What is the mass in kilograms of an individual who weighs 157 lb?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is :
To convert pounds to kilograms, you can use the conversion factor: 1 pound (lb) is approximately equal to 0.453592 kilograms (kg). To find the mass in kilograms of an individual who weighs 157 pounds, you can use the following formula:
[
\text{Mass (kg)} = \text{Weight (lb)} \times 0.453592
]
Now, substituting the weight:
[
\text{Mass (kg)} = 157 \, \text{lb} \times 0.453592 \, \text{kg/lb}
]
Calculating this gives:
[
\text{Mass (kg)} = 157 \times 0.453592 \approx 71.238 \, \text{kg}
]
Therefore, the mass of an individual who weighs 157 pounds is approximately 71.24 kg.
Explanation
Understanding weight and mass is fundamental in science, particularly in physics and chemistry, where these measurements are used in various calculations. Weight is the force exerted by gravity on an object, and it depends on both the object’s mass and the gravitational acceleration acting on it. In contrast, mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object and remains constant regardless of location.
In the United States, weight is often measured in pounds, while many other countries use the metric system, where weight is measured in kilograms. This discrepancy necessitates conversion when comparing weights internationally. The conversion factor between pounds and kilograms helps bridge this gap.
In practical applications, such as in healthcare, it’s essential to convert weights to kilograms for medication dosing, nutritional calculations, or any scenario where a consistent measurement system is required. Knowing how to perform this conversion allows for more accurate communication and ensures that calculations adhere to standard practices. Understanding these concepts is not only important in academic settings but also in everyday life, where global interactions and standards are increasingly common.