Slug
The slug is a unit of mass used primarily in the U.S. customary system and British engineering contexts.
1 slug = 32.174 pounds (lb) (mass)
Equivalent to approximately 14.5939 kilograms (kg)
Defined so that when a force of one pound-force (lbf) acts on a mass of one slug, it accelerates at 1 ft/s² (using F=ma in imperial units).
Key Facts:
Used mainly in physics and engineering for calculations involving Newton’s second law in imperial units
Allows consistent use of pound-force and pound-mass without extra conversion factors
Useful in dynamics, ballistics, and engineering mechanics
The slug bridges the gap between force and mass in the imperial system, making calculations easier when using pound-force units.
Gigagram [Gg]
The gigagram is a metric unit of mass representing large quantities.
Key Facts:
Used to measure large masses in environmental studies, agriculture, and industry
Part of the SI system, where the prefix "giga-" means 109
Convenient for expressing quantities larger than tonnes but smaller than teragrams
The gigagram is useful for quantifying sizable amounts of material in scientific and commercial contexts.