Editing Slug (unit) (section)

{{for|the railway locomotive|Slug (railroad)}}
{{Short description|Unit of mass}}
{{Infobox unit
 |name       = slug
 |image      = 
 |caption    = 
 |standard   = British Gravitational system
 |quantity   = Mass
 |symbol     = slug
 |symbol2    = 
 |namedafter = 
 |extralabel = 
 |extradata  = 
 |units1     = BGS base units
 |inunits1   = 1 ft<sup>−1</sup>⋅lbf⋅s<sup>2</sup>
 |units2     = SI units
 |inunits2   = 14.59390&nbsp;kg
 |units3     = US customary units
 |inunits3   = {{cvt|14.59390|kg|disp=out|sigfig=7}}
}}

The '''slug''' is a derived unit of [[mass]] in a weight-based [[Units of measurement|system of measures]], most notably within the British [[Imperial units|Imperial measurement system]] and the United States [[United States customary units|customary measures system]]. Systems of measure either define mass and derive a force unit ''or'' define a base force and derive a mass unit<ref>See Elementary High School physics and chemistry text books/fundamentals.</ref> (cf. ''[[poundal]]'', a derived unit of force in a mass-based system). A slug is defined as a mass that is accelerated by 1&nbsp;ft/s<sup>2</sup> when a net force of one [[pound (force)|pound]] (lbf) is exerted on it.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Collins |first1=Danielle |title=How to convert between mass and force — in metric and English units |url=https://www.linearmotiontips.com/how-to-convert-between-mass-and-force-in-metric-and-english-units/ |website=Linear Motion Tips |date=May 2019 |access-date=18 January 2021}}</ref>

:<math>
 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}
</math>

One slug is a mass equal to {{convert|32.17405|lb|kg|lk=on|abbr=on}} based on [[standard gravity]], the [[Foot (unit)#International foot|international foot]], and the [[Pound (mass)#Avoirdupois pound|avoirdupois pound]].<ref name=Shigley>Shigley, Joseph E. and Mischke, Charles R. ''Mechanical Engineering Design'', Sixth ed, pp. 31–33. McGraw Hill, 2001. {{ISBN|0-07-365939-8}}.</ref>  In other words, at the Earth's surface (in standard gravity), an object with a mass of 1 slug [[weight|weighs]] approximately {{cvt|32.17405|lbf|N|disp=or}}.<ref>Beckwith, Thomas G., Roy D. Marangoni, et al. ''Mechanical Measurements'', Fifth ed, pp. 34-36. Addison-Wesley Publishing, 1993. {{ISBN|0-201-56947-7}}.</ref><ref name=Shevell>Shevell, R.S. ''Fundamentals of Flight'', Second ed, p. xix. Prentice-Hall, 1989.</ref>