Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 22, 2026

Poncelet

The poncelet is an obsolete unit of power, once used in France and replaced by cheval-vapeur. The unit was named after Jean-Victor Poncelet.

Last revised
Jun 22, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
109 w
Citations
1
Source
poncelet
Unit systemNon-SI metric unit
Unit ofPower
Symbolp
Named afterJean-Victor Poncelet
Definition1 p = 100 kgf⋅m/s
Conversions
1 p in ...... is equal to ...
   SI units   980.665 W

The poncelet (symbol p) is an obsolete unit of power, once used in France and replaced by cheval-vapeur (ch, metric horsepower). The unit was named after Jean-Victor Poncelet.1

One poncelet is defined as the power required to raise a hundred-kilogram mass (quintal) at a velocity of one metre per second (100 kilogram-force·m/s).

1 p = 980.665 W = 4/3 ch ≈ 1.315 hp (imperial horsepower)
References

References

  1. François Cardarelli, Encyclopaedia of Scientific Units, Weights and Measures: Their Si Equivalences and Origins, Springer, 2003, ISBN 185233682X, page 527