FOr realism if you want to use mass instead of weight divide the weight by 2.2
198 Pounds / 2.2
Just a little tidbit I thought I would pass on.:)
Printable View
FOr realism if you want to use mass instead of weight divide the weight by 2.2
198 Pounds / 2.2
Just a little tidbit I thought I would pass on.:)
Isn't that just the conversion from pounds to kilos?
Exactly, Kilograms is the measure of Mass. A measure of weight is in either Pounds or Newtons. Newtons can only be used on Earth because the pull of gravity on a 1 KG object is 9.8 N. This is solely dependant on the equation W=mg. M stands for Mass which is Kilograms and little g for the Earth's pull on us which is 9.8. You could also use the equation F=G(mm/r^2)
Big G is the gravitational constant of 6.673x10^-11 times the masses of the two objects divided by the radius^2. It will give you the same number.
Actually, that's wrong. Pounds (lb) are used for both mass (lbm) and weight (lbw) in the Imperial system. They are simply considered equivalent in Earth-normal gravity.
So, someone who weighs 180lb. on earth has a mass of 180lbm.
Tyger Einstein
Wait ST, the unit of Mass in the imperial system is the slug. Pounds are still weight.
TO be more correct Kilograms is mass, Newtons and Pounds are a unit of force most commonly.
Then I guess my physics professors are all wrong. I was taught pounds-mass was the unit of mass in the imperial system..and considering the prestige of the school I attended those classes, I'll take their words over yours.Quote:
Originally posted by Lt Cmdr Matt
Wait ST, the unit of Mass in the imperial system is the slug. Pounds are still weight.
I respect that. I never said that there is no way that I was wrong. I very well could be. I would trust your professors over me at anytime for now. I respect that fact that you didn't flame me though.
In the English and Metric systems, Pounds are a measure of force not mass. Kilograms is a measurement of Mass. I researched the imperial system and I read about the Pounds are not mass but that is not in question. What I originally meant was that if you go to the moon your weight will be less your mass will be the same. That was what I was trying to say and that to be realistic in sci-fi you should use Kilograms, to do that from pounds in America you divide by 2.2.
I simply gave the equation of finding the force in newtons that can be used universally. Newtons are a force.
I also was taught that the imperial measure of mass was the slug. It takes 32.2 pounds at sea level on Terra to make 1 slug.
OTOH, I'd really rather use metric!