Atmosphere to Kilopascal Converter
Convert from Atmosphere (atm) to Kilopascal (kPa)
Understanding Atmosphere and kPa
The standard atmosphere (atm) is a unit of pressure defined as 101,325 pascals (101.325 kPa).
- Represents the average atmospheric pressure at sea level
- Not an SI unit but is accepted for use with the SI system
- Originally defined as the pressure exerted by 760 mm of mercury at 0°C and standard gravity
The kilopascal (kPa) is a unit of pressure in the International System of Units (SI).
- 1 kPa = 1,000 pascals (Pa)
- The pascal is the SI base unit of pressure
- Named after Blaise Pascal, a French mathematician and physicist
Conversion Formula
atm to kPa:
kPa = atm × 101.325
To convert from atmospheres to kilopascals, multiply the atm value by 101.325.
kPa to atm:
atm = kPa ÷ 101.325
To convert from kilopascals to atmospheres, divide the kPa value by 101.325.
Atmosphere to Kilopascal Conversion Table
| Atmosphere (atm) | Kilopascal (kPa) |
|---|---|
| 0.2 | 20.27 |
| 0.4 | 40.53 |
| 0.6 | 60.80 |
| 0.8 | 81.06 |
| 1 | 101.33 |
| 1.2 | 121.59 |
| 1.4 | 141.85 |
| 1.6 | 162.12 |
| 1.8 | 182.38 |
| 2 | 202.65 |
Historical Context and Applications
Historical Development
The atmosphere (atm) as a unit of measurement has its roots in scientific experiments dating back to the 17th century. Evangelista Torricelli, an Italian physicist and mathematician, was the first to create a sustained vacuum and discovered that air has weight. Later, the standard atmosphere was precisely defined as the pressure exerted by a column of mercury 760 mm high at 0°C. The kilopascal, part of the modern SI system, has largely replaced the atmosphere in scientific contexts, though atmosphere remains in use for certain applications.
Common Applications
- atm: Often used in chemistry, particularly when discussing gas laws and partial pressures. Also used in diving to express ambient pressure at depth.
- kPa: Used in engineering, meteorology, and technical applications in countries that have adopted the metric system.
Practical Examples
- Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level: 1 atm (101.325 kPa)
- Pressure at 1 km above sea level: 0.89 atm (~90 kPa)
- Pressure inside a car tire: 2.0-2.5 atm (203-253 kPa)
- Pressure in a champagne bottle: 5-6 atm (507-608 kPa)
- Pressure at 10 meters underwater: 2 atm (~202 kPa)
- Enter your value in the atmosphere (atm) field
- The converter instantly displays the equivalent in kilopascals
- Use the swap button to convert from kPa to atm instead
- Results are displayed with 6 decimal places for precision
For quick reference without calculations, refer to the conversion table above for common values.