Kilogram

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A Kilogram is a unit of measurement of weight.

Description (Specifications)

A kilogram is a frequently used unit of measurement of weight used for equipment and robotic design.

  • The standard abbreviation is kg.

MKS and CGS Units

The MKS system of units is a physical system of measurement based on the meter as the unit of length, the kilogram as the unit of mass, and the second as the unit of time. Smaller scale measurements may utilize the CGS system, based on the centimeter as the unit of length, the gram as the unit of mass, and the second as the unit of time. The system has broad applications within science, engineering and commerce.

Term Usage Example

A firearm such as a rifle weighs a few kilograms.

History & Background (Dossier)

The Kilogram was first defined as a unit of weight on Terra prior to the foundation of the Terran Confederation. Technologists found the Kilogram useful as the concept of the Technology Level and standardized ideas about sophont society development began to take form.[1]

Common Local Derivations

A number of local variant units based on the kilogram are in use around Charted Space, many of which are modifications of earlier unit systems that have been maintained:

  • Metric Pound. The metric pound is a unit redefined from an earlier system of standards, and is the equivalent of 0.5 kg. Also called a Livre or Libra/Librum in some linguistic traditions.
  • Hundredweight. Based on the metric pound, the Hundredweight is the mass of 100 metric pounds. Also called a Cental in some linguistic and cultural traditions.
  • Centner. A mass of 100 Centals or Hundredweights, equalling 50kg.
  • Quintal. Based on a "metric" hundredweight of 100kg, the Quintal is a mass of of 100 metric hundredweights totalling 500kg, or 0.5 tonne (T). It is still often seen on worlds with an Iberian, Francophone or Latin linguistic or cultural heritage.

References & Contributors (Sources)

This list of sources was used by the Traveller Wiki Editorial Team and individual contributors to compose this article. Copyrighted material is used under license from Mongoose Publishing or by permission of the author. The page history lists all of the contributions.
  1. Information provided to the library by Maksim-Smelchak