Ton (metric) to Slug Conversion Calculator: Free Online Tool
Convert tons to slugs with our free online weight converter.
Ton (metric) to Slug Calculator
How to Use the Calculator:
- Enter the value you want to convert in the 'From' field (Ton (metric)).
- The converted value in Slug will appear automatically in the 'To' field.
- Use the dropdown menus to select different units within the Weight category.
- Click the swap button (⇌) to reverse the conversion direction.
How to Convert Ton (metric) to Slug
Converting Ton (metric) to Slug involves multiplying the value by a specific conversion factor, as shown in the formula below.
Formula:
1 Ton (metric) = 68.5218 slugsExample Calculation:
Convert 5 tons: 5 × 68.5218 = 342.609 slugs
Disclaimer: For Reference Only
These conversion results are provided for informational purposes only. While we strive for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the precision of these results, especially for conversions involving extremely large or small numbers which may be subject to the inherent limitations of standard computer floating-point arithmetic.
Not for professional use. Results should be verified before use in any critical application. View our Terms of Service for more information.
What is a Ton (metric) and a Slug?
The metric ton (or tonne) is a unit of mass equal to 1,000 kilograms (kg). It is part of the International System of Units (SI) although not technically an SI unit itself, it is accepted for use with SI. It is equivalent to approximately 2,204.6 pounds.
The slug is a unit of mass in the Foot-Pound-Second (FPS) system of units, primarily used in Imperial and US customary systems. It is defined as the mass that accelerates by 1 foot per second squared (1 ft/s²) when a force of one pound-force (lbf) is exerted on it. It's approximately 14.5939 kilograms.
Note: The Ton (metric) is part of the imperial/US customary system, primarily used in the US, UK, and Canada for everyday measurements. The Slug belongs to the imperial/US customary system.
History of the Ton (metric) and Slug
The term "tonne" derives from the "tun", an old English unit of volume for large casks. The metric tonne was defined as 1,000 kilograms to provide a larger metric unit for trade and industry, aligning with the decimal nature of the SI system.
The term "slug" was coined by Arthur Mason Worthington around 1900. It was derived from the concept of inertia (sluggishness) and designed to simplify calculations in Newtonian mechanics (F=ma) when using imperial units of force (lbf) and acceleration (ft/s²).
Common Uses for tons and slugs
Explore the typical applications for both Ton (metric) (imperial/US) and Slug (imperial/US) to understand their common contexts.
Common Uses for tons
- Transportation: Measuring the mass of vehicles like cars, trucks, and heavy machinery.
- Shipping & Logistics: Quantifying large amounts of bulk cargo in shipping (e.g., coal, grain, ore).
- Agriculture: Expressing crop yields and large-scale agricultural production.
- Heavy Industry: Standard unit for production outputs in steel manufacturing, mining, and construction.
- Waste Management: Used for calculating municipal solid waste volumes and recycling quantities.
Common Uses for slugs
- Engineering (primarily aerospace and dynamics): Used in calculations involving force, mass, and acceleration within the Imperial system.
- Physics Education: Sometimes used when teaching mechanics with Imperial units.
Frequently Asked Questions
Questions About Ton (metric) (t)
How many kilograms are in a metric ton?
There are exactly 1,000 kilograms (kg) in 1 metric ton (t).
Is a metric ton the same as a US ton?
No. A metric ton (1,000 kg) is slightly heavier than a US ton (also called a short ton, 2,000 lbs or about 907.18 kg).
Why is it sometimes spelled "tonne"?
The spelling "tonne" is often used internationally to distinguish it clearly from the imperial/US tons (short ton and long ton).
About Slug (sl)
How is the slug defined?
It's defined by Newton's second law (F=ma). 1 slug = 1 lbf / (1 ft/s²).
How many pounds-mass are in a slug?
One slug is approximately equal to 32.174 pounds-mass (lbm). This value corresponds to the standard acceleration due to gravity (g) in ft/s².
Why is the slug unit used?
It simplifies calculations in the F=ma formula when using pounds-force (lbf) and feet/second² (ft/s²) for acceleration, avoiding the need for a gravitational constant (g) in the equation.
Conversion Table: Ton (metric) to Slug
| Ton (metric) (t) | Slug (sl) |
|---|---|
| 1 | 68.522 |
| 5 | 342.609 |
| 10 | 685.218 |
| 25 | 1,713.045 |
| 50 | 3,426.089 |
| 100 | 6,852.178 |
| 500 | 34,260.89 |
| 1,000 | 68,521.78 |
All Weight Conversions
Other Units from Weight
- Kilogram (kg)
- Gram (g)
- Milligram (mg)
- Pound (lb)
- Ounce (oz)
- Stone (st)
- Ton (US) (ton)
- Ton (UK) (long ton)
- Microgram (µg)
- Carat (ct)
- Troy Ounce (oz t)
- Pennyweight (dwt)
- Grain (gr)
- Dram (dr)
- Quintal (q)
- Atomic Mass Unit (u)
- Pavan (India) (pavan)
- Kati (India) (kati)
- Masha (India) (masha)
- Dina (India) (dina)
- Pras (India) (pras)
- Lota (India) (lota)