Long ton facts for kids
The long ton is a special unit of weight. It's also known as the imperial ton or 'weight ton'. This unit is mainly used in the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth countries.
In their traditional Imperial system of measurement, one long ton is equal to 2,240 pounds (1,016.0469088 kg) (pounds). That's about 1,016 kilograms. To give you an idea, it's also the weight of about 35 cubic feet (0.99108963072 m3) of salt water. Many other countries around the world use the metric tonne instead, which is 1,000 kilograms.
Contents
When is the Long Ton Used?
The long ton isn't used as much today, but it still has some specific uses.
Measuring Ship Weight
One important place where the long ton is still used is in the United States. Here, it helps measure the displacement of ships. Displacement means how much water a ship pushes aside when it floats. This measurement tells us the total weight of the ship.
Historical Use for Warships
In the past, the long ton was very important for international agreements about warships. For example, between the two world wars, there were rules about how big battleships could be. They were often limited to a maximum weight of 35,000 long tons. This helped control the size and power of navies around the world.
Long Ton vs. Metric Tonne
It's good to know the difference between the long ton and the metric tonne.
- A long ton is about 1,016 kilograms (2,240 pounds).
- A metric tonne is exactly 1,000 kilograms (about 2,205 pounds).
So, a long ton is a little bit heavier than a metric tonne.
See also
In Spanish: Tonelada larga para niños
