UNIT CONVERSION NOTES

Dimensions – characterize any physical Length

quantity 1 meter = 3.28 feet
Units – magnitudes assigned to the 1 meter = 100 centimeters
dimensions 1 kilometer = 1000 meters
Primary or Fundamental Dimension – 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
dimensions such as mass (m), length 1 foot = 12 inches
(L), time (t) and temperature (T) 1 yard = 3 feet
Secondary or Derived Dimensions – 1 mile, nautical = 6080 feet
dimensions such as velocity (v), 1 mile, statute = 5280 feet
acceleration (a) and energy (E). 1 league, nautical = 3 nautical miles
International System or SI or Metric SI 1 league, statute = 3 statute miles
– units such as meter, kilogram and 1 fathom = 6 feet
Newton. 1 furlong = 220 yards
English Engineering System/USCS 1 cable = 120 fathoms
(United States Customary System) – 1 micron = 10-6 meter
units such as feet, pound mass and 1 mil = 10-3 inch
pound force. 1 angstrom = 10-10 m
Metric Prefix Symbol Value 1 chain, surveyor’s = 66 feet
Yotta Y 1024
Zetta Z 1021
1 link, surveyor’s = 7.92 inches
Exa E 1018 1 hand = 4 inches
Peta P 1015 1 pace = 30 inches
Tera T 1012 1 rod = 5.5 yards
Giga G 109
Mega M 106 1 span = 9 inches
Kilo k 103
Hecto h 102 Area
deka dk 101
deci d 10-1 1 sq. ft = 144 sq. inches
centi c 10-2 1 acre = 43,560 sq. ft. = 160 sq. rods
Milli m 10-3 1 sq. mile (statute) = 640 acres
Micro  10-6
1 are = 100 sq. m.
Nano n 10-9
Pico p 10-12 1 hectare = 10,000 sq. m
Femto f 10-15 1 Section (US) = 1 sq. statute mile
Atto a 10-18
Zepto z 10-21
1 Township (US) = 36 sq. statute miles
yocto y 10-24

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 Volume
1 cubic meter = 1000 liters
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet
1 gallon (US) = 3.7854 liters
1 gallon (UK) = 4.54609 liters
1 stere = 1 cubic meter
1 bushel (US) = 2, 150.42 cubic inches
1 bushel (UK) = 2, 219.36 cubic inches
Mass
1 kgm (kilogram mass) = 2.2046 lbm
(pound mass)
1 tonne or metric ton = 1,000 kg
1 slug = 32.2 lbm
Mass (Avoirdupois) *for general
weighing
1 short ton (US) = 2000 lbm
1 long ton (UK) = 2,240 lbm
1 lbm = 16 ounce
1 ounce = 28.3495 grams = 437.5 grains
Mass (Troy) *for precious metal/gems
1 carat = 3.086 grains
1 ounce = 20 pennyweights
1 pennyweight = 24 grains
1 lbm = 12 ounce
Liquid Measure (Capacity)
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons
1 fluid ounce = 2 tablespoon
1 cup = 8 fluid ounce
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts
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Dry Measure (Capacity)
1 peck = 8 quarts
1 bushel = 4 pecks
1 UK dry quart = 1.032 US dry quarts
Angular or Circular Measures
1 minute = 60 seconds
1 degree = 60 minutes
1 rev = 360 degrees
= 2 radian
= 6400 mil
= 400 gon or centesimal degree
1 zodiac sign = 30 degrees
Wood Measure
1 board foot = 1 cu. ft.
1 cord foot = 16 cu. ft.
1 cord = 8 cord ft.
Weight or Force
1 Newton (N) = 1 kgm m /s2
1 Newton = 105 dynes
1 kgf (kilogram force) = 9.81 N
1 pound force (lbf) = 32.2 lbm ft/s2
1 pound force (lbf) = 4.4482 N
1 pound force (lbf) = 32.2 poundal (pdl)
1 kip = 1000 lbf
Pressure
1 Pa = 1 N/m2
1 atm (atmosphere) = 101.325 kPa
101.325 kPa = 14.696 psi (lbf per sq. in.)
101.325 kPa =760 mm Hg (millimeter of
mercury) =760 Torr = 1.0332 kgf/cm2
1 Bar = 100 kPa
 Viscosity Temperature Conversions
Absolute Viscosity F = 1.8(C) + 32 (Celsius to Fahrenheit
1 Poise = 1 dyne∙s/cm2 and vice versa)
1 Pa∙s = 10 poise R = F + 460 (Fahrenheit to Rankine)
Kinematic Viscosity Re = (4/5) (C) (Celsius to Reaumur)
m2/s
K = C + 273
Energy
R = F
1 J (Joule) = 1 N∙m
1 cal (calorie) = 4.1858 J K =C
1 Btu (British Thermal Unit) = 1055 J F = 1.8(C)
1 Btu = 778 ft∙lbf Electricity and Magnetism
1 erg = 10-7 J 1 Volt = 1 Joule/Coulomb
1 US Therm = 105 Btu 1 Ampere = 1 Coulomb/second
1 kW∙h = 3413 Btu 1 Ohm = 1 Volt/Ampere
1 J = 6.2415 x 1018 eV (electronvolt) 1 Watt = Ampere ∙Volts
1 Tesla = 1 Newton/ Ampere ∙meter
Power = 1 Weber/meter2
1 W (Watt) = 1 N m/s = 1 J/s
1 hp (horsepower) = 746 W Computer Memory
1 hp = 33,000 ft lbf/min 1 character = 1 byte = 8 bits
1 hp = 2545 Btu/hr 1 kilobyte = 210 bytes
1 boiler hp = 9.81 kW 1 megabyte = 220 bytes
1 TOR (ton of refrigerant) = 3.516 kW 1 giga byte = 230 bytes
1 TOR = 12,000 Btu/hr
Other and Special Conversions
Frequency 1 Knot = 1 nautical mile per hour
1 Hz (Hertz) = 1 cycle / second =1.852 kph = 1.151 statute miles/hour
1 Btu/lbm·R = 4.187 kJ/kgm·K
Coefficient of Performance (COP) to 8.314 kJ/kmol·K = 1545 ft·lbf/lbmol·R
Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER)
0.287 kJ/kg∙K = 53.34 ft·lbf/lbm·R
EER = 3.412 COP

