YOU'RE MOVING TONS WHEN SHOVELING SNOW
Pace yourself when shoveling the snow from your driveway this winter. Depending on the snow's density and its depth, you could be moving 6,000 pounds of snow.
So says Dr. Daniel Black, assistant professor of physical science at Wartburg College in Waverly, IA.
He notes that 5 inches of snow could be equal to as little as 1/2 inch (very dry snow) to 2 inches (very wet snow) of rain. If your driveway is 20-feet wide by 30-feet long (600 square feet) then the total volume of snow on it could be as much as 100 cubic feet or as little as 25 cubic feet. Water has a density of 62.4 pounds per cubic foot.
"It seems like the snow on a 20-by-30 driveway probably isn't any less than 1,500 pounds nor more than 6,000 pounds. The upshot is that a driveway full of snow almost certainly weighs on the order of a few tons."
###
Editors: You can reach Black at 319-352-8361 (office)
RSS