From: utzoo!decvax!harpo!ihnss!ihuxv!lew
Newsgroups: net.trivia
Title: pound definition
Article-I.D.: ihuxv.130
Posted: Wed May 19 16:34:33 1982
Received: Fri May 21 00:32:58 1982

You will note that a pound is a unit of mass, not of force. Its metric
equivalent, 453.59237 grams, is a DEFINITION of the pound. (source:
Handbook of Mathematical Functions, Abramowitz and Stegen.)

The pound-force is given as 4.44822 newtons ( not a definition )
This gives "g" a value of 9.80665 m/sec/sec ( to make a pound
weigh a pound.) The measured value of "g" varies from 9.780350 at
the equator to 9.832072 at the poles. Its value at 45 degrees
is 9.806154, which is where the pound-force value comes from, I suspect.

				Lew Mammel, Jr - BTL Indian Hill