Difference Between Pound and Kilogram

Pound vs Kilogram

Differentiating pounds and kilograms is actually very easy. However, in the most realistic sense, the two units of measures may become a little complicated.

The first reason for confusion is probably because of the existence of the pound unit as a form of mass and in another is in the form of force. So pound mass is abbreviated “lbm” while pound force is abbreviated “lbf.” In the context of force, a pound is actually equivalent to 4.4482216152605 newtons (N). However, in either case, when the subject is already determined as either mass or weight then “lb.” can be used for both cases.

In addition, “pound” is also the name of the British official currency £. Egypt, Lebanon, Sudan, and Syria are other countries using the pound currency. This currency was derived from the traditional definition of the pound which values it at one pound of silver.

Another cause of confusion is the influence of gravity. Simply said, one kilogram (abbreviated as kg. or shortened as kilo) of mass is equal to 2.2 lbs. This is true when measuring mass here on Earth. But in other planets where the gravity is either weaker or stronger than ours, then most likely the conversion constant will be different from 2.2. Moreover, some are saying that a kilogram is a measure of weight because a kilo is accepted to be the mass of 1 L. of water. In the opposite side, one pound is equal to about 0.454 kg. or 454 grams.

Historically, the formal adoption of the International System of Units (SI) back in 1959 paved the way to the direction shift of embracing kilograms as the most widely used unit of measure for mass. In fact, most of the SI units today (the modern metric system of units) are the most widely used in science, commerce, and everyday life. It is worth noting, however, that some countries like the U.S. and U.K. are embracing the pound as their standard unit of measuring mass.

Summary:

1.Pound is an imperial unit of mass or weight measure while kilogram is a metric unit of measurement.
2.One kilogram is approximately equal to 2.2 pounds. So a kilo is 2.2 times heavier than a pound.
3.“Pound” can either be a unit of weight or force measurement while “kilogram” is purely a unit of mass measurement.
4.“Pound” can also refer to the currency of a country like in the U.K. and other nations.
5.“Kilogram” is a more widely used unit of measure for mass than the pound.

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