How many pounds are in a ton and what is a trick to memorize the number?”
Pounds to Long Tons (UK) Long Tons (UK): A long ton is a British measurement and equivilent to 2,240 pounds. Not to be confused with the US “short ton” Pounds to Short Tons (US) Short Tons (US): United States measurement also known as a short ton that equals 2,000 pounds Pounds to Metric Tons (or Tonnes) Metric Tons (or Tonnes): A unit of weight equal to 1,000 kilograms, or 2,204.6 pounds. http://www.metric-conversions.org/weight/pounds-to-tons.htm It depends upon which “ton” you mean 1 long (or gross) ton = 2240 pounds (UK) 1 short (or net) ton = 2000 pounds (US) 1 tonne (i.e., a metric ton) = 2204.6 pounds In the United States, when people say “a ton,” they’re thinking the short ton, or 2000 pounds. http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_many_pounds_equal_a_ton I have never heard of a trick to memorize the 2,000 pounds.
The short ton (S/T) is a unit of weight equal to 2,000 pounds (907.18474 kg). In the United States it is often called simply ton without distinguishing it from the metric ton (or tonne, 1,000 kilograms) or the long ton (2,240 pounds (1,020 kg)); rather, the other two are specifically noted. There are, however, some U.S. applications for which unspecified tons normally means long tons (for example, Navy ships) or metric tons (world grain production figures). I am able to remember this because I have a pick-up truck with a half ton load capacity, which I envision to be 5 200 pound men in the truck bed.
