9 Random Things That Weigh 5 Grams
Last updated on May 14th, 2022 at 02:13 pm
Determining the weight of something as light as 5 grams can be a bit challenging.
If you don’t have a scale handy, the best way to figure out the weight of something that is 5 grams is to compare it with items of the same weight.
I have compiled a list of 9 items that weigh close to 5 grams for you to reference.
5 grams equals 0.17 ounces or 0.005 kilograms.
1. USA Nickel
The USA nickel is a coin with a value of five cents. It was introduced in 1866 and has been used as legal tender ever since, except for three years during World War II.
The design on the front of the coin features an image of Thomas Jefferson. On the back, there is a building with the word Monticello which is a building that Jefferson built for himself.
The five-cent nickel is made out of 75% copper and 25% nickel. It is 0.835 inches in diameter and weighs 5 grams each.
2. Three playing cards
A playing card is a small piece of thin cardboard in the shape of a rectangle with the suit and rank of one or more cards on it.
Not all playing cards are the same size but the common 3.5” x 2.25” playing card will have a thickness range of 0.17mm – 0.24mm and weigh close to 1.7 grams each.
Adding the weight of 3 playing cards together would equal around 5 grams.
Playing cards are used in many games, including poker, solitaire, go fish, crazy eights, and rummy. They are also used in a variety of magic tricks.
They are sorted by different criteria like design or color and some playing cards are considered to be a collector’s item.
Playing cards have been around for centuries but they weren’t always made out of paper. Before paper was used, people played games using items like leaves, wood chips, or silk cloths.
3. Sheet of paper
A common size for a sheet of paper is 8.5 x 11 inches. This size is normally used in printers. Although paper is available in different weights and thicknesses, on average a sheet of paper of this size weighs close to 5 grams.
4. Five dollar bills
Using the USA dollar bill as a reference, these bills have the measurements of 6.14 inches x 2.61 inches. Some countries have different bill sizes, but the USA has had the same dimensions for the dollar bill since 1928.
Regardless of the denomination, all bills are the same size and each bill weighs 1 gram. Therefore 5 dollar bills will weigh 5 grams.
5. Five cigarettes
A cigarette is a tobacco product that contains nicotine and other chemicals. The use of cigarettes dates back to the 18th century, but the invention of automated rolling machines in 1880 led to a boom in their production.
Cigarettes are typically made from cured and finely cut tobacco leaves wrapped in thin paper for smoking. They contain approximately 5 milligrams of nicotine per cigarette, which is one-tenth as much as an average cigar.
On average, one cigarette will weigh 1 gram. 5 cigarettes together will weigh 5 grams.
6. Five thumbtacks
A thumbtack is a very small, thin piece of metal with a sharp point. Thumbtacks are also known as a tack or push pin.
Thumbtacks are commonly used for holding papers to bulletin boards in schools and offices. They can also be used to hang up posters on the wall.
1 thumbtack will weigh close to 1 gram each. So if you had 5 of these thumbtacks, they would equal close to 5 grams in total.
7. Half of a poker chip
Poker chips are a small, round plastic disc that is used instead of cash in some casinos. Players buy them from the casino and then use them as currency to play with during a poker game.
Poker chips can vary in color and markings with different denominations. Each chip represents different amounts of money including a $5, $25, and $100 chip. The number on the chip tells you how much it’s worth.
A poker chip can vary slightly in weight between 8.5 and 10 grams. If you had half of a chip, it would weigh close to 5 grams.
8. Five ml of water
Normally the weight of water is measured in gallons or in large quantities. Water weighs 8.345 pounds per gallon. Looking at a much smaller scale, water will weigh around 1 gram for every milliliter. Using a small measuring cup or a syringe with ml increments, measuring 5 ml of water will weigh around 5 grams.
9. Fifty blades of grass
It can be difficult to find something lighter than a blade of grass. Of course, not all blades of grass will be the same size or weight. But using it as an example, 1 blade of grass will weigh only 0.1 grams. You would need 50 of these blades of grass to equal 5 grams.
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