The Modern Metric System : Si Quick Reference Guide: International System of Units (SI)
The Modern Metric System : Si Quick Reference Guide: International System of Units (SI)
UNITS
The International System of Units (SI) is based on seven base units:
Base Units
length metre m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
electric current ampere A
thermodynamic temperature kelvin K
amount of substance mole mol
luminous intensity candela cd
and a number of derived units which are combinations of base units and which may have special names and symbols:
acceleration
angular rad/s2
linear m/s2
angle
plane dimensionless radian rad
solid dimensionless steradian sr
area m2
Celsius temperature K degree Celsius °C
density
heat flux W/m2
mass kg/m3
current A/m2
energy, enthalpy
work, heat N·m joule J
specific J/kg
entropy
heat capacity J/K
specific J/(kg·K)
flow, mass kg/s
flow, volume m3/s
force kg·m/s2 newton N
frequency
periodic 1/s hertz Hz
rotating rev/s
inductance Wb/A henry H
magnetic flux V·s weber Wb
mass flow kg/s
moment of a force N·m
potential, electric W/A volt V
power, radiant flux J/s watt W
pressure, stress N/m2 pascal Pa
resistance, electric V/A ohm Ω
thermal conductivity W/(m·K)
velocity
angular rad/s
linear m/s
viscosity
dynamic (absolute) (µ) Pa·s
kinematic (ν) m2/s
volume m3
volume, specific m3/kg
Examples: A, not amp; s not sec; SI, not S.I. Note: Symbol for coulomb is C; for degree Celsius it is °C
Symbols appear in lower case unless the unit name has been Do not mix symbols and names in the same expression.
taken from a proper name. In this case the first letter of the
symbol is capitalized. Examples: radians per second or rad/s,
not radians/second; not radians/s
Examples: m, metre; Pa, pascal; W, watt m/s or metres per second,
not metres/second; not metres/s
Exception: L, litre J/kg or joules per kilogram,
not joules/kilogram; not joules/kg
Symbols and prefixes are printed in upright (roman) type
regardless of the type style in surrounding text. Symbol for product—use the raised dot (·)
Unit symbols are the same whether singular or plural. Symbol for quotient—use one of the following forms:
Examples: 1 mm, 100 mm; 1 kg, 65 kg Examples: m/s or m⁄s or use the negative exponent
Leave a space between the value and the symbol. Note: Use only one solidus (/) per expression and parenthe-
ses to avoid any ambiguity.
Most prefixes indicate orders of magnitude in steps of 1000 Compound prefixes formed by a combination of two or
and provide a convenient way to express large and small more prefixes are not used. Use only one prefix.
numbers and to eliminate nonsignificant digits and leading
zeroes in decimal fractions. Examples: 2 nm not 2 mµm;
6 m3not 6 kL;
Examples: 64 000 watts is the same as 64 kilowatts* 6 mPa not 6 kkPA
0.057 metre is the same as 57 millimetres
16 000 metres is the same as 16 kilometres* Exponential Powers. An exponent attached to a symbol
*except for intended accuracy containing a prefix indicates that the multiple (of the unit with
its prefix) is raised to the power of 10 expressed by the
Prefix Symbol Represents exponent.
yotta Y 1024
zetta Z 1021 Examples: 1 mm3 = (10-3 m)3 = 10-9 m3
exa E 1018 1 ns-1 = (10-9 s)-1 = 109 s-1
peta P 1015
tera T 1012 1 mm2/s = (10-3 m)2/s = 10-6 m2/s
giga G 109
mega M 106
kilo k 103
NUMBERS
hecto h* 102
deka da* 101 International practice separates the digits of large numbers
deci d* 10-1
centi c* 10-2
into groups of three, counting from the decimal to the left and
milli m 10-3 to the right, and inserts a space to separate the groups. In
micro µ 10-6 numbers of four digits, the space is not necessary except for the
nano n 10-9
pico p 10-12
uniformity in tables.
femto f 10-15
atto a 10-18 Examples: 6.358 568; 85 365; 51 845 953; 88 000;
zepto z 10-21
yocto y 10-24 0.246 113 562; 7 258
* allowed
with SI
Small Numbers. When writing a number between one and
minus one, put a zero before the decimal marker.
