# Carats to Slugs (ct to slug) Source: https://www.unitconvertercalculator.com/weight/carats-to-slugs/ **1 ct = 1.3704353112392E-5 slug** One carat equals approximately 1.371 x 10-5 slugs. The slug is an Imperial unit of mass used in physics and engineering, defined as the mass that is accelerated by 1 ft/s2 when a force of one pound-force is applied. At about 14.594 kilograms, a slug is roughly 72,970 carats - bridging the rarefied world of gemology with the practical realm of Newtonian mechanics. ## Formula Apply the conversion factor ## Conversion Table | Carats (ct) | Slugs (slug) | |---|---| | 100 ct | 0.0013704353112392 slug | | 500 ct | 0.0068521765561961 slug | | 1000 ct | 0.013704353112392 slug | | 5000 ct | 0.068521765561961 slug | | 10000 ct | 0.13704353112392 slug | | 50000 ct | 0.68521765561961 slug | | 100000 ct | 1.3704353112392 slug | | 500000 ct | 6.8521765561961 slug | | 1000000 ct | 13.704353112392 slug | | 5000000 ct | 68.521765561961 slug | ## Units ### Carat (ct) A carat is a unit of mass equal to exactly 200 milligrams (0.2 grams), used for measuring gemstones and pearls. Adopted internationally in 1907 by the Fourth General Conference on Weights and Measures. ### Slug (slug) A slug is a unit of mass in the imperial system used in physics and engineering. It equals approximately 14.593903 kilograms, derived from the pound-force, standard gravity, and the foot. ## Background The slug is used primarily in American aerospace and mechanical engineering for calculations involving force, mass, and acceleration in the imperial unit system. Engineers use it because Newton's second law (F = ma) works cleanly when force is in pound-force, mass is in slugs, and acceleration is in ft/s2. This conversion to carats is almost entirely academic, since no engineering calculation has ever required knowing the mass of a diamond in slugs. ## Good to Know The slug was introduced in the late 19th century to solve a practical problem: the pound was being used for both mass and force, creating confusion in engineering calculations. The slug separated mass from force in the imperial system the same way the kilogram is distinct from the newton in SI. Despite its awkward name and large size, the slug remains indispensable in American engineering classrooms and aerospace firms. ## FAQ ### How many carats are in one slug? One slug (approximately 14.594 kg) equals about 72,970 carats. This is derived from 14,593.9 grams divided by 0.2 grams per carat. ### What is a slug in physics? The slug is the imperial unit of mass in the gravitational foot-pound-second system. It is defined so that 1 pound-force accelerates 1 slug at 1 foot per second squared. One slug equals approximately 14.594 kilograms or 32.174 pounds-mass. ### Do engineers still use slugs? Yes, in American aerospace and mechanical engineering. NASA, the US military, and many American engineering firms use slugs in calculations involving the imperial unit system. The slug keeps Newton's second law simple when working in feet and pounds rather than meters and kilograms. ## Non-Frequently Asked Questions ### If I threw a diamond, would I calculate its trajectory in slugs? Technically, if you were doing physics in imperial units, you would convert the diamond's mass to slugs. A 1-carat diamond is 0.0000137 slugs. The trajectory calculation would be identical to any projectile problem, just with an unusually expensive and tiny projectile. Most physicists would switch to grams before throwing diamonds. ### Is the slug named after the garden pest? No. The engineering slug gets its name from the concept of a 'sluggish' mass - one that resists acceleration. The garden slug was named for being slow-moving. Both words trace back to the Scandinavian 'slugga,' meaning to be lazy. The engineering slug is lazy by design; the garden slug is lazy by nature. ### How many diamond engagement rings would it take to reach one slug of mass? At an average of 1 carat per ring diamond plus 4 grams of gold setting, each ring weighs about 4.2 grams. One slug is 14,594 grams, requiring approximately 3,475 engagement rings. 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