The discussion clarifies the dual nature of the pound as both a unit of mass and a unit of force, emphasizing the importance of context in its usage. A 3000-lb automobile is analyzed, revealing that while it has a mass of 3000 lb, the force applied during braking is also measured in pounds. The conversation highlights the confusion surrounding the conversion between pounds and kilograms, with the correct conversion factor being 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. Participants stress the necessity of using precise terminology, such as "pound-force" (lbf) and "pound-mass" (lbm), to avoid ambiguity.
PREREQUISITESStudents and professionals in physics, engineering, and any field that requires precise measurement and understanding of units, particularly those transitioning between imperial and metric systems.
I like Serena said:Hmm, I don't get this.
The SI prefix "kilo" literally means 1000 and is unit-less.
As far as I know:
1 \textrm{ kg} = 1 \cdot \textrm{ kilogram} = 1 \cdot (1000 \cdot \textrm{ gram}) = 1000 \cdot \textrm{ gram} = 1000 \textrm{ gram}
They do if you consider kilo to be a dimensionless quantity (equal to 1000) separate from grams which is a quantity with dimensions of mass, and the practice of writing them together simply to be notational shorthand.Phrak said:
