Short ton
Encyclopedia
The short ton is a unit of mass equal to 2000 pounds (907.18474 kg). In the United States
it is often called simply ton without distinguishing it from the metric ton
(tonne, 1000 kilograms (2,204.62262 lb)) or the long ton
(2240 pounds (1,016.0469088 kg)); rather, the other two are specifically noted. There are, however, some U.S. applications for which unspecified tons normally means long tons (for example, Navy ships) or metric tons (world grain production figures).
Both the long and short ton are defined as 20 hundredweight
s, but a hundredweight is 100 pounds (45.359237 kg) in the U.S. system
(short or net hundredweight) and 112 pounds (50.80234544 kg) in the Imperial system (long or gross hundredweight).
A short ton–force is 2000 pound-forces (8,896.44323 N).
Prior to metrication
, Canada followed the US practice in using the word "ton" to refer to the short ton, and "hundredweight" to mean the short hundredweight. Since metrication, the generic term 'ton' may cause confusion when used verbally as to whether the speaker means the short ton or the tonne (metric ton).
In the UK, short tons are rarely used. The word "ton" is taken to refer to a long ton, and metric tons are distinguished by using the alternative "tonne" spelling.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
it is often called simply ton without distinguishing it from the metric ton
Tonne
The tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
(tonne, 1000 kilograms (2,204.62262 lb)) or the long ton
Long ton
Long ton is the name for the unit called the "ton" in the avoirdupois or Imperial system of measurements, as used in the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries. It has been mostly replaced by the tonne, and in the United States by the short ton...
(2240 pounds (1,016.0469088 kg)); rather, the other two are specifically noted. There are, however, some U.S. applications for which unspecified tons normally means long tons (for example, Navy ships) or metric tons (world grain production figures).
Both the long and short ton are defined as 20 hundredweight
Hundredweight
The hundredweight or centum weight is a unit of mass defined in terms of the pound . The definition used in Britain differs from that used in North America. The two are distinguished by the terms long hundredweight and short hundredweight:* The long hundredweight is defined as 112 lb, which...
s, but a hundredweight is 100 pounds (45.359237 kg) in the U.S. system
United States customary units
United States customary units are a system of measurements commonly used in the United States. Many U.S. units are virtually identical to their imperial counterparts, but the U.S. customary system developed from English units used in the British Empire before the system of imperial units was...
(short or net hundredweight) and 112 pounds (50.80234544 kg) in the Imperial system (long or gross hundredweight).
A short ton–force is 2000 pound-forces (8,896.44323 N).
Prior to metrication
Metrication in Canada
Canada has converted to the metric system for many purposes but there is still significant use of non-metric units and standards in many sectors of the Canadian economy...
, Canada followed the US practice in using the word "ton" to refer to the short ton, and "hundredweight" to mean the short hundredweight. Since metrication, the generic term 'ton' may cause confusion when used verbally as to whether the speaker means the short ton or the tonne (metric ton).
In the UK, short tons are rarely used. The word "ton" is taken to refer to a long ton, and metric tons are distinguished by using the alternative "tonne" spelling.
See also
- Long tonLong tonLong ton is the name for the unit called the "ton" in the avoirdupois or Imperial system of measurements, as used in the United Kingdom and several other Commonwealth countries. It has been mostly replaced by the tonne, and in the United States by the short ton...
, 2240 lb (1,016.0469088 kg). - TonneTonneThe tonne, known as the metric ton in the US , often put pleonastically as "metric tonne" to avoid confusion with ton, is a metric system unit of mass equal to 1000 kilograms. The tonne is not an International System of Units unit, but is accepted for use with the SI...
, also known as a metric ton (t). 1000 kg (2,204.6226218 lb). - TonnageTonnageTonnage is a measure of the size or cargo carrying capacity of a ship. The term derives from the taxation paid on tuns or casks of wine, and was later used in reference to the weight of a ship's cargo; however, in modern maritime usage, "tonnage" specifically refers to a calculation of the volume...
, volume measurement used in maritime shipping. Originally based on 100 cubic feet (2.8316847 m³).