Final answer:
The greatest weight allowed by state law for any vehicle including its load is 80,000 pounds. This legal limit helps to preserve road infrastructure and is largely above the weight of everyday items, but under the combined weight of two heavy African elephants.
Step-by-step explanation:
The greatest weight allowed by state law for any vehicle including its load is 80,000 pounds. This is a regulation typically set to ensure the safety and maintain the infrastructure of roadways. If we consider the weight conversions mentioned, one ton equals 2,000 pounds. Therefore:
- 3.5 tons would be 7,000 pounds.
- 5 tons equals 10,000 pounds.
- 25 tons is equivalent to 50,000 pounds.
Essentially, items such as a television set or a soda in a can have weights that are significantly less than the weight a vehicle can carry based on state laws. On the other hand, something as heavy as two male African elephants would have a combined weight that approaches, but still under, the state limit—for instance, using the upper range of 16,000 pounds per elephant.