Originally Posted by MikeyW
This doesn't even seem correct, lb is a unit of mass, not force. I guess it's just them being sloppy?
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When used without any qualifier or context, the term pound denotes a unit of mass, specifically the avoirdupois pound. The abbreviation for this unit is lb. The pound-force is a unit of force. The abbreviation for this unit is lbf. Some use lbm as an abbreviation for the pound (mass) for consistency with the use of lbf for the pound-force.
Saying "500 pound bite force of dog" is perhaps a bit sloppy, but the "500 pound-force bite force of dog" sounds stilted. It is obvious from context that the pound being talked about in this sentence is the pound force.
There are multiple units of mass called the pound. A pound of gold weighs less than a pound of feathers, for example. Precious metals are weighed with Troy weight while feathers (along with most other things) are weighed with the Avoirdupois system. A troy pound is 12 troy ounces; the avoirdupois pound is 16 avoirdupois ounces.
Confused? This diagram might help. Then again, it might not.
Originally Posted by Pengwuino
Maybe they feel their target audience is more comfortable using imperial units? or American units, whatever it's called.
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United States customary systems of measurement. Imperial units are different. A US gallon is not the same as an imperial gallon, for example.
Originally Posted by Pengwuino
Pound is a unit of force actually. The unit of mass is the 'Slug'.
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See above. The
slug is not an official unit.