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Fundamental Constants
Gravitational Acceleration
g = 9.80665 m/s2=32.2 ft/s2 (Earth)
g = 1.67 m/s2= 5.47 ft/s2 (Moon)
Gravitational Constant
gc=32.2 lbm ft/lbf∙sec2
G = 6.673 x 10-11 N∙m2/kg2
Mass
mass of Earth = 6 x 1024 kg
mass of Moon = 7.36 x 1022 kg
mass of Sun = 1.99 x 1030 kg
mass of electron (rest)= 9.109 x 10-31 kg
mass of proton (rest)= 1.673 x 10-27 kg
mass of neutron (rest)= 1.675 x 10-27 kg
atomic mass unit = 1.6606 x 10-27 kg
Charge
electron = -1.6022 x 10-19 C
proton = +1.6021 x 10-19 C
Density
air (STP@0C and 1 atm)= 1.29 kg/m3
water = 1000 kg/m3
seawater = 1025 kg/m3
mercury = 13,600 kg/m3
Velocity
c (speed of light) = 3.0 x 108 m/s
sound (air, STP) = 331 m/s
Specific Heat
Cpwater =4.187 kJ/kgm·K=1 Btu/lbm·R
Cpair =1.0062 kJ/kgm·K (ideal gas)
k = cp/cv, cp-cv=R; for ideal gas, k=1.4
Specific Weight (Water)
ʸ= 9.81 kN/m3 = 62.4 lbf/ft3
Gas Constant
R (Universal) = 8.314 kJ/kmol·K
R (Specific) = 0.287 kJ/kg∙K
(*see Other and Special Conversion
for equivalent units)
Physical Constants
Avogadro’s Number = 6.022 x 1023 mol-1
Boltzmann Constant = 1.3807 x 10-23 J/K
Stefan-Boltzmann Constant
= 5.67 x 10-8 W/m2∙K4
Planck’s Constant =6.6256 x 10-34 J∙s
Faraday Constant = 96485 C/mol
Absolute Zero = 0 K = -273 C
Mechanical Equivalent of Heat
= 4.186 J/cal
Volume of Ideal Gas (STP)
=22.4207 m3/ kg∙mol
Latent Heat of Vaporization (water)
@ 1 atm= 2256.5 kJ/kg
Latent Heat of Fusion (water) @ 1 atm
= 334 kJ/kg
Boiling Point of Water @ 1 atm = 100C
Freezing Point of Water @ 1 atm =0C