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 “ton” has different meanings depending on where you are in the world. In the United States, the short ton weighs 2,000 pounds, whereas in the United Kingdom, the long ton is slightly heavier at 2,240 pounds. Meanwhile, the metric ton (or tonne) used in most countries around the globe weighs exactly 1,000 kilograms or 2,204.62 pounds, which aligns with the International System of Units.
Interestingly, the term “ton” originated from “tun,” a large cask used to measure wine or ale’s capacity in medieval times. This historical connection signifies not just weight but also volume, reflecting the ton’s versatile application throughout history. Whether measuring ship’s cargo or carbon emissions, the ton continues to be a crucial unit in various fields.
| Kilograms | Tons |
|---|---|
0
kg
|
0
t
|
1
kg
|
0.00110231
t
|
2
kg
|
0.00220462
t
|
3
kg
|
0.00330693
t
|
4
kg
|
0.00440925
t
|
5
kg
|
0.00551156
t
|
6
kg
|
0.00661387
t
|
7
kg
|
0.00771618
t
|
8
kg
|
0.00881849
t
|
9
kg
|
0.0099208
t
|
10
kg
|
0.0110231
t
|
11
kg
|
0.0121254
t
|
12
kg
|
0.0132277
t
|
13
kg
|
0.01433
t
|
14
kg
|
0.0154324
t
|
15
kg
|
0.0165347
t
|
16
kg
|
0.017637
t
|
17
kg
|
0.0187393
t
|
18
kg
|
0.0198416
t
|
19
kg
|
0.0209439
t
|
20
kg
|
0.0220462
t
|
21
kg
|
0.0231485
t
|
22
kg
|
0.0242508
t
|
23
kg
|
0.0253532
t
|
24
kg
|
0.0264555
t
|
25
kg
|
0.0275578
t
|
26
kg
|
0.0286601
t
|
27
kg
|
0.0297624
t
|
28
kg
|
0.0308647
t
|
29
kg
|
0.031967
t
|
30
kg
|
0.0330693
t
|
31
kg
|
0.0341717
t
|
32
kg
|
0.035274
t
|
33
kg
|
0.0363763
t
|
34
kg
|
0.0374786
t
|
35
kg
|
0.0385809
t
|
36
kg
|
0.0396832
t
|
37
kg
|
0.0407855
t
|
38
kg
|
0.0418878
t
|
39
kg
|
0.0429901
t
|
40
kg
|
0.0440925
t
|
41
kg
|
0.0451948
t
|
42
kg
|
0.0462971
t
|
43
kg
|
0.0473994
t
|
44
kg
|
0.0485017
t
|
45
kg
|
0.049604
t
|
46
kg
|
0.0507063
t
|
47
kg
|
0.0518086
t
|
48
kg
|
0.0529109
t
|
49
kg
|
0.0540133
t
|
50
kg
|
0.0551156
t
|
51
kg
|
0.0562179
t
|
52
kg
|
0.0573202
t
|
53
kg
|
0.0584225
t
|
54
kg
|
0.0595248
t
|
55
kg
|
0.0606271
t
|
56
kg
|
0.0617294
t
|
57
kg
|
0.0628317
t
|
58
kg
|
0.0639341
t
|
59
kg
|
0.0650364
t
|
60
kg
|
0.0661387
t
|
61
kg
|
0.067241
t
|
62
kg
|
0.0683433
t
|
63
kg
|
0.0694456
t
|
64
kg
|
0.0705479
t
|
65
kg
|
0.0716502
t
|
66
kg
|
0.0727525
t
|
67
kg
|
0.0738549
t
|
68
kg
|
0.0749572
t
|
69
kg
|
0.0760595
t
|
70
kg
|
0.0771618
t
|
71
kg
|
0.0782641
t
|
72
kg
|
0.0793664
t
|
73
kg
|
0.0804687
t
|
74
kg
|
0.081571
t
|
75
kg
|
0.0826733
t
|
76
kg
|
0.0837757
t
|
77
kg
|
0.084878
t
|
78
kg
|
0.0859803
t
|
79
kg
|
0.0870826
t
|
80
kg
|
0.0881849
t
|
81
kg
|
0.0892872
t
|
82
kg
|
0.0903895
t
|
83
kg
|
0.0914918
t
|
84
kg
|
0.0925942
t
|
85
kg
|
0.0936965
t
|
86
kg
|
0.0947988
t
|
87
kg
|
0.0959011
t
|
88
kg
|
0.0970034
t
|
89
kg
|
0.0981057
t
|
90
kg
|
0.099208
t
|
91
kg
|
0.10031
t
|
92
kg
|
0.101413
t
|
93
kg
|
0.102515
t
|
94
kg
|
0.103617
t
|
95
kg
|
0.10472
t
|
96
kg
|
0.105822
t
|
97
kg
|
0.106924
t
|
98
kg
|
0.108027
t
|
99
kg
|
0.109129
t
|
100
kg
|
0.110231
t
|
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