Kilogram-force

From Citizendium
Revision as of 22:42, 5 July 2011 by imported>Milton Beychok (Added a reference)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This article is developing and not approved.
Main Article
Discussion
Related Articles  [?]
Bibliography  [?]
External Links  [?]
Citable Version  [?]
 
This editable Main Article is under development and subject to a disclaimer.

A kilogram-force (kgf) is a measurement unit of force which will accelerate 1 kilogram of mass to 9.80665 m/s2, the standard average acceleration due to gravity on Earth's surface (referred to as gn).[1] Since a newton is defined[2][3] as the force which will accelerate 1 kilogram of mass to 1 m/s2, one kilogram-force is by definition equal to 9.80665 newtons.[4] The kilogram-force is often referred to as the kilopond (kp).[note 1]

The kilogram-force was not very well defined until the 3rd General Conference on Weights and Measures (Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures, CGPM) defined gn, the standard gravity, to be 9.80665 m/s2 in 1901.[5] Although it was once widely used, it has never been part of the International System of Units (SI) introduced in 1960 by the 11th GCPM.[6]

The kilogram-force is still used to some extent in a few countries, but it is generally considered to be obsolete in most countries.

Equivalent units of force

  • 1 kgf ≡ 9.80665 newton (symbol: N)
  • 1 kgf ≡ 980,665 dyne (symbol: dyn)
  • 1 kgf ≡ 1 kilopond (symbol: kp)[note 1]
  • 1 kgf ≡ 9.80665×10-3 sthène (symbol: sn)
  • 1 kgf ≈ 2.20462 pound-force (symbol: lbf)
  • 1 kgf ≈ 2.20462×10-3 kip (symbol: kip)[note 2]
  • 1 kgf ≈ 70.93164 poundal (symbol: pdl)

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 Another name for a kilogram-force. Not to be confused with "kilopounds", meaning 1,000 pounds of mass.
  2. A non-SI unit of force equal to 1,000 pound-force.

References