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Introduction to Marine Engineering

Subsection 2.4.3 Unit Conversions

Mass in one unit can easily converted to other units by using simple conversion factors. Some important mass relations to remember are:
\begin{align*} 1 \mathrm{\ kg} \amp= 1000 \mathrm{\ g}\\ 1 \mathrm{\ kg} \amp= 2.205 \mathrm{\ lb}\\ 1 \mathrm{\ metric\ ton\ (tonne)} \amp= 1000 \mathrm{\ kg}\\ 1 \mathrm{\ lb} \amp= 16 \mathrm{\ oz}\\ 1 \mathrm{\ (short)\ ton} \amp= 2000 \mathrm{\ lb} \end{align*}

Example 2.4.1. Mass Conversion 1.

Convert 2 metric tons to pounds.
Answer.
\begin{equation*} m = \lb{4410} \end{equation*}
Solution.
\begin{equation*} m = 2 \mathrm{\ tonne\ } \times \left[\frac{\kg{1000}}{1\mathrm{\ tonne\ }} \right] \left[\frac{\lb{2.205}}{\kg{1}} \right] = \lb{4410} \end{equation*}

Example 2.4.2. Mass Conversion 2.

Convert 600 oz to kg.
Answer.
\begin{equation*} m = \kg{17} \end{equation*}
Solution.
\begin{equation*} m = 600 \mathrm{\ oz\ } \times \left[\frac{\lb{1}}{16 \mathrm{\ oz\ }} \right] \left[\frac{\kg{1}}{\lb{2.205}} \right] = \kg{17} \end{equation*}