Definitions
A mass-derived unit of volume must be defined by reference to the density of some material. In the case of the fluid ounce, this is water. For the cubic ton, the situation is more complex—there are different cubic tons for different materials.
The Reader's Digest Great Encyclopaedic Dictionary gives the following ton-derived volumes:
- Timber, 40 cubic feet
- Stone, 16 cubic feet
- Salt, 42 bushels
- Lime, 40 bushels
- Coke, 28 bushels
- Wheat, 20 bushels
Defining a cubic ton presents some difficulties because:
- It is uncertain whether the above figures are based on the long ton or the short ton
- Organic materials, such as timber, vary in density
The nearest thing to a standard cubic ton seems to be the "timber" cubic ton (40 cubic feet) which is used by freight transport operators in the US.
Read more about this topic: Cubic Ton
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