MegaCalc Blog
In-depth guides on engineering calculations, unit systems, time zones, currency, and the math behind the conversions you use every day. Written by the MegaCalc team and reviewed for accuracy by Christopher Floied, BSME.
Bytes vs Megabytes: Why 1 MB Isn't Always 1,000,000 Bytes
Sometimes 1 MB means 1,000,000 bytes. Sometimes it means 1,048,576. Here's why both are correct, and how to tell which one you're looking at.
9 min readdata-storagecomputer-scienceunitsMegapascals (MPa) Explained for Mechanical Engineers
Why mechanical engineers around the world reach for megapascals first — and how to keep your stress, pressure, and strength numbers straight.
10 min readmechanical-engineeringunitsstress-analysisHow to Read Steam Tables: A Mechanical Engineer's Guide
From v_f and h_fg to two-way interpolation and quality calculations — the practical reference engineers actually use at the desk.
11 min readthermodynamicsmechanical-engineeringReading Metric Construction Blueprints in the United States
When the architect drew it in millimeters but the lumber yard sells it in inches, here is how to read the drawing and order the right materials.
10 min readconstructionunitscivil-engineeringWhy Indonesia Uses WIB (Western Indonesian Time) and Not GMT+7
Three zones, one country, no daylight saving. A practical guide to WIB, WITA, and WIT for engineers, remote workers, and anyone scheduling meetings with Indonesia.
9 min readtime-zonesgeographyPDT vs PST: Why Pacific Time Has Two Abbreviations (And When to Use Each)
Why Pacific Time uses two letters in winter and a different two in summer, what 'PT' really means, and the small mistakes that cost you a missed call.
10 min readtime-zonesnorth-americaCommon BMI Interpretation Mistakes (And What the Number Actually Tells You)
BMI was invented in 1832 to study populations, not patients. Here is what the categories really mean, where they break down, and what to look at alongside them.
10 min readhealthanthropometryPressure Unit Selection Guide for HVAC Engineers (PSI, kPa, MPa, Bar, inH2O, inHg)
Refrigerant pressures in psi, fan static in inches of water, building leakage in pascals, evacuation in inches of mercury. Here is when to use each — and how to convert without errors.
11 min readhvacmechanical-engineeringpressureHow Engineers Choose Between PSI, Bar, kPa, and MPa
Four units, one quantity, very different conventions. When to spec each, how to convert without errors, and the gauge-vs-absolute traps that bite engineers in cross-market work.
9 min readmechanical-engineeringpressureunitsConvert Cooking Measurements Without Ruining Your Recipe (Cups, Tablespoons, mL, Grams)
Why a cup is not a cup, a tablespoon is not always 15 mL, and a cup of flour can weigh anywhere from 120 to 150 grams. Convert recipes correctly the first time.
9 min readcookingeveryday-conversions