Ounces are a relatively common measurement, but it can be hard to visualize 1 or 2 ounces unless you have a frame of reference. Learning about some common 2-ounce items can help.
A Tennis Ball
Tennis balls can vary slightly in size, but to be used in professional play, a regulation tennis ball must weigh between 1.975 and 2.095 ounces.
Each of these bouncy balls must also have a diameter between 2.57 and 2.70 inches. Tennis balls are made of rubber with a core of compressed air, which gives them their spring.
The felt cover of the tennis ball helps it fly through the air and gives players more control over direction and speed.
Two Pens
If you can picture a simple plastic pen with a cap, you can picture something that weighs 1 ounce.
Two of these utility pens, therefore, will weigh about 2 ounces. Pens that are made of metal or have decorations on them will weigh a little more, so you might only need one fancier pen to equal 2 ounces.
If the pen is full of ink it’ll also be slightly heavier, whereas if most of the ink has been used, the pen will weigh less.
Two Slices of Bread
The weight of a slice of bread does vary depending on how big or thick the slice is and what the bread is made of.
In general, though, a slice of sandwich bread weighs between about 1 and 1.5 ounces, which means that two slices are equal to about 2 ounces.
Wheat bread, which is denser than white bread, might weigh a little more, and any bread that has fruit or nuts in it will also be heavier.
Half a Cup of Flour
If you’re baking, it can help to know how much flour weighs so you can do conversions from weight to volume easily.
Half of a cup of flour usually weighs about 2 ounces, although this can vary depending on what type of flour it is and how densely it’s packed into the cup.
When measuring flour, it’s important to fluff the flour before adding it to the cup. Always spoon the flour into the cup instead of dipping the cup into the bag or jar.
Spooning keeps the flour light and allows for a more accurate measurement.
50 Jelly Beans
Jelly beans might seem tiny, but their weight can add up quickly. A single jelly bean weighs about 0.04 ounces.
If you gather 50 jelly beans together, then, they should weigh almost exactly 2 ounces.
Jelly bean weight can vary depending on the brand and the individual beans, but most jelly beans are relatively uniform, so they’re a good way to estimate small weights.
Two AA Batteries
One AA battery weighs about 27 grams. One ounce is equal to about 28.3495 grams, which means that an AA battery is just less than 1 ounce, so two AA batteries are equal to about 2 ounces.
Batteries that have been used and no longer work will be a bit lighter than new, fully charged batteries.
One C-size battery also weighs about 2 ounces.
Four Soda Cans
Most people are familiar with the aluminum can a beverage such as soda comes in. Each empty can weighs about 15 grams or just slightly over half of an ounce.
This means that four empty soda cans will weigh almost exactly 2 ounces. The exact type of can, including how it’s made and how thick the metal is, can cause the weight of each can to fluctuate a bit.
Four Tablespoons of Butter
If you enjoy cooking, it’s a good idea to know how much butter weighs. One tablespoon of butter weighs almost exactly half of an ounce, so it would take 4 tablespoons to equal 2 ounces.
A stick usually contains 4 ounces or 8 tablespoons of butter.
It’s easy to see how much a tablespoon of butter is thanks to the markings on the wrapper.
Half of a Banana
Bananas vary greatly in size and weight, so it can sometimes be difficult to judge just what an average banana is and how much it will weigh.
However, because they’re so easy to visualize, they make a great tool for estimating weights.
An average banana is usually between 7 and 8 inches long, and a banana of this size weighs about 4 ounces, so half of a banana weighs about 2 ounces.
A ripe banana contains more water than an unripe banana, so the ripe one will be a tiny bit heavier.
Two Lightbulbs
Lightbulbs are very lightweight, and a standard bulb only weighs about 1.2 ounces. This means that two lightbulbs weigh just less than 2.5 ounces.
Lightbulbs are commonly sold in pairs, so if you’ve ever held a box of two lightbulbs, you can estimate what 2 ounces feel like.
Two to Four Mice
If you’ve ever had a pet mouse, or if you’ve ever seen a mouse scurrying across your basement or garage floor, you can probably visualize how big it is.
Most common mice, such as house mice, wood mice, and deer mice, weigh between about 0.6 and 0.8 ounces.
Other species, such as the cotton mouse, which is native to the southern United States, weigh almost exactly 1 ounce.
Therefore, you would need between two and four mice to equal about 2 ounces.
