Kilopascal to Atmosphere Converter
Convert from Kilopascal (kPa) to Atmosphere (atm)
Understanding kPa and Atmosphere
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
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
Conversion Formula
kPa to atm:
atm = kPa ÷ 101.325
To convert from kilopascals to atmospheres, divide the kPa value by 101.325.
atm to kPa:
kPa = atm × 101.325
To convert from atmospheres to kilopascals, multiply the atm value by 101.325.
kPa to Atmosphere Conversion Table
| Kilopascal (kPa) | Atmosphere (atm) |
|---|---|
| 10 | 0.09869 |
| 20 | 0.19738 |
| 30 | 0.29608 |
| 40 | 0.39477 |
| 50 | 0.49346 |
| 60 | 0.59215 |
| 70 | 0.69085 |
| 80 | 0.78954 |
| 90 | 0.88823 |
| 100 | 0.98692 |
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
- kPa: Used in engineering, meteorology, and technical applications in countries that have adopted the metric system.
- atm: Often used in chemistry, particularly when discussing gas laws and partial pressures. Also used in diving to express ambient pressure at depth.
Practical Examples
- Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level: 101.325 kPa (1 atm)
- Pressure at 1 km above sea level: ~90 kPa (0.89 atm)
- Pressure inside a car tire: 200-250 kPa (1.97-2.47 atm)
- Pressure in a champagne bottle: ~500-600 kPa (4.93-5.92 atm)
- Pressure at 10 meters underwater: ~202 kPa (1.99 atm)
- Enter your value in the kilopascal (kPa) field
- The converter instantly displays the equivalent in atmospheres
- Use the swap button to convert from atmospheres to kPa instead
- Results are displayed with 6 decimal places for precision
For quick reference without calculations, refer to the conversion table above for common values.