Convert Carat to Short Ton

FromCarat (ct)

ToShort Ton (ton)

Carat

The carat (ct) is a unit of mass used to measure the weight of gemstones and pearls. One carat is equivalent to 200 milligrams or 0.2 grams. It is commonly used in the jewelry industry to indicate the size and weight of precious stones such as diamonds, rubies, and emeralds.

Origin:

The carat originated from the use of the carob seed (from the Ceratonia siliqua tree) as a reference for weight in ancient times. These seeds were used because of their relatively consistent weight, and they were widely available across regions. The term "carat" comes from the Greek word "keration", which means "little horn," referring to the carob seed. Over time, the carat became standardized, and in 1907, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry (IUPAC) defined the carat as 200 milligrams, ensuring consistency in the measurement of gemstones worldwide.

Short Ton

The short ton (symbol tn or t) is a unit of mass primarily used in the United States. It is equal to 2,000 pounds or approximately 907.1847 kilograms. The short ton is part of the U.S. customary system and is smaller than both the long ton (used in the UK) and the metric ton.

Origin:

The short ton originated in the U.S. as a way to standardize weight measurements, particularly for bulk commodities like coal and steel. It is called "short" to distinguish it from the long ton (also known as the imperial ton), which is used in the UK and equals 2,240 pounds. The short ton became widely used in the United States during the 19th century as part of the U.S. customary system of measurements.