The kilogram (kg) is the base unit of mass in the International System of Units (SI). It is defined as the mass of the International Prototype of the Kilogram (IPK), a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in France.
Until May 20, 2019, the kilogram was defined by the physical prototype, but as part of the redefinition of the SI units, the kilogram was redefined in terms of fundamental constants. Since that date, the kilogram is defined by fixing the numerical value of the Planck constant (h) to be exactly 6.62607015 x 10^-34 joule-seconds.
This redefinition ensures that the value of the kilogram is now based on a constant of nature rather than relying on a physical object that could potentially change over time. It allows for a more precise and stable definition of the kilogram and other SI units.
A "slug," in the context of mass, is a unit of measurement primarily used in the United States customary and British imperial systems. It is not a widely used unit and is considered somewhat archaic. The slug is used to measure mass and is defined as the mass that accelerates at a rate of one foot per second squared (1 ft/s²) when a force of one pound-force (1 lbf) is applied to it. In other words, a slug is the mass that results in an acceleration of 1 ft/s² when a force of 1 lbf is applied to it.