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In the US British Gravitational system used in statics, what is the unit of mass?

The slug; the pound is a unit of force there.

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  1. The pound
  2. The ounce
  3. The slug ✔

Why: In engineering statics, pounds always mean pounds-force. To get mass, divide weight by g: a 100 lb object has a mass of about 3.1 slugs (100 / 32.2).

Huh, didn't know that: Statics texts compare one slug to the mass of a medium dog, like a corgi.

The dad joke
My engineering professor measures mass in slugs. Class moves very slowly.
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References

Answer: The slug. In engineering statics, pounds always mean pounds-force. To get mass, divide weight by g: a 100 lb object has a mass of about 3.1 slugs (100 / 32.2).

  1. Engineering Statics (Baker and Haynes): 1.2 Units engineeringstatics.org/Chapter_01-units.html
    The British Gravitational system uses the foot
    Checked 2026-10-11.
  2. Engineering Statics (Baker and Haynes): 1.2 Units engineeringstatics.org/Chapter_01-units.html
    When a problem says pounds
    Checked 2026-10-11.

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