A system of units used by engineers in the English-speaking world, 19ᵗʰ – 20ᵗʰ centuries, having the same relation to the foot - pound - second system as the meter — kilogram-force — second system has to the meter - kilogram - second system. Since engineers deal with forces, instead of mass, it's convenient for them to use a system that has as its base units length, time, and force, instead of length, time and mass. In the British gravitational system, the three base units are the foot, the second, and the pound-force.
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Last revised: 8 March 2008.