Pascal to PSI Converter
Convert from Pascal (Pa) to Pounds per Square Inch (PSI)
Understanding Pascal and PSI
The pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square meter.
- Named after Blaise Pascal, a 17th-century physicist and mathematician
- 1 Pa = 1 N/m² (one newton per square meter)
- Standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 101,325 Pa
- Often used in scientific contexts and for very precise measurements
PSI (pound-force per square inch) measures pressure in imperial and US customary systems.
- Defined as one pound-force applied to one square inch of area
- Standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 14.7 PSI
- Commonly used in the United States for tire pressure, gas pressure, and hydraulic systems
- Widely used in engineering applications in countries using imperial units
Conversion Formula
Pascal to PSI:
PSI = Pa × 0.000145038
To convert from pascals to PSI, multiply the pascal value by approximately 0.000145038.
PSI to Pascal:
Pa = PSI × 6894.76
To convert from PSI to pascals, multiply the PSI value by approximately 6,894.76.
Pascal to PSI Conversion Table
| Pascal (Pa) | Pounds per Square Inch (PSI) |
|---|---|
| 10,000 | 1.4504 |
| 20,000 | 2.9008 |
| 30,000 | 4.3511 |
| 40,000 | 5.8015 |
| 50,000 | 7.2519 |
| 60,000 | 8.7023 |
| 70,000 | 10.1526 |
| 80,000 | 11.6030 |
| 90,000 | 13.0534 |
| 100,000 | 14.5038 |
Historical Context and Applications
Historical Development
The pascal unit was introduced as part of the metric system development in the late 18th century and was later incorporated into the SI system. It was named after Blaise Pascal, whose work on fluid mechanics and pressure made significant contributions to science. The PSI unit evolved during the Industrial Revolution in England and became standardized as industry and engineering developed. While many countries have switched to SI units like pascal, PSI remains common in the United States and some other countries for many practical applications.
Common Applications
- Pascal (Pa): Used in scientific contexts, meteorology (weather forecasting), acoustics, fluid dynamics, and materials science research. Engineers often use pascals when calculating stress, strain, and material properties.
- PSI: Common in everyday applications like tire pressure, air compressors, refrigeration systems, and natural gas distribution. Also widely used in automotive and aerospace industries, particularly in the US.
Practical Examples
- Standard atmospheric pressure: 101,325 Pa (14.7 PSI)
- Bicycle tire pressure: 344,738-620,528 Pa (50-90 PSI)
- Car tire pressure: 206,843-241,317 Pa (30-35 PSI)
- Blood pressure (systolic): ~16,000 Pa (~2.32 PSI)
- Scuba tank pressure: 20,684,271 Pa (~3,000 PSI)
- Enter your value in the pascal (Pa) field
- The converter instantly displays the equivalent in PSI
- Use the swap button to convert from PSI to pascals instead
- Results are displayed with 6 decimal places for precision
- For very small or very large values, scientific notation may be used
For quick reference without calculations, refer to the conversion table above for common values.