Gigapascal (GPa)
A unit of pressure equal to one billion pascals, used for material stiffness and high-pressure research
The Gigapascal (GPa) is a unit of pressure with a history connected to the study of fluids, gases, and atmospheric phenomena. Evangelista Torricelli's invention of the barometer in 1643 was a landmark in pressure measurement, and subsequent work by Blaise Pascal established the mathematical foundations. The pascal — the SI unit — was named in Pascal's honor when the SI system was formalized. The Gigapascal reflects either the SI tradition or the practical conventions of specific industries that standardized their measurements independently.
Accurate pressure measurement is critical in engineering, science, commerce, and everyday life. Using the correct unit and applying conversions precisely prevents errors that can be costly or dangerous in professional applications.
Conversion Table
| Unit | Symbol | 1 GPa = |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal | Pa | 1.000000e+9 Pa |
| Kilopascal | kPa | 1000000 kPa |
| Bar | bar | 10000 bar |
| Atmosphere | atm | 9869.23 atm |
| Pound per Square Inch | psi | 145038 psi |
| Millimeters of Mercury | mmHg | 7500640 mmHg |
| Megapascal | MPa | 1000 MPa |
| Kilopound per Square Inch | ksi | 145.038 ksi |
| Torr | torr | 7500640 torr |
| Inch of Mercury | inHg | 295300 inHg |
| Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter | kgf/cm² | 10197.2 kgf/cm² |
Conversions Involving Gigapascal
Pascal → Gigapascal
Pa → GPa
Kilopascal → Gigapascal
kPa → GPa
Bar → Gigapascal
bar → GPa
Atmosphere → Gigapascal
atm → GPa
Pound per Square Inch → Gigapascal
psi → GPa
Millimeters of Mercury → Gigapascal
mmHg → GPa
Megapascal → Gigapascal
MPa → GPa
Gigapascal → Pascal
GPa → Pa
Gigapascal → Kilopascal
GPa → kPa
Gigapascal → Bar
GPa → bar
Gigapascal → Atmosphere
GPa → atm
Gigapascal → Pound per Square Inch
GPa → psi
Gigapascal → Millimeters of Mercury
GPa → mmHg
Gigapascal → Megapascal
GPa → MPa
Gigapascal → Kilopound per Square Inch
GPa → ksi
Gigapascal → Torr
GPa → torr
Gigapascal → Inch of Mercury
GPa → inHg
Gigapascal → Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter
GPa → kgf/cm²
Kilopound per Square Inch → Gigapascal
ksi → GPa
Torr → Gigapascal
torr → GPa
Inch of Mercury → Gigapascal
inHg → GPa
Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter → Gigapascal
kgf/cm² → GPa
Common Uses of the Gigapascal
- •Automotive — inflating tires to manufacturer-specified pressures
- •Weather reporting — tracking barometric pressure for forecasting
- •Hydraulic systems — designing and operating fluid power equipment
- •Scuba diving — calculating safe dive depths based on partial pressures
- •Medical — measuring blood pressure and calibrating medical equipment
Did You Know?
The deepest point in the ocean — the Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench — has a water pressure of approximately 110 MPa, or about 1,086 times standard atmospheric pressure. The Gigapascal is one of several units used to express pressures across this extraordinary range.