We explain what weight measurements are and what they are for. In addition, other less common weight measurements.
What are weight measurements?
Weight measurements are the units conventionally used to calculate the weight of a body, that is, the amount of matter what's in it.
Although this magnitude is more commonly known as "weight," we are actually talking about mass; since the first will be the extent to which, under the action of the gravity, the object prints a force on the surface on which it rests and, therefore, is measured in Newtons (N).
ThemassInstead, it responds to the amount of matter in an object and to measure it, the conventional measurements of gram (g) and kilogram (kg), among others, are used.
The weight measure to use, in any case, will depend on many scientific and cultural variables, so that in some nations one system is used and another is used in others. To bring aboutmeasurements of this type, in any case, a balance is used: at one end or pan is placed the object and on the other side loads equivalent to its weight.
According to the International System, the standard measure of weight is the gram (g), taken from the decimal metric system together with its extensive list of multiples: decagram (Dg), hectogram (Hg) and kilogram (Kg) that represent 10, 100 and 1000 net grams respectively.
Below, however, there are also known submultiples: decigram (dg), centigram (cg) and milligram (mg). A gram was once defined as the mass of a cubic centimeter of Water at 3.98 ° C from temperature.
One measure of weight can be converted into another thanks to a more or less stable and accepted conversion factor.
Other weight measurements
Other weight measurements are also known, such as the following:
- Metric quintal. It was an old unit of weight in Spain, equivalent to 100 Castilian pounds (about 46 kg). However, once incorporated into the metric decimal system, it was rounded to 50 kg in many places, and finally it was understood as a quintal metric, equivalent to 100 kg. Formerly it had as a fraction the arroba, a quarter of a quintal (11.5 kg), but today it is in frank disuse.
- Ton. Its name comes from the old French word for "barrel" and, although it is not part of the International system, is accepted as equivalent to 1000 kilograms (one million grams). It is also known as megagram.
- Libra. It is the weight measure of the Anglo-Saxon system, although it was used as early as the Roman Empire. Over time it has responded to various values, among which the pound ended up prevailing.avoirdupois, equivalent to 0.45359 kg (453.59237 g). There is also thetroy pound, used today only in goldsmiths and jewelery, and which is equivalent to 373.2417216 grams.
- Ounce. It is another traditional measure of weight, it was used especially for that which weighed less than a pound, since initially it was equivalent to 1/12 pound. Later it was reconverted and today there is the ounceavoirdupois equivalent to 28.349523125 grams; and the troy ounce (used only in jewelry) equivalent to 31.1034768 grams.