Conversion of Units

This module discusses the conversion of units by manual solutions, i.e., without using conversion applications
nor calculators with unit converters. However, calculators can be used to aid you with basic math operations.

Conversion of units require knowledge of conversion factors. These factors represent the ratio between different
sets of units such as the following

100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒
1 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒 = 1.60934 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
2.54 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ
1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚 = 2.2 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠

Note that conversion factors such as those shown above, we do not mean that the numbers 100 = 1, nor
that 1 = 1.60934, nor any other equality of number factors, but rather we mean that the amount of measure
expressed in one unit is the same amount of measure but expressed in a different unit. A physical quantity does
100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
not change its amount even when expressed in different sets of units. Thus, the ratio 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟
is actually
equal to 1. We can therefore use such ratios to transition between different units of the same quantity.

Also, take note that each conversion factor can be defined using their reciprocal ratios which also do not change
the amount of the quantity whose units are being converted. To illustrate this idea, consider the above ratio
1
100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 which can be written as 1 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 100 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 0.01 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟. The ratio shown
below should follow.

100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 1 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

= =1
1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 0.01 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

When converting from one unit of measure to another, we likely to encounter any of the following situations:

1. Conversion between a larger unit to a smaller unit.

2. Conversion between a smaller unit to a larger unit.
3. Conversion of units with SI prefixes.
4. Conversion of units of derived quantities.
5. Conversion between different system of units.
6. Conversion of quantities whose units have exponents.
7. Conversion using a formula of conversion.

If one does not know the conversion factors between units, it will take a bit of online research for a table of
conversion or for a specific conversion factor. Alternatively, one can look at the back page of a chemistry,
physics, or engineering book for a table of conversion.

Consider the following examples to illustrate each of the above situations.

Conversion between a larger unit to a smaller unit

Examples:

1. 19.25 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 → _____________ 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠

We know that 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠. The conversion then goes as follows:

 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
19.25 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 ( ) = (19.25 ∗ 60) 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 = 1155 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒

In the above solution, we multiply the given by the conversion factor between 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 and 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠.
Notice that the ratio is arranged such that the 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 unit is in the denominator in order to cancel out
the given unit and leaving out the target unit, the 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠.

Note also that although 19.25 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 = 1155 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠, which is basically the same amount of time,
numerically however, 19.25 < 1155. This is of course understood since the 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 is a larger unit than
the 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑, and therefore, for any given amount of time, there are numerically more 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 than there
are 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠.

2. 4.6 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 → _____________ 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠

We know that 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 and that 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒 = 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠. The conversion then goes as
follows:

60 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 60 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
4.6 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 ( )( ) = (4.6 ∗ 60 ∗ 60) 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 = 16560 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒

Alternatively, we can also use the direct conversion factor 1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟 = 3600 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 as shown below.

3600 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
4.6 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟𝑠 ( ) = (4.6 ∗ 3600) 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠 = 16560 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠
1 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟

Conversion between a smaller unit to a larger unit

Examples:

1. 126 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 → _____________ 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠

Note that 1000 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 = 1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚. The conversion then goes as follows:

1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚 126
126 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 ( )= 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 = 0.126 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠
1000 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 1000

2. 5462 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 → _____________ 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

Note that 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 100 𝑐𝑒𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 and 1 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1000 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟. The conversion then goes as
follows:

1𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚 5462 5462
5462 𝑐𝑚 ( )( )= 𝑘𝑚 = 𝑘𝑚 = 0.05462 𝑘𝑚
100 𝑐𝑚 1000 𝑚 100 ∗ 1000 100000

Note of the use of the abbreviated form of the units.

Conversion of units with SI prefixes

The International System of Units or SI uses powers of 10 in its conversion factors of physical quantities. The
system assigns certain prefixes to certain powers of 10 in order to facilitate the degrees of increase and
decrease by factors of 10. Unit prefixes are used to introduce larger and smaller units for the same physical
quantities. The names of the additional units are derived by adding the prefix to the name of the base unit.
The list below shows the set of prefixes used in the SI system.

As mentioned above, the conversion factors can be also be defined by their reciprocal ratios. Converting units
with prefixes are no exemption. Consider the ratio 1 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1000000 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 which is the same
1
equivalence as 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 or 0.000001 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 = 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟. The ratio shown below
1000000
should follow.

1 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 0.000001 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

= =1
1000000 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 1 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟

Consider the following examples.

