megapascals

Megapascal (symbol MPa) is the SI-derived unit of pressure and mechanical stress, equal to one million pascals. The name combines the prefix mega- (10^6) with the pascal (Pa). Since 1 Pa = 1 N/m^2, 1 MPa equals 1,000,000 N/m^2, and it is also commonly expressed as 1 N/mm^2.

MPa is widely used in engineering, materials science, geology, and construction to express stresses and pressures. Tensile strength, yield strength, and compressive strength of materials are frequently given in MPa. Hydraulic and pneumatic system pressures, as well as gas pressures in many industrial contexts, are commonly stated in MPa. For reference, sea-level atmospheric pressure is about 0.1013 MPa, and typical hydraulic systems may operate in the range of several MPa.

Conversions and relations: 1 MPa ≈ 145.038 psi; 1 MPa = 1e6 Pa; 1 MPa = 1 N/mm^2. For higher pressures, gigapascs (GPa) are used, where 1 GPa = 1000 MPa.

Notes: MPa is a widely used SI-derived unit and is appropriate for moderate to high pressures and stresses. It coexists with other pressure units such as kPa and psi, with conversions commonly employed to suit regional conventions or field-specific standards.

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