The popularity of the tungsten cube as a desk novelty and conversation piece stems from its deceptively small size and surprisingly heavy weight. This metallic block offers a tangible demonstration of extreme density, a property not easily visualized in everyday materials. This article addresses the common query about the dimensions and mass, providing the definitive weight of a standard 2-inch tungsten cube.
The Exact Weight of a 2-Inch Tungsten Cube
A solid, industrial-grade tungsten cube measuring 2 inches on each side contains a significant amount of mass. Based on the density of pure tungsten, the cube weighs approximately \(5.57\) pounds. This translates to about \(5\) pounds and \(9\) ounces in imperial units. In the metric system, this object has a mass of roughly \(2.53\) kilograms.
This weight is based on a perfect \(2.0 \text{ inch} \times 2.0 \text{ inch} \times 2.0 \text{ inch}\) cube made from \(99.95\%\) pure tungsten, which has a density of \(19.3 \text{ grams per cubic centimeter}\). Some commercially available cubes use tungsten alloys or have slightly chamfered edges, which can reduce the actual weight to closer to \(5.2\) pounds.
The Phenomenon of Tungsten’s High Density
Tungsten’s remarkable weight is a direct consequence of its atomic structure. The element, designated ‘W’ with atomic number \(74\), possesses a high atomic mass of \(183.84 \text{ grams per mole}\).
The atoms within tungsten are packed tightly in a body-centered cubic crystal lattice structure. This combination of heavy atoms and a highly compact arrangement results in an extremely high density of about \(19.3 \text{ g/cm}^3\). Only a few other elements, such as gold and platinum, approach this level of density, with osmium and iridium being the only ones slightly denser. This property is why tungsten is used in aerospace and military applications where maximum mass in a minimal space is desired.
Calculating the Mass: Volume and Density
The mass of any object is determined by the formula: Mass equals Density multiplied by Volume. To calculate the cube’s mass, the dimensions must first be converted from imperial inches to the metric system’s centimeters. A 2-inch length is equivalent to \(5.08\) centimeters.
The volume of the cube is found by cubing the side length: \(5.08 \text{ cm} \times 5.08 \text{ cm} \times 5.08 \text{ cm}\), which yields a total volume of approximately \(131.06\) cubic centimeters. This volume is then multiplied by the accepted density of pure tungsten, \(19.3 \text{ g/cm}^3\). The resulting calculation is \(131.06 \text{ cm}^3 \times 19.3 \text{ g/cm}^3\), which gives a mass of \(2529.4\) grams.
This mathematical process confirms the precise relationship between the material’s inherent density and the object’s physical size. The final mass of \(2529.4\) grams is then converted into the more commonly used imperial weight of \(5.57\) pounds.
Contextualizing the Weight: Comparisons
The weight of the 2-inch tungsten cube is best understood when compared to identically sized cubes made of other common metals. An aluminum cube of the same \(2 \text{ inch}\) size would weigh only about \(0.74\) pounds. A steel cube would be significantly heavier at about \(2.1\) pounds, but this is still less than half the mass of the tungsten version.
Even dense metals like lead and gold are dwarfed by tungsten’s mass. A 2-inch lead cube weighs about \(3.06\) pounds, making the tungsten cube over \(80\%\) heavier. Gold, which has a density nearly identical to tungsten at \(19.3 \text{ g/cm}^3\), would weigh almost the same, but it is far more expensive.