Slug (unit)

The slug is a derived unit of mass in a weight-based system of measures, most notably within the British Imperial measurement system and the United States customary measures system. Systems of measure either define mass and derive a force unit or define a base force and derive a mass unit (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/s2 when a net force of one pound (lbf) is exerted on it. 1 slug = 1 lbf ⋅ s 2 ft ⟺ 1 lbf = 1 slug ⋅ ft s 2 {\displaystyle 1~{\text{slug}}=1~{\text{lbf}}{\cdot }{\frac {{\text{s}}^{2}}{\text{ft}}}\quad \Longleftrightarrow \quad 1~{\text{lbf}}=1~{\text{slug}}{\cdot }{\frac {\text{ft}}{{\text{s}}^{2}}}} One slug is a mass equal to 32.17405 lb (14.59390 kg) based on standard gravity, the international foot, and the avoirdupois pound. In other words, at the Earth's surface (in standard gravity), an object with a mass of 1 slug weighs approximately 32.17405 lbf or 143.1173 N.