Pascal (Pa)
The SI unit of pressure equal to one newton per square meter
The Pascal (Pa) 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 Pascal 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 Pa = |
|---|---|---|
| Kilopascal | kPa | 0.001 kPa |
| Bar | bar | 0.00001 bar |
| Atmosphere | atm | 0.00000986923 atm |
| Pound per Square Inch | psi | 0.000145038 psi |
| Millimeters of Mercury | mmHg | 0.00750064 mmHg |
| Megapascal | MPa | 0.000001 MPa |
| Gigapascal | GPa | 1.000000e-9 GPa |
| Kilopound per Square Inch | ksi | 1.450377e-7 ksi |
| Torr | torr | 0.00750064 torr |
| Inch of Mercury | inHg | 0.0002953 inHg |
| Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter | kgf/cm² | 0.0000101972 kgf/cm² |
Conversions Involving Pascal
Pascal → Kilopascal
Pa → kPa
Pascal → Bar
Pa → bar
Pascal → Atmosphere
Pa → atm
Pascal → Pound per Square Inch
Pa → psi
Pascal → Millimeters of Mercury
Pa → mmHg
Pascal → Megapascal
Pa → MPa
Pascal → Gigapascal
Pa → GPa
Pascal → Kilopound per Square Inch
Pa → ksi
Pascal → Torr
Pa → torr
Pascal → Inch of Mercury
Pa → inHg
Pascal → Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter
Pa → kgf/cm²
Kilopascal → Pascal
kPa → Pa
Bar → Pascal
bar → Pa
Atmosphere → Pascal
atm → Pa
Pound per Square Inch → Pascal
psi → Pa
Millimeters of Mercury → Pascal
mmHg → Pa
Megapascal → Pascal
MPa → Pa
Gigapascal → Pascal
GPa → Pa
Kilopound per Square Inch → Pascal
ksi → Pa
Torr → Pascal
torr → Pa
Inch of Mercury → Pascal
inHg → Pa
Kilogram-force per Square Centimeter → Pascal
kgf/cm² → Pa
Common Uses of the Pascal
- •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 Pascal is one of several units used to express pressures across this extraordinary range.