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. They are confused as same, but they are not.
Fluid Ounces vs Ounces
The main difference between a fluid ounce and an ounce is that a fluid ounce is used for the measurement of fluids and their volumetric properties, whereas an ounce is used for the measurement of the mass and weight of the solid materials.
A fluid ounce is a standard unit for measuring the capacity of a liquid. This capacity is generally volume. It is very widely used in the USA and other western countries to measure the quantity of liquids.
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. It is even used to describe the amount of food a person intakes.
Comparison Table Between Fluid Ounces and Ounces (in Tabular Form)
| 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 amount 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. The mass of a fluid ounce of water is approximated as one avoirdupois ounce. This measures around 28.35 grams.
There are two measurement standards for fluid ounces today. One is the imperial fluid ounce, and the other one is the US customary fluid ounce. An imperial fluid ounce is equivalent to 1/160th of an imperial gallon. It is also equivalent to 1/40th of an imperial quart, and 1/10th of an imperial cup.
A US customary fluid ounce is equivalent to 1/128th of a US gallon. It is also equivalent to 1/32nd of a US quart, and 1/8th of a US cup. The fluid ounce is used to measure the volumetric quantity of water, wines, beverages, and more.
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 types of ounces, namely ounce force and troy ounce.
There are many measurement standards used by different countries for ounces today. These are the International avoirdupois ounce, International troy ounce, and the metric ounce. The International avoirdupois ounce is employed by the US and the Commonwealth nations. In this system, an avoirdupois pound is equal to sixteen ounces.
The International troy ounce is used to measure the mass of metals such as gold and silver. It is equal to 480 grains or 31.10 grams. Countries such as Indonesia have employed the ounce in the metric system. In Germany, a metric ounce is about 30 grams.
The ounce is used to provide a measure for food items, packages, and fabrics in terms of their mass and weight.
Main Differences Between Fluid Ounces and Ounces
Ounces are a common 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. This fact leads to misunderstanding among the buyers and sellers.
The main differences between the two are :
- A fluid ounce is used for the measurement of fluids, whereas an ounce is used for the measurement of a solid substance.
- A fluid ounce is represented by fl oz, whereas an ounce is represented by oz.
- The fluid ounce measures the volume occupied by a liquid. On the other hand, the ounce measures the weight of a solid.
- A fluid ounce is a sort of fluid measurement, whereas an ounce is a sort of dry measurement.
- A fluid ounce is used for the measurement of wines and beverages. On the other hand, an ounce is used for the measurement of packages and fabric.
Conclusion
Uniformity is essential for the proper functioning of different systems of measurement. This fact has been taken under consideration, and measurement systems such as SI have been made universal.
A non-native English speaker is likely to get confused when witnessing the extensive use of ounces in the Western culture. This is due to the fact that the ounce is used for almost everything, from liquids to solid materials.
The prime use of the fluid ounce is for the volume measurement of fluids. It is widely used for expressing the quantity of water and beverages. The prime use of the ounce is for the weight measurement of solids. It is widely used for expressing the mass of packages.
The ounce is even used for the measurement of the areal density of a fabric. The denim jeans we wear is characterized by ounce measurements. It can also be used for measuring the thickness of copper and the purity of precious metals.