 grams.
Main Differences Between Fluid Ounces and Ounces
Ounces are a standard unit of measurement in the western world. Fluid ounces are a subcategory of ounces. The common term ounce is used to address both of these units.
The main differences between the two are :
- A fluid ounce is used to measure fluids, whereas an ounce is used to measure a solid substance.
- A fluid ounce is represented by fl oz, whereas an ounce is by oz.
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Piyush Yadav has spent the past 25 years working as a physicist in the local community. He is a physicist passionate about making science more accessible to our readers. He holds a BSc in Natural Sciences and Post Graduate Diploma in Environmental Science. You can read more about him on his bio page.
