At what temperature is water approximately 1/2 pound heavier per cubic foot compared to water at 100 degrees Fahrenheit?

The correct answer is significant due to the relationship between temperature and the density of water. At 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water reaches its maximum density, which occurs just as it transitions from liquid to solid (ice). As water cools below this temperature, it becomes denser, which means that a cubic foot of ice (below 32°F) actually weighs less than a cubic foot of water at 100°F.

At 100 degrees Fahrenheit, water is less dense than at lower temperatures. Therefore, as the temperature decreases towards 32 degrees Fahrenheit, the mass of water per cubic foot increases. By reaching approximately 32 degrees Fahrenheit, water becomes about 1/2 pound heavier per cubic foot compared to water at 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

This understanding is critical in various applications, such as firefighting and other operations involving water density and weight calculations. In contrast, temperatures like 0 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Fahrenheit do not measure up against the weight comparison accurately, as the density changes at those temperatures do not provide the same difference from the density at 100 degrees Fahrenheit as 32 degrees does.