This is probably why the gauge on the pump I describe is labeled both
"kg/cm2" and kPaX100. There's not a whole lot of difference between 98
kPa and 100 kPa -- especially considering that this is a cheap gauge! So
essentially it works out that the weight of 1 kg of matter sitting on 1
cm2 of surface area near the Earth's surface exerts ~ 100 kPa pressure.
I find the distinction rather transparent and I suspect that many people
in SI countries do too. But then Americans don't usually distinguish (on
the street) between pounds of mass and pounds of force.
The gauge on the "no name brand" pump in the Sam's Club emergency kit
was made in China and it also specified "kg/cm2" but it confused the
uppercase usage in "KpaX100". I wouldn't be surprised to find that the
same company (Chinese?) made both gauges.
Jim
Scott Clauss wrote:
>
> Seems we have two threads going here discussing kg/cm^2. The electric pump
> thread and the Discovery TV show thread.
>
> This kg is really kgf or kilogram-force, also know as a kilopond = 9.8
> N.(not exact)
> The 9.8 comes from the acceleration of gravity (units = m/s^2).
>
> So 1 kg[f]/cm^2 = 9.8 N/cm^2 = 98 000 N/m^2 = 98 kPa.
>
> I think the Japanese are fond of kgf. I see it used a lot for Japanese
> products in their pressure and torque recommendations.
>
> Scott C.
--
Metric Methods(SM) "Don't be late to metricate!"
James R. Frysinger, CAMS http://www.metricmethods.com/
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