What are weight measurements?

We explain what weight measurements are and what they are for. In addition, other less common weight measures.

1. What are weight measurements?

Weight units are called units conventionally used to calculate the weight of a body , that is, the amount of matter in it.

Although this magnitude is more commonly known as weight, we are actually talking about  mass ; since the first will be the extent to which, under the action of gravity , the object prints a force on the surface on which it rests, and is therefore measured in Newtons (N).

The mass , on the other hand, responds to the amount of matter of an object and uses conventional measures of gram (g) and kilogram (kg), among others.

The measure of weight to be used, in any case, will depend on many scientific and cultural variables, so that in some nations one system is used and in others another is used . To carry out measurements of this type, in any case, a balance is used: on one end or plate the object is placed and on the other side loads equivalent to its weight.

According to the International System, the standard measure of weight is the gram (g) , taken from the decimal metric system along with its extensive list of multiples: Decagram (Dg), hectogram (Hg) and kilogram (Kg) which represent 10, 100 and 1000 net grams respectively.

Below, however, there are also known submultiples: decigram (dg), centigram (cg) and milligram (mg). One gram was once defined as the mass of a cubic centimeter of water at a temperature of 3.98 ° C.

A measure of weight can become another thanks to a more or less stable and accepted conversion factor.

2. Other weight measures

Other measures of weight are also known, such as the following:

• Quintal . The quintal was an old unit of weight in Spain, equivalent to 100 Castilian pounds (about 46 kg). However, once incorporated into the metric system, it was rounded to 50 kg in many places, and finally it was understood as a metric quintal, equivalent to 100 kg. Formerly it had as a fraction the arroba, a quarter of a quintal (11.5 kg), but it is in disuse.
• Ton . Its name comes from the old French word for “barrel”, and although it is not part of the International System, it is accepted as equivalent to 1000 kilograms (one million grams). It is also known as  megagram .
• Libra . The pound is the measure of weight of the Anglo-Saxon system, although it was used since ancient times as the Roman Empire. Over time it has responded to various values, among which the avoirdupois pound ended up being imposed  , equivalent to 0.45359 kg (453,59237 g). There is also the  troy pound , used today only in goldsmiths and jewelry, and that is equivalent to 373.2417216 grams.
• Ounce . Another traditional measure of weight, used especially for what weighs less than one pound, since initially amounted to 1/12 pound. It was subsequently reconverted and today there is an avoirdupois ounce  equivalent to 28.349523125 grams; and the troy ounce (used only in jewelry) equivalent to 31,1034768 grams.