The kilogram is a unit of measurement of mass that serves as a constant reference for universal measuring instruments.
The kilogram, whose symbol is kg, is one of the 7 basic units of measurement defined by the International System of Units (SI). These units serve to homogenize the physical magnitudes of weights and measures around the world. The other 6 basic units are: the meter (m), the second (s), the ampere (A), the Kelvin (K), the mole (mol) and the candela (cd).
The kilogram or kilogram is used in most countries in the world, except for countries like the United States, Cuba and England, which use the pound. To know what the equivalence of a kilogram to a pound is, the conversion must be made taking into account that 1 kilogram is equal to 2.2 pounds (1kg=2.20462lb).
Kilogram equivalence
The kilogram has multiples and submultiples that indicate smaller or larger units with the kilogram as reference.
This way, 1 kilogram (kg) is equivalent to 1,000 grams (gr), the gram being the immediately smallest unit (submultiple) of the kilogram or kilo. The next largest unit (multiple) of the kilogram is the ton
Kilogram-force
Kilogram-force or kilopond indicates the weight of a 1 kilogram mass on the Earth’s surface. Kilogram-force is affected by the force that gravity exerts on objects on Earth.
See also: mass and gravity
International System of Units
The International System of Units defined in 1889 standardizes units of measurement around the world. In the case of the kilogram, in 1960 the weight of a platinum-iridium cylinder that was kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures was taken as a reference.
In the International System of Units (SI), the kilogram represents the unit of mass that indicates the amount of matter that makes up an object. Despite this, the kilogram is expressed not by the amount of mass, but by the amount of weight, the weight being the force exerted on the mass.
Thanks to new advances in science, the Committee of the International System of Units will redefine the 7 basic measurement units with more exact variables, being: the kilogram (kg), the meter (m), the second (s), the ampere (A), the Kelvin (K), the mole (mol) and the candela (cd).
This will help in better precision in the units which will only affect the calibration of the instruments for future scientific research. In the case of the kilogram, Planck’s constant will be introduced for greater precision in its calculation.
See also Units of Measurement.