Convert Pound-force Square Second/Foot (lbf·s²/ft) to Hundredweight (US) (cwt (US)) instantly.
About these units
Pound-force Square Second/Foot (lbf·s²/ft)
This unit is part of the British Gravitational System, where mass is defined from force rather than the other way around. It can be interpreted as an inertial mass unit, since applying 1 pound-force to it would produce an acceleration of 1 foot per second squared. Historically, before the SI system clarified the distinction between force and mass, engineering fields often used mixed systems where pounds could represent either force (lbf) or mass (lbm). The unit lbf·s²/ft was introduced to straighten out these ambiguities in dynamic calculations such as impact forces, mechanical oscillations, and safety load computations. Today, the unit survives mostly in engineering textbooks, legacy calculations, and historical documentation. It demonstrates how complex and inconsistent measurement systems once were, and why global scientific communities moved toward SI clarity.
Hundredweight (US) (cwt (US))
The US hundredweight equals 100 pounds (45.359237 kg) and is used in agriculture, livestock markets, and commodity trading. Farmers often price hay, grain, and cattle by the hundredweight. The oil and chemical industries also use it for bulk goods. Its relation to the ton (20 cwt = 1 US ton) integrates it smoothly into the US customary system. Although it complicates international trade due to conflicting definitions with the UK version, the US hundredweight remains essential in domestic commerce.