Today, almost all over the world, measures are used to measure weight according to the metric system. However, this was not always the case. Just a hundred years ago in Russia, as in other European countries, completely different units were used. Well, the United States today has not switched to a more convenient system.
Metric Units
The simplest unit of weight in the metric system is the gram. It is equal to the weight of one cubic centimeter of fresh water. Moreover, it is measured at a temperature of +4 degrees and pressure exactly in one atmosphere. The unit is well known to all our compatriots, and indeed throughout the world. It is used everywhere, with many calculations, purchases and other areas.
Already from the gram, several other units were created, which are also quite popular.
So, one kilogram means exactly one thousand grams. It is very convenient for use in everyday life. In addition, for weighing more massive loads, centners (100 kilograms) and tons (1000 kilograms) are used. These units of weight measurement are widely used in the calculation of any structures - houses, bridges, as well as in dozens of other areas.
But for some professionals, 1 gram is too much weight. Therefore, a smaller unit was adopted - 1 milligram. It is equal to one thousandth of a gram and is usually used in medicine, jewelry and other areas where extremely high accuracy is required.
Outdated european
About a century ago, almost every European country had its own measures for measuring weight. Moreover, with the similarity of names, they could seriously differ. For example, a pound is a unit used from Russia to the UK, from Scandinavia to Italy. But he weighed differently. The smallest pound - Carolingian - weighed 408 grams. But the weight of the largest - Austrian - was 560 grams. Of course, one could only dream of a more or less accurate ratio. It was necessary to carry out difficult calculations, so that specialists from different countries could come to a common opinion.
It will be quite difficult to talk about all the units of weight used in Europe - this is a topic for a small book, not a short article. Therefore, let's focus on Russian units.
Based on a pound that weighed 410 grams, several more units of measure were created.
For example, the lot was 1/32 of a pound, that is, 12.8 grams. However, even such a small unit did not satisfy the accuracy measures of some specialists. Therefore, they also used a spool - 1/96 of a pound. He weighed 4.3 grams. But this unit was too crude. Because of this, an additional unit was introduced, used only in very delicate calculations - a fraction. Its weight was 1/96 of the spool, or 44.4 milligrams.
But the pound was too small a measure to weigh massive loads. To solve the problem, a pound unit of 40 pounds was used - 16.4 kilograms. For most inhabitants it is quite enough. But still, if it was necessary to weigh really large volumes, even a pud was not enough. The problem was solved by the introduction of Berkovets - 10 pounds or 164 kilograms.
Of course, with the transition to the metric system, weighing any objects has become much easier.
Modern american
But not all countries of the world have switched to the metric system. For example, the measure of weight in the United States has not changed since the founding of the country. English units are still used there, although England itself has long abandoned them.
The reference point, as in the old Russian system, is the pound, though it weighs a little more - 453.6 grams.
14 pounds equates to one stone or 6.4 kilograms.
If you need to weigh lighter things, use an ounce (not to be confused with a troy ounce), which is 1/16 of a pound or 28.3 grams.
If necessary, make the most subtle calculations, apply gran - 1/7000 a fraction of a pound. One gran is equal to 64.8 milligrams - it weighs so much on average one rye grain.
But when weighing massive objects, a pound is not very convenient. Therefore, instead of it, a handworth equal to one hundred pounds or 45.4 kilograms is used.
Well, and when it comes to particularly heavy objects, a short ton is used - it is equal to 2,000 pounds or 907.2 kilograms.
Conclusion
This concludes the article. Now you know about the basic measures of weight measurement in America and around the world. At the same time, they made a short excursion into history, learning how our ancestors weighed various things.