Examples:

1. 51462000 𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 → _____________ 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠

Note that 1 𝑛𝑚 = 0.000000001 𝑚. The conversion then goes as follows:

0.000000001 𝑚
51462000 𝑛𝑚 ( ) = 0.051462 𝑚
1 𝑛𝑚

Alternatively, we can use the conversion 1000000000 𝑛𝑚 = 1 𝑚. The conversion then goes as follows:

1𝑚
51462000 𝑛𝑚 ( ) = 0.051462 𝑚
1000000000 𝑛𝑚

2. 843500000 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 → _____________ 𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠

Note that 1 𝑚𝑔 = 0.001 𝑔 = and 1 T𝑔 = 1000000000000 𝑔. The conversion then goes as follows:

0.001 𝑔 1 T𝑔 843500000 ∗ 0.001

843500000 𝑚𝑔 ( )( )= T𝑔 = 0.8435 T𝑔
1 𝑚𝑔 1000000000000 𝑔 1000000000000
 3. 3.5 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 → _____________ 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠

Note that 1 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡 = 1 M𝑊 = 1000000 𝑊 and 1 𝑚𝑖𝑐𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑠 = 1 𝜇𝑊 = 0.000001 𝑊. The conversion

then goes as follows:

1000000 𝑊 1 𝜇𝑊 3.5 ∗ 1000000

3.5 M𝑊 ( )( )= 𝜇𝑊 = 3500000000000 𝜇𝑊
1 M𝑊 0.000001 𝑊 0.000001

Conversion of units of derived quantities

𝐷𝑒𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑒𝑑 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠 are physical quantities that are combinations of 𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑖𝑐 𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑛𝑡𝑖𝑡𝑖𝑒𝑠. The SI system has seven
defined basic quantities: 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ in 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 in 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠, 𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 in 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠, 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 in 𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑠,
𝑡𝑒𝑚𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 in 𝑘𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑠, 𝑎𝑚𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑠𝑢𝑏𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 in 𝑚𝑜𝑙𝑒𝑠, and 𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑜𝑢𝑠 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 in 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑑𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑠. As such, derived
quantities will have units that are the combination of the units of the basic quantities. An example of a derived
quantity is 𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑, which is defined as the amount of 𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒 covered by an object over the 𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒 it takes to cover
that distance. In equation form, this is written as follows:

𝑑𝑖𝑠𝑡𝑎𝑛𝑐𝑒
𝑠𝑝𝑒𝑒𝑑 =
𝑡𝑖𝑚𝑒

The quantity distance is a measure of length measured in base SI unit of 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, while time is in 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑠. From
𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
the above equation we can see that the units for speed is therefore 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑 that is usually abbreviated as 𝑚/𝑠.
𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠
Any given speed expressed in 𝑚/𝑠 can then be expressed into other units such as ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟
or 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.

Consider the following examples.

Examples:

1. 125 𝑚/𝑠 → _____________ 𝑘𝑚/ℎ

Note that 1 𝑘𝑚 = 1000 𝑚 and 3600 𝑠 = 1 ℎ. Before converting however, it is important to point out that a
125 𝑚
derived quantity such as 125 𝑚/𝑠 is understood to be 1 𝑠 . The conversion then goes as follows:

125 𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚 3600 𝑠 125 ∗ 3600

( )( )( )= 𝑘𝑚/ℎ = 450 𝑘𝑚/ℎ
1𝑠 1000 𝑚 1ℎ 1000

2. 928 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠/𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟 → _____________ 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠/𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑒𝑟

Note that 1000 𝑔 = 1 𝑘𝑔 = and 1 𝐿 = 1000 𝑚𝐿. The conversion then goes as follows:

928 𝑔 1 𝑘𝑔 1000 𝑚𝐿 928 ∗ 1000

( )( )( )= 𝑘𝑔/𝐿 = 928 𝑘𝑔/𝐿
1 𝑚𝐿 1000 𝑔 1𝐿 1000

Conversion between different system of units

Any measured quantity can be expressed in units from different systems of units. For this module, conversions
will be done between the SI system and the British Imperial System of units. Consider the following examples.

Examples:

1. 500 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑠 → _____________ 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑜𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠

 Note that 1 𝑘𝑔 = 2.2 𝑙𝑏𝑠. The conversion then goes as follows:

1 𝑘𝑔 500
500 𝑙𝑏𝑠 ( )= 𝑘𝑔 ≈ 227 𝑘𝑔
2.2 𝑖𝑏𝑠 2.2

2. Michael Jordan is about 6 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡 6 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠. What is his height in 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠?

Note that it is understood that the statement "6 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡 6 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠" means 6 𝑓𝑡 + 6 𝑖𝑛. This means that we
first have to combine these two numbers expressed in different units into a single number with one unit
before converting to 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠. We then note that 12 𝑖𝑛 = 1 𝑓𝑡. We use this in the following conversion.

1 𝑓𝑡
6 𝑓𝑡 + 6 𝑖𝑛 ( ) = 6 𝑓𝑡 + 0.5 𝑓𝑡 = 6.5 𝑓𝑡
12 𝑖𝑛

We then convert this result to 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠. We note that 1 𝑚 = 3.28084 𝑓𝑡. The conversion then is as follows.

1𝑚
6.5 𝑓