The kilogram, the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI), has a fascinating history tied to a physical artifact. Until 2019, it was defined by Le Grand K, a platinum-iridium cylinder stored in a vault in France. However, even slight surface contamination or material wear could alter its mass. To ensure a more stable and universally consistent measure, the kilogram is now defined by the Planck constant—a fundamental constant of nature—using a Kibble balance. This revolutionary change marked a significant milestone in metrology and brings mass measurement into line with other SI units that are already defined by fundamental constants, rather than physical objects.
The pound, symbolized as “lb,” has an intriguing history that dates back to ancient Rome. The word “pound” originates from the Latin word “libra,” a unit used in Rome, which explains its abbreviation “lb.” The pound in England was first standardized in the 13th century as the Tower pound, which was later replaced by the more familiar Avoirdupois pound in 1959. This unit is still widely used in the United States and other countries as a measure of weight, equivalent to 16 ounces or approximately 453.592 grams.
The term “pound” is also used in currency, notably the British Pound Sterling, reflecting its historical association with a pound weight of silver. Interestingly, both uses of “pound” highlight its longstanding economic significance, indicating value and weight across different contexts and time periods. Such dual purposes underscore the unit’s adaptability and persistence through history, making it a fascinating study in linguistic and metrological evolution.
Kilograms | Pounds |
---|---|
0
kg
|
0
lb
|
1
kg
|
2.20462
lb
|
2
kg
|
4.40925
lb
|
3
kg
|
6.61387
lb
|
4
kg
|
8.81849
lb
|
5
kg
|
11.02311
lb
|
6
kg
|
13.22774
lb
|
7
kg
|
15.43236
lb
|
8
kg
|
17.63698
lb
|
9
kg
|
19.8416
lb
|
10
kg
|
22.04623
lb
|
11
kg
|
24.25085
lb
|
12
kg
|
26.45547
lb
|
13
kg
|
28.66009
lb
|
14
kg
|
30.86472
lb
|
15
kg
|
33.06934
lb
|
16
kg
|
35.27396
lb
|
17
kg
|
37.47858
lb
|
18
kg
|
39.68321
lb
|
19
kg
|
41.88783
lb
|
20
kg
|
44.09245
lb
|
21
kg
|
46.29708
lb
|
22
kg
|
48.5017
lb
|
23
kg
|
50.70632
lb
|
24
kg
|
52.91094
lb
|
25
kg
|
55.11557
lb
|
26
kg
|
57.32019
lb
|
27
kg
|
59.52481
lb
|
28
kg
|
61.72943
lb
|
29
kg
|
63.93406
lb
|
30
kg
|
66.13868
lb
|
31
kg
|
68.3433
lb
|
32
kg
|
70.54792
lb
|
33
kg
|
72.75255
lb
|
34
kg
|
74.95717
lb
|
35
kg
|
77.16179
lb
|
36
kg
|
79.36641
lb
|
37
kg
|
81.57104
lb
|
38
kg
|
83.77566
lb
|
39
kg
|
85.98028
lb
|
40
kg
|
88.1849
lb
|
41
kg
|
90.38953
lb
|
42
kg
|
92.59415
lb
|
43
kg
|
94.79877
lb
|
44
kg
|
97.0034
lb
|
45
kg
|
99.20802
lb
|
46
kg
|
101.41264
lb
|
47
kg
|
103.61726
lb
|
48
kg
|
105.82189
lb
|
49
kg
|
108.02651
lb
|
50
kg
|
110.23113
lb
|
51
kg
|
112.43575
lb
|
52
kg
|
114.64038
lb
|
53
kg
|
116.845
lb
|
54
kg
|
119.04962
lb
|
55
kg
|
121.25424
lb
|
56
kg
|
123.45887
lb
|
57
kg
|
125.66349
lb
|
58
kg
|
127.86811
lb
|
59
kg
|
130.07273
lb
|
60
kg
|
132.27736
lb
|
61
kg
|
134.48198
lb
|
62
kg
|
136.6866
lb
|
63
kg
|
138.89123
lb
|
64
kg
|
141.09585
lb
|
65
kg
|
143.30047
lb
|
66
kg
|
145.50509
lb
|
67
kg
|
147.70972
lb
|
68
kg
|
149.91434
lb
|
69
kg
|
152.11896
lb
|
70
kg
|
154.32358
lb
|
71
kg
|
156.52821
lb
|
72
kg
|
158.73283
lb
|
73
kg
|
160.93745
lb
|
74
kg
|
163.14207
lb
|
75
kg
|
165.3467
lb
|
76
kg
|
167.55132
lb
|
77
kg
|
169.75594
lb
|
78
kg
|
171.96056
lb
|
79
kg
|
174.16519
lb
|
80
kg
|
176.36981
lb
|
81
kg
|
178.57443
lb
|
82
kg
|
180.77905
lb
|
83
kg
|
182.98368
lb
|
84
kg
|
185.1883
lb
|
85
kg
|
187.39292
lb
|
86
kg
|
189.59755
lb
|
87
kg
|
191.80217
lb
|
88
kg
|
194.00679
lb
|
89
kg
|
196.21141
lb
|
90
kg
|
198.41604
lb
|
91
kg
|
200.62066
lb
|
92
kg
|
202.82528
lb
|
93
kg
|
205.0299
lb
|
94
kg
|
207.23453
lb
|
95
kg
|
209.43915
lb
|
96
kg
|
211.64377
lb
|
97
kg
|
213.84839
lb
|
98
kg
|
216.05302
lb
|
99
kg
|
218.25764
lb
|
100
kg
|
220.46226
lb
|
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