UNIT 1- UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

Chapter 1.01- Units for measuring

There are different variables like mass, length and weight that need to be measured in this world. The
internationally accepted units are the Système International d'Unités or SI units.

The SI units for common variables are shown in the table below.

Variable SI unit and abbreviation

Length Meter (m)
Mass Kilogram (kg)
Time Second (s)
Volume Cubic meter (cm3)

Converting units

1. Length

 Length is measured by the units given in the table below.

Unit Conversion
Micrometer (µm) 1,000 µm = 1 mm
Millimeter (mm) 10 mm = 1 cm
Centimeter (cm) 100 cm = 1 m
Meter (m) STANDARD MEASUREMENT
Kilometer (km) 1000 m = 1 km

Question

Write down the value of;

a) 1m in mm
b) 1.5 m in mm
c) 1.534 m in mm
d) 1652 mm in m

Prepared by: Ruwanthika Fernando

B.Sc (Hons) Biomedical Science
University of Wolverhampton, UK
 UNIT 1- UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

2. Mass

 Mass is measured by the units given in the table below.

Unit Conversion
Milligram (mg) 1000 mg = 1 g
Gram (g) 1000 g = 1 kg
Kilogram (kg) STANDARD MEASUREMENT
Tonne (t) 1000 kg = 1 t

Question

Write down the values of;

a) 6.5 g in mg
b) 1750 g in kg
c) 4500 kg in t
d) 34 kg in g

3. Time

 Time is measured by the units given below.

1000 milliseconds (ms) = 1 second (s)

4. Volume

Volume is the amount of space something takes up.

The calculation of volume of an object depends on its shape. The equation to calculate the
volume for a rectangular block is given below.

Volume = length x breadth x height

Prepared by: Ruwanthika Fernando

B.Sc (Hons) Biomedical Science
University of Wolverhampton, UK
 UNIT 1- UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

For example consider the rectangular box below;

The length of the box = 10 cm

The breadth of the box = 2 cm
The height of the box = 5 cm

Volume = length x breadth x height

= 10 x 2 x 5

= 100 cm3

Also note that;

1 ml = 1 cm3

Prepared by: Ruwanthika Fernando

B.Sc (Hons) Biomedical Science
University of Wolverhampton, UK
 UNIT 1- UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS

Question

1) What is the volume of the liquid in the measuring cylinder in

the diagram? (The measuring cylinder has measurements in
cm3)

Give your answer in

a) cm3
b) liters

2) a) What is the volume of a metal block 3 cm long, 3 cm wide and 4 cm high?

b) What would be the volume of a block twice as long, wide and high?

Prepared by: Ruwanthika Fernando

B.Sc (Hons) Biomedical Science
University of Wolverhampton, UK