Poundal to Kip Converter

A poundal (pdl) is a unit of force in the foot-pound-second (FPS) system, defined as the force required to accelerate a mass of one pound at a rate of one foot per second squared. It equals approximately 0.138 newtons.

The poundal was introduced in 1879 as part of the foot-pound-second system to provide a force unit based on fundamental physical principles rather than gravitational force. It was designed to be the imperial equivalent of the newton but never achieved widespread adoption.

Poundals are rarely used in modern applications, appearing mainly in historical engineering literature and some specialized physics contexts. They've been largely replaced by pound-force in practical applications and newtons in scientific work.

A kip is a unit of force equal to 1,000 pounds-force (1,000 lbf). It equals approximately 4,448 newtons and is commonly used in structural engineering and construction in the United States for expressing large forces.

The kip (from 'kilo-pound') was developed in American structural engineering as a convenient way to express large forces without using very large numbers. It became standard in construction and civil engineering for load calculations and structural analysis.

Kips are extensively used in American structural engineering, construction, and civil engineering. They're standard for building load calculations, structural member ratings, foundation design loads, and construction specifications in the United States.