Which is Heavier?

When I was a very young boy one of my mentors asked me, “Which is heavier, a pound of lead or a pound of feathers?”

I was about eight years old and that question required a little bit of thought. I knew from watching Road Runner cartoons that whenever the coyote is carrying a case of Acme lead off of a cliff he falls faster than the lead so that it lands on top of him after he hits the ground. This made me think that lead must be lighter than a coyote. […]