A kilogram, abbreviated as kg, is the standard unit of mass in the metric system used in nearly every country in the world. Whether you're weighing yourself at the gym, buying fruits at the grocery store, or measuring ingredients in a recipe, chances are you're using kilograms, especially if you're outside the U.S.
The term "kilogram" comes from French, combining kilo (meaning "a thousand") with gram. One kilogram equals 1,000 grams. Originally, the kilogram was defined by a physical object a platinum-iridium cylinder stored in France. But since 2019, scientists now define it using fundamental constants of nature like the Planck constant, making it far more precise and stable for scientific use.
How the Kilogram Is Used:The kilogram is part of everyday life in countries using the metric system:
A US ton, also known as a short ton, is a unit of weight used primarily in the United States. One US ton equals exactly 2,000 pounds or approximately 907.1847 kilograms. It's commonly used in industries like freight, construction, and agriculture to measure large quantities of weight, mostly bulk goods. The US ton is not the same as the imperial ton (also called the long ton) or the metric tonne, so it's important to understand the distinction when converting.
The concept of a "ton" comes from the old term "tun," which referred to a large barrel used for shipping wine. Over time, the word evolved into a unit of weight. The United States standardized the ton to 2,000 pounds, distinguishing it from the British imperial long ton (2,240 pounds) and the metric tonne (1,000 kg).
Today, the US ton remains part of the customary system of units used throughout the country.
How Is the US Ton Used: The US ton is a practical unit for expressing large-scale weight, especially in commercial, agricultural, and industrial sectors. It's widely used for:
1 kg = 0.001102 US ton
Let’s say you want to convert 1360.78 kg to US ton.
Using the formula:
1360.78 × 0.001102 = 1.5 US ton
So, 1360.78 kg is approximately 1.5 US ton.
| Kilogram (kg) | US Ton (US ton) |
|---|---|
| 1 kg | 0.001 US ton |
| 2 kg | 0.002 US ton |
| 3 kg | 0.003 US ton |
| 4 kg | 0.004 US ton |
| 5 kg | 0.006 US ton |
| 6 kg | 0.007 US ton |
| 7 kg | 0.008 US ton |
| 8 kg | 0.009 US ton |
| 9 kg | 0.01 US ton |
| 10 kg | 0.011 US ton |
| 11 kg | 0.012 US ton |
| 12 kg | 0.013 US ton |
| 13 kg | 0.014 US ton |
| 14 kg | 0.015 US ton |
| 15 kg | 0.017 US ton |