Megapascal (MPa)
A unit of pressure equal to one million pascals, used in materials science and engineering
The Megapascal (MPa) 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 Megapascal 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 MPa = |
|---|---|---|
| Pascal | Pa | 1000000 Pa |
| Kilopascal | kPa | 1000 kPa |
| Bar | bar | 10 bar |
| Atmosphere | atm | 9.86923 atm |
| Pound per Square Inch | psi | 145.038 psi |
| Millimeters of Mercury | mmHg | 7500.64 mmHg |
| Gigapascal | GPa | 0.001 GPa |
| Kilopound per Square Inch | ksi | 0.145038 ksi |
| Torr | torr | 7500.64 torr |
| Inch of Mercury | inHg | 295.3 inHg |
| Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter | kgf/cm² | 10.1972 kgf/cm² |
Conversions Involving Megapascal
Pascal → Megapascal
Pa → MPa
Kilopascal → Megapascal
kPa → MPa
Bar → Megapascal
bar → MPa
Atmosphere → Megapascal
atm → MPa
Pound per Square Inch → Megapascal
psi → MPa
Millimeters of Mercury → Megapascal
mmHg → MPa
Megapascal → Pascal
MPa → Pa
Megapascal → Kilopascal
MPa → kPa
Megapascal → Bar
MPa → bar
Megapascal → Atmosphere
MPa → atm
Megapascal → Pound per Square Inch
MPa → psi
Megapascal → Millimeters of Mercury
MPa → mmHg
Megapascal → Gigapascal
MPa → GPa
Megapascal → Kilopound per Square Inch
MPa → ksi
Megapascal → Torr
MPa → torr
Megapascal → Inch of Mercury
MPa → inHg
Megapascal → Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter
MPa → kgf/cm²
Gigapascal → Megapascal
GPa → MPa
Kilopound per Square Inch → Megapascal
ksi → MPa
Torr → Megapascal
torr → MPa
Inch of Mercury → Megapascal
inHg → MPa
Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter → Megapascal
kgf/cm² → MPa
Common Uses of the Megapascal
- •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 Megapascal is one of several units used to express pressures across this extraordinary range.