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Unit Conversion
SI Measurement System
Significant Digits
Scientists and engineers often use significant
digits to indicate the uncertainty of a measurement
• Significant digits are digits in a decimal number that
carry meaning indicating the certainty of the value
• All digits you record for a measurement are considered
significant
• Include all certain digits in a measurement and one
uncertain or estimated digit
• Leading zeroes are not considered significant digits but
trailing zeroes are significant. (ex. “067” has 2
significant digits but “67.0” has 3 significant digits)
Significant Digits
• General Rules
– Digital Instruments – Read and record all
digits, including zeros after the decimal point,
exactly as displayed
– Decimal Scaled Instruments – Record all
digits that you can certainly determine from
the scale markings and estimate one more
digit
The International System of Units (SI)
• The International System of Units (SI) is a
system of units of measurement consisting of
seven base units
Unit Name Symbol Measurement
meter m length
kilogram* kg mass
second s time
ampere A electric current
kelvin K thermodynamic temperature
candela cd luminous intensity
mole mol amount of substance
• Most widely used system of measurement
• The United States is the only industrialized
nation that has not adopted the SI system
The International System of Units
• Often referred to as the metric scale
• Prefixes indicate an integer power of 10
The kilo- prefix in kilogram indicates that a kilogram is 103 = 1000 grams. The
fact that the kilogram is a base unit does not affect the meaning of the prefix
but allows for the use of the kilogram as a unit in the definition of derived units.
Unit Conversion
• Necessary in science and engineering to
work across different systems of
measurement or to express quantities in
different units within a single system
Unit Conversion
• Conversion factor
– Multiplied by a quantity to convert the quantity to
alternate units
– A ratio (fraction) in which the quantity in the
numerator is equivalent to the quantity in the
denominator
– Contains desired units in the numerator and the given
units in the denominator
– The value of the conversion factor is 1
Conversion Factor = 1
Given
Units Desired Units Desired
Units
Given Units • = Desired Units
1 Given Units 1
Unit Conversion
• Conversion factor
– Using a conversion factor to cancel unwanted units is
similar to multiplying fractions
5 7 5
· =
7 3 3
Canceling unwanted units using conversion factors is similar to multiplication
of fractions in which numbers that factor in both the numerator and the
denominator can be canceled.
For instance, in this problem, you may cancel the 7s – one in the numerator
and one in the denominator –to give a result of 5/3.
Conversion of Units – SI System
• Prefixes indicate the power of 10
Power of 10 Prefix Abbreviation Power of 10 Prefix Abbreviation
Desired Unit
• Megameters to meters: 106 m = 1 Mm or
Given Unit
Conversion of Units – SI System
• Prefixes indicate the power of 10
Power of 10 Prefix Abbreviation Power of 10 Prefix Abbreviation
Equivalency Equal to 1
• Megameters to meters: 106 m = 1 Mm or
103.2 ∙ 10 m
-2 10-1 deci- d
10-2 centi- c
6
10
6 − (−1) 7
−1
= 10 =10
10
Conversion of Units – SI System
Example: Convert 0.005 kilometers to centimeters
5
0.005 ∙10 cm
Given Unit
5280 ft
• miles to feet: 1 mi = 5280 ft. or
1 mi
Equal to 1
The same concept of unit conversion applies to US Customary Units. Conversion Factors are
based on equivalencies. Once you have identified the equivalency involving the given units
and the desired units, create a ratio or fraction with the desired units in the numerator and the
given units in the denominator.
Conversion of Units – U S System
Example: Convert 17.2 yards to feet
3 ft
· ( ) 1 yd = 51.6 ft
1 yd = 3 ft
3 12 in . 3
4 (
3 ft − 7 in . = 3 ft ·
1 ft
3
) + 7 in.
4
= 36 in . + 7 in .
4
3
= 43 in .
4
More Unit Conversions
Feet and Inches
• Convert 3 ft – 7 in. to decimal feet:
3 3 1 ft
4 4 (
3 ft − 7 in. = 3 ft + 7 in.
12 in.)
3 1 ft
(
= 3 ft + 7+
4 ) (
in .
12 in . )
= 3.65 ft
Unit Conversions
Between U S and SI Systems
Use equivalency of units to create conversion
factors
• Inches to centimeters:
Desired Unit
2.54 cm
1 in .
