This is at least in part due to the inconsistencies and lack of coherence that can arise through use of centimeter-gram-second systems, such as those between the systems of electrostatic and electromagnetic units. SI is a system based on the meter-kilogram-second system of units rather than a centimeter-gram-second system. Unlike the other SI base units, the kilogram is the only SI base unit with an SI prefix. History/origin: The name kilogram was derived from the French 'kilogramme,' which in turn came from adding Greek terminology meaning 'a thousand,' before the Late Latin term 'gramma' meaning 'a small weight.' The changes were intended to improve the definitions of SI base units, not to actually change how the units are used throughout the world. Even though the definition of the kilogram was changed in 2019, the actual size of the unit remained the same. The meter and the second are defined in terms of c, the speed of light, and cesium frequency, Δ νCs. It is currently defined based on the fixed numerical value of the Planck constant, h, which is equal to 6.62607015 × 10 -34 in the units of J Kilogramĭefinition: A kilogram (symbol: kg) is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). Standards on the nutrition labels of food products often require the relative contents to be stated per 100 grams of the product. For example, the gram is typically used to measure non-liquid ingredients used for cooking or groceries. The gram was later redefined as one thousandth of a kilogram, the SI (meter-kilogram-second system of units) base unit of mass.Ĭurrent use: The gram is widely used in every life as well as scientific contexts. The gram used to be a fundamental unit of mass as part of centimeter-gram-second systems of units up until the widespread adoption of SI, which uses kilograms as the base unit of mass.

History/origin: Originally, a gram was defined as the absolute weight of pure water in a cubic centimeter at the temperature of melting ice (later 4 ☌). Since 2019, the definition of the kilogram is no longer based on the international prototype, and rather is based on Planck's constant, h, along with the new definitions of the second and the meter. The definition of the gram is based on the kilogram, where a gram is one thousandth of a kilogram, the SI base unit of mass. So, to convert directly from kg to lb, you multiply by 2.204622.Definition: A gram (symbol: g) is a unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). Or, you can find the single factor you need by dividing the A factor by the B factor.įor example, to convert from kilograms to pounds you would multiply by 1000 then divide by 453.59237.

To convert among any units in the left column, say from A to B, you can multiply by the factor for A to convert A into grams then divide by the factor for B to convert out of grams. To convert from g into units in the left columnĭivide by the value in the right column or, multiply by the reciprocal, 1/x. Multiply by the conversion value in the right column in the table below. To simply convert from any unit into grams, for example, from 5 kilograms, just Where S is our starting value, C is our conversion factor, and For more specific calculations useĬonversions are performed by using a conversion factor. By knowing the conversion factor, converting between units can become a simple multiplication problem: This online conversion calculator will convert among different units of weight or mass.

Gram weight converter