To realize the full benefit of the prefixes when expressing a
quantity by numerical value, choose a prefix so that the number Note: This applies to large numbers which have an exponent:
lies between 0.1 and 1000. For simplicity, give preference to as -0.1 × 10^6. This rule is given colloquially as “never use a
prefixes representing 1000 raised to an integral power (i.e., naked decimal point.”
mm, µm, km).
Decimal Marker. The recommended decimal marker is a
*Exceptions: In expressing area and volume, the prefixes dot on the line (period). (In some countries, a comma is used
hecto, deka, deci, and centi may be required; as the decimal marker.)
for example, cubic decimetre (L), square
hectometre (hectare), cubic centimetre. Because billion means a million million in most countries
but a thousand million in the United States, avoid using billion
Tables of values of the same quantity. in technical writing.
For certain quantities in particular applications. For The units in the international system of units are called SI
example, the millimetre is used for linear dimensions in units—not Metric Units and not SI Metric Units.
architectural and engineering drawings even when the values
lie far outside the range of 0.1 mm to 1000 mm; the centimetre Non-SI units include inch-pound units, old metric units and
is usually used for anatomical measurements and clothing many other units. Inch=pound units (IP) refers to sets of units
sizes. which contain inches and pounds. These include so-called
customary units, US customary units, conventional units,
Compound Units. A compound unit is a derived unit imperial units, and English units.
expressed with two or more units. The prefix is attached to a
unit in the numerator. Treat all spelled out names as nouns. Therefore, do not
capitalize the first letter of a unit except at the beginning of a
Examples: V/m not mV/mm sentence or in capitalized material such as a title.
CAUTION: These conversion values are rounded to three or four significant figures, which is sufficiently accurate for most applications. When making conversions,
remember that a converted value is no more precise than the original value. Round off the final value to the same number of significant figures as those in the
original value. See ANSI SI 10 for additional conversions with more significant figures.
Multiply By To Obtain
acre 0.4047 ha
atmosphere, standard *101.325 kPa
bar *100 kPa
barrel (42 US gal, petroleum) 159 L
Btu, (International Table) 1.055 kJ
Btu/lb·°F (specific heat, CP) 4.184 kJ/(kg·K)
bushel 0.03524 m3
calorie, kilogram (kilocalorie) 4.187 kJ
candle, candlepower *1.0 cd
centipoise, dynamic viscosity, µ *1.00 mPa·s
centistokes, kinematic viscosity, ν *1.00 mm2/s
ft *0.3048 m
ft *304.8 mm
ft/min, fpm *0.00508 m/s
ft/s, fps *0.3048 m/s
ft of water 2.99 kPa
ft2 0.09290 m2
ft2/s, kinematic viscosity, ν 92 900 mm2/s
ft3 28.32 L
ft3 0.02832 m3
ft3/h, cfh 7.866 mL/s
ft3/min, cfm 0.4719 L/s
ft3/s, cfs 28.32 L/s
footcandle 10.76 lx
ft·lbf (torque or moment) 1.36 N·m
ft·lbf (work) 1.36 J
ft·lbf/lb (specific energy) 2.99 J/kg
ft·lbf/min (power) 0.0226 W
gallon, US (*231 in3) 3.785 L
gph 1.05 mL/s
gpm 0.0631 L/s
gpm/ft2 0.6791 L/(s·m2)
gr/gal 17.1 g/m3
horsepower (550 ft·lbf/s) 0.746 kW
inch *25.4 mm
in of mercury (60°F) 3.377 kPa
Note: In this list the kelvin (K) expresses temperature intervals. The degree Celsius symbol (C) may be used for this purpose as well