If the tare weight of a cylinder is 19 pounds and the propane capacity is 20 pounds, to how many pounds should the cylinder be filled?

To determine the appropriate filling level for the propane cylinder, it's essential to understand that the total weight of the filled cylinder includes both the tare weight and the weight of the propane. In this scenario, the tare weight of the cylinder is 19 pounds, meaning this is the weight of the empty cylinder.

The cylinder can safely hold a maximum of 20 pounds of propane. However, propane should not be filled to its maximum capacity due to safety regulations and thermal expansion, which is why it is typically recommended to fill propane tanks to about 80% of their capacity.

Calculating 80% of the propane capacity gives us 16 pounds of propane. Therefore, when this is added to the tare weight of the cylinder, the total weight becomes 19 pounds (empty cylinder) plus 16 pounds (propane) equals 35 pounds.

Option B states 39 pounds at an 80% level, which might imply some misunderstanding. However, if 20 pounds were mentioned as a maximum capacity, to be compliant with safety standards, the weight should account for this when combined with the tare weight. Consequently, the correct filling should lead to a total that does not exceed the safe working limit.

The recommended filling amount leads to a total cylinder weight