Convert Atomic Mass Unit (u) to Slug (slug) instantly.
About these units
Atomic Mass Unit (u)
The atomic mass unit (u) is defined as exactly 1/12 the mass of a neutral carbon-12 atom, which makes it approximately 1.66053906660 × 10⁻²⁷ kilograms. This definition allows scientists to express atomic and molecular masses in a convenient, intuitive scale that aligns with the structure of the periodic table. By anchoring the unit to carbon-12, chemists and physicists gained a universal reference point that harmonizes molecular weight, relative isotopic abundance, and mass spectroscopy results. The atomic mass unit effectively normalizes the complexity of atomic masses into whole-number or near-whole-number values for most nuclei. In chemistry, u is indispensable for calculating molar masses, reaction stoichiometry, and isotopic compositions. It is also used across nuclear physics, astrophysics, and biophysics, demonstrating the universality of atomic-scale measurement.
Slug (slug)
The slug is a unit of mass in the English engineering system, defined such that a slug accelerated at 1 ft/s² experiences a force of 1 pound-force. Numerically, a slug is about 14.5939 kilograms. The slug resolves confusion between mass and force in imperial units by clearly separating pounds-force (lbf) from pounds-mass (lb). In dynamics problems involving Newton's laws, slugs provide a consistent mass measurement within the imperial framework. Although uncommon outside engineering physics education, the slug plays an important conceptual role in bridging imperial and SI thinking.