SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING

Tutorial 0.
Units, dimensions & Factor label method

1. Convert 1.35 x 109 km3 to Liters Answ: 1.35 x1021 liters

2. Convert 30 μg / ft3 to kg / m3 Answ: 1.06 x 10-6 kg/m3

NB: (1ft = 12 inches, 1 inch = 2.54 cm)

3. An average human has a life expectancy of about 2 x 109 seconds (70 years). If a human’s
heart rate is 80 beats / min, determine the total number of beats a human would make in such a
life time? Answ: 3 G beats

4. A typical atom has a diameter of 1.0 Å, approximately how many of this atoms would fit on a
1.0 cm line. ( 1 Å = 10-10 m ) Answ: 0.01 μ atom

5. A certain liquid has a density of 0.789 g / cm3. What volume in cubic mm should be poured
into a graduated cylinder to give a mass of 19.8 g? Answ: 2.51 x 104 mm3

6. A fish tank has dimensions of 20 inch x 20 inch x 10 inch. What’s the maximum volume of
water, in millilitres, it can hold? Answ: 6.555 x104 m L

7. Calculate these numbers and express your answer in the correct decimal or significant
numbers.
0.0065 x 3.21 + 0.0911 Answ: No hint,... duh 

8. A space object orbits the earth at 1.25 Mega miles per year. What’s this speed in yards per
milliseconds. Answ: 6.98 x 10-2 yards/milli-
sec
(NB: 5 ½ yards = 1 rod ; 40 rods = 1 furlong ; 8 furlongs = 1 mile)
9. Precious metals and gems are measured in troy weights in the English system:
NB: 24 grains = 1 pennyweight (exact) Answ: 1.9339 x10-2 dm3, 1.9339 x1022 nm3
20 pennyweight = 1 troy ounce (exact)
12 troy ounces = 1 troy pound (exact)
1 grain = 0.0648 gram
1carat = 0.200 gram
If the density of gold is 19.3 g/cm3, what’s the volume of a troy pound of gold?
Express the answer in: (a) Cubic decimetre (dm3)
(b) Cubic nanometre directly from the answer in (a)

10. Apothecaries (druggists) use the following set of unit measurements in the English system:
Is an Apothecary grain the same as a troy grain? Refer to Q9 and the following:
( 20 grains apothecaries = 1 scruple; 3 scruples = 1dram apothecary, 8 dram apothecaries = 1 oz
apothecary ; 1dram apothecary = 3.888g ), Answ: No hint, duh!!. 