Given Unit
Equal to 1
Conversion of Units Between Systems
Example: Convert 34.7 inches to centimeters
2.54 cm
. (
1 in . ) = 88.1 cm
• Start with the given quantity. Then determine the appropriate conversion
factor. Cancel the given units which are repeated in the numerator and
denominator.
2.205 lb m
. (
1 kg ) = 3737.48lb lb
m m
• By strategically selecting the linking units, you can create conversion factors that allow
you to cancel the given units and the linking units [click] so that the result is in the
desired units.
Dimensional Analysis
Example: Convert 345.7 inches to yards
1 ft 1 yd
. ( )( )
.
12 in . 3 ft
= 9.602 yd
1
L = 0.264 gal
55 mi 0.264 gal
1 km
gal . (
L ) ( .
0.621 mi )
1 km
= 0.621 mi
Dimensional Analysis
Example: An American car company has designed a
new high fuel efficiency vehicle that is rated at 55
miles per gallon. The company plans to export the
car to Europe and must advertise the fuel efficiency
in SI units. What is the fuel usage rate in kilometers
per liter?
1
L = 0.264 gal
55 mi 0.264 gal
1 km
gal . (
L ) ( .
0.621 mi ) 23 km/L
1 km
= 0.621 mi
Common Items: Size Comparison
Recording Measurements
• A measurement always includes a value
• A measurement always includes units
• A measurement always involves
uncertainty
– A measurement is the best estimate of a
quantity
• A measurement is only useful if a value
is associated with units and the
uncertainty of the value is understood.
Metric Scale
• A typical metric scale often includes a 30+
centimeter graduated scale
• Each centimeter is graduated into 10 millimeters
The Millimeter
• The millimeter is the smallest increment
found on a typical metric scale
1 mm
The Millimeter
• The next larger marking on a metric scale
shows 5 millimeters
5 mm
The Millimeter
• Largest markings on a metric scale
represent centimeters (cm)
• These are the only marks that are actually
numbered 1 cm = 10 mm
Measurement: Using a Decimal Scale
• How long is the rectangle?
• Let’s look a little closer
Measurement: Using a Decimal Scale
• How long is the rectangle?
Answers may vary, but a good estimate that reflects the appropriate
precision is 6.33 cm. Other good estimates are 6.32 or 6.34 cm.
The U S Customary System
• System of measurement used in the United
States
• Similar to the British Imperial System of
Measurement, but not identical
Common U S Customary Units
Measurement Symbol Unit
in. inch
length ft foot
mi mile
mass slug slug
force lb pound
time s second
thermodynamic
temperature F Fahrenheit degree
Common Items: Size Comparison
Fractional Length Measurement
• A typical ruler provides
– A 12 inch graduated scale in US Customary units
– Each inch is graduated into smaller divisions, typically
1/16” increments
The Inch
• The divisions on the U S Customary units
scale are easily identified by different
sized markings. The largest markings on
the scale identify the inch.
The Inch
• Each subsequently shorter tick mark
indicates half of the distance between next
longer tick marks.
• For example the next smaller tick mark indicates half
of an inch = ½ inch
1/2
The Inch
• Half of a half = ¼ inch. An English scale
shows ¼ inch and ¾ inch marks.
• All fractions must be reduced to lowest
terms.
1/4 3/4
The Inch
• Half of a quarter = 1/8 inch
What is the
midpoint of 2 1/8 5/32
and 2 3/16?
1/8 3/16
We may be tempted to
estimate the length to be right
in the middle. What is the
midpoint between these two
tick marks?. 2 5/32.
Measurement: Using a Fractional Scale
• How do we determine that 5/32 is midway
between 1/8 and 3/16?
• Convert each fraction to a common
denominator: 32 To determine the midpoint on the
scale, convert both endpoint
fractions to 32nds of an inch. This is
done by multiplying the fraction by
another fraction that is equal to one.
In other words, multiply by a fraction
with the same factor in the
numerator and the denominator. In
order to convert a fraction in eighths
to a fraction in terms of 32nds,
multiply by 4 / 4.
Find the average 5
of the two
measurements
Recording a Measurement: Using a
Fractional Scale
• How long is the rectangle?
• Remember the General Rule
– Fractional Scaled Instruments require special
consideration
Go to Moodle and
complete the questions
in the class activity.