What weighs more a penny or a hummingbird?

Determining whether a penny or a hummingbird weighs more might seem like a silly question at first glance. However, it highlights some interesting facts about the density and weight of very small objects. In this article, we’ll take a factual look at the weights of pennies and hummingbirds and see which one tips the scales.

The Weight of a Penny

Since 1982, most American pennies have been made primarily of zinc with a thin copper coating. A zinc core makes the coins more durable and cheaper to produce. Here are some key facts about the weight of a modern American penny:

• Pennies minted after 1982 weigh 2.5 grams.
• Earlier copper pennies (minted from 1909 to 1982) weigh 3.11 grams.
• A single penny has a mass of about 1/100th of an ounce.

While a single penny doesn’t weigh much, the tons of pennies produced every year by the United States Mint add up. About 15.8 billion pennies were minted in 2021 alone, with a total weight of about 8,000 tons!

The Weight of a Hummingbird

Hummingbirds are the smallest birds in the world. But just how light are they? Here are some key facts about hummingbird weights:

• The average adult hummingbird weighs between 2-6 grams.
• The bee hummingbird is the smallest at only 1.6-1.9 grams.
• The largest hummingbird, the giant hummingbird, weighs 23 grams.
• Most hummingbird species are between 2-8 grams.

As you can see, even a large hummingbird weighs less than a penny! The tiny bee hummingbird weighs as little as a small paperclip or a penny that has been in circulation for decades.

Comparing a Penny and a Hummingbird

Let’s directly compare the weight of an average modern penny and an average hummingbird:

Based on these average weights, a penny clearly weighs less than a hummingbird. Even the smallest bee hummingbird weighs nearly 50% more than a brand new penny! Here are some more facts that highlight the weight differences:

• 1000 pennies weigh about 2.5 kg, while 1000 hummingbirds weigh 2 to 6 kg.
• The weight of one penny is equivalent to about 1/10th the weight of an average hummingbird.
• A paperclip weighs about 1 gram, so a hummingbird is 2 to 6 paperclips heavy.

While weighing only a fraction of an ounce, hummingbirds are clearly heavier than pennies when we look at the numbers. Keep reading to learn more about why hummingbirds weigh slightly more despite their tiny size.

Why Hummingbirds Weigh More Than Pennies

With their slender bodies and tiny beaks, you might assume hummingbirds weigh less than a compact metal penny. However, basic biology and physics make hummingbirds slightly heavier at the same sizes. Here are some of the reasons why:

• Muscle tissue has a density of about 1.06 g/cm3 compared to copper’s density of 8.96 g/cm3. So a hummingbird’s body is mostly made of lighter material than pennies.
• Feathers are very light, adding little weight to a hummingbird.
• Pennies contain 2.5 grams of zinc and copper compressed into a tiny space, making them more dense.
• Hummingbirds have larger body cavities filled with air, while pennies are nearly solid metal.

In summary, hummingbirds are made of much lighter tissues, bones, and feathers compared to the metals in a penny. But all those lightweight materials still add up to a total weight slightly heavier than a compact copper coin.

How Much Weight Can a Hummingbird Support?

Given their tiny size, you might think a hummingbird couldn’t lift more than a few pennies. But in fact, hummingbirds are strong enough to support surprising amounts of weight.

• During flight, hummingbirds can generate enough lift to support up to twice their body weight.
• The average hummingbird can lift about 5-10 grams in flight – the equivalent of 2 to 4 pennies!
• A larger giant hummingbird can support over 40 grams during flight – nearly the weight of a golf ball.

While a hummingbird can’t lift a full ounce in flight, it can still support many times its own body weight. In fact, relative to their size, hummingbirds are one of the strongest flying birds.

Hummingbird Weight Distribution

Hummingbirds have unique adaptations that allow them to support weight during flight:

• Their chest muscles account for 25-30% of their weight, providing power.
• They have very light, hollow bones to reduce overall weight.
• Wings designed to flap up to 80 times per second provide lift.
• Their wings are larger relative to their body size compared to other birds.

Without these adaptations, hummingbirds would not be able to hover and rapidly change directions. Their bodies have evolved to be as light as possible while retaining the power to lift surprising amounts of weight.

Interesting Facts About Pennies and Hummingbirds

While pennies and hummingbirds don’t seem to have much in common at first glance, digging deeper reveals some fascinating similarities and differences:

Penny Facts

• A 2021 penny cost 1.76 cents to make due to the rising costs of zinc and copper.
• Some pennies havesmall errors that make them valuable to collectors.
• Damaged and worn pennies get removed from circulation by the Federal Reserve.
• Experiments show a penny dropped from a tall building can reach speeds over 50 mph!

Hummingbird Facts

• Hummingbirds are the only birds that can fly backwards.
• They flap their wings up to 200 times per second!
• Hummingbirds have surprisingly good memories and can remember feeding locations.
• A hummingbird’s heart rate can reach over 1,200 beats per minute during flight.

While pennies and hummingbirds don’t weigh the same, they both illustrate how physics applies even at tiny scales. And they remain fascinating to study and observe up close!

Conclusion

So which weighs more – a penny or a hummingbird? Based on the average weights, a modern American penny weighs about 2.5 grams, while even the smallest hummingbirds weigh between 2-6 grams. The higher density metals compacted into the penny make it weigh less than the lightweight tissues and feathers of a tiny hummingbird. But the comparison still highlights some larger principles of physics, biology, and aerodynamics at work. Both pennies and hummingbirds are engineering marvels at their own small scales. And the question of which one weighs more reveals some hidden depths if we look closely!