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The pound of force or pound-force (symbol: lbf, [1] sometimes lb f, [2]) is a unit of force used in some systems of measurement, including English Engineering units [a] and the foot–pound–second system. [3] Pound-force should not be confused with pound-mass (lb), often simply called "pound", which is a unit of mass; nor should these be ...
Systems of measure either define mass and derive a force unit or define a base force and derive a mass unit [1] (cf. poundal, a derived unit of force in a mass-based system). A slug is defined as a mass that is accelerated by 1 ft/s 2 when a net force of one pound (lbf) is exerted on it. [2]
The avoirdupois pound is legally defined as a measure of mass, [25] but the name pound is also applied to measures of force. For instance, in many contexts, the pound avoirdupois is used as a unit of mass, but in some contexts, the term "pound" is used to refer to "pound-force". The slug is another unit of mass derived from pound-force.
Together with the fact that the term "weight" is used for the gravitational force in some technical contexts (physics, engineering) and for mass in others (commerce, law), [10] and that the distinction often does not matter in practice, the coexistence of variants of the FPS system causes confusion over the nature of the unit "pound".
The pound-force provides an alternative unit of mass: one slug is the mass that will accelerate by one foot per second squared when acted on by one pound-force. [58] An alternative unit of force in a different foot–pound–second system, the absolute fps system, is the poundal , defined as the force required to accelerate a one-pound mass at ...
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A kip is a US customary unit of force. It equals 1000 pounds-force, and is used primarily by structural engineers to indicate forces where the value represented in pound-force is inefficient. Although uncommon, it is occasionally also considered a unit of mass, equal to 1000 pounds (i.e. one half of a short ton).
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