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Pressure Converter

Pressure is a fundamental concept in physics and engineering, representing the force exerted per unit area. It plays a crucial role in various scientific fields, including fluid dynamics, weather forecasting, and material strength analysis.

Pressure, denoted by the symbol "P," is defined as the force "F" acting perpendicular to a given area "A." Mathematically, it can be expressed as:

Pressure (P) = Force (F) / Area (A)

The SI unit for pressure is the Pascal (Pa), named after the French physicist Blaise Pascal. It is defined as one Newton per square meter (N/m²).

With pressure being measured in different units across the world, it can sometimes be challenging to compare and convert values accurately. In this article, we will introduce to you various commonly used pressure units and explore the conversion factors.

  • Pascal (Pa): Pascal is the SI unit of pressure. One pascal is equal to the pressure exerted by a force of one newton per square meter. It is widely used in scientific and engineering calculations.
    Conversion Factor: 1 Pa = 1 N/m²

  • Hectopascal (hPa): Hectopascal is a unit of pressure equal to one hundred pascals. It is commonly used in meteorology to measure atmospheric pressure.
    Conversion Factor: 1 hPa = 100 Pa

  • Kilopascal (kPa): Kilopascal is a unit of pressure equal to one thousand pascals. It is frequently used in building and construction, as well as scientific measurements.
    Conversion Factor: 1 kPa = 1,000 Pa

  • Megapascal (MPa): Megapascal is a unit of pressure equal to one million pascals. It is commonly used in engineering and material science applications.
    Conversion Factor: 1 MPa = 1,000,000 Pa

  • Bar (bar): Bar is a unit of pressure equal to one hundred thousand pascals. It is commonly used in industrial applications, such as measuring gas and liquid pressures.
    Conversion Factor: 1 bar = 100,000 Pa

  • Pounds/inch² (psi): Pounds per square inch is an imperial unit of pressure commonly used in the United States and a few other countries. It represents the pressure exerted by a force of one pound on a one-square-inch area.
    Conversion Factor: 1 psi ≈ 6,894.76 Pa

  • Pounds/foot² (psf): Pounds per square foot is an imperial unit of pressure. It signifies the pressure exerted by a force of one pound on a one-square-foot area.
    Conversion Factor: 1 psf ≈ 47.88 Pa

  • Kilograms/meter² (kg/m²): Kilograms per square meter is a metric unit of pressure. It represents the pressure exerted by a force of one kilogram on a one-square-meter area.
    Conversion Factor: 1 kg/m² ≈ 9.80665 Pa

  • Newtons/meter² (N/m²): Newtons per square meter is the SI unit for pressure and is equivalent to pascals. It measures the pressure exerted by a force of one newton on a one-square-meter area.
    Conversion Factor: 1 N/m² = 1 Pa

  • Atmosphere (atm): Atmosphere is a unit of pressure that approximates the average atmospheric pressure at sea level. It is commonly used in meteorology and scuba diving.
    Conversion Factor: 1 atm ≈ 101,325 Pa

  • Millimeter mercury (mmHg): Millimeter of mercury is a unit of pressure often used in medical and scientific applications, particularly in measuring blood pressure.
    Conversion Factor: 1 mmHg ≈ 133.32 Pa

  • Inch mercury (inHg): Inch of mercury is a unit of pressure, primarily used in the United States. It represents the pressure exerted by a column of mercury one inch in height.
    Conversion Factor: 1 inHg ≈ 3,386.38 Pa

  • Torr (Torr): Torr is a unit of pressure equivalent to one millimeter of mercury (mmHg). It is commonly used in vacuum measurements.
    Conversion Factor: 1 Torr = 1 mmHg

  • Micron (mTorr): Micron, also known as millitorr, is a unit of pressure derived from Torr. It is equal to one thousandth of a Torr and is frequently used in high-vacuum applications.
    Conversion Factor: 1 mTorr ≈ 0.133322 Pa

  • Millibar (mbar): Millibar is a unit of pressure equal to 1/1000 bar. It is commonly used in meteorology and aviation to measure atmospheric pressure.
    Conversion Factor: 1 mbar = 0.001 bar = 100 Pa

  • Centimeter of water (cmH₂O): Centimeter of water is a unit of pressure commonly used in medical and hydrostatic applications. It represents the pressure exerted by a column of water one centimeter in height.
    Conversion Factor: 1 cmH₂O ≈ 98.0665 Pa

  • Inch of water (inH₂O): Inch of water is a unit of pressure, frequently used in ventilation, HVAC systems, and weather measurements. It signifies the pressure exerted by a column of water one inch in height.
    Conversion Factor: 1 inH₂O ≈ 249.0889 Pa

  • Foot of water (ftH₂O): Foot of water is a unit of pressure that represents the pressure exerted by a column of water one foot in height and is commonly used in hydrostatic calculations.
    Conversion Factor: 1 ftH₂O ≈ 2,989.067 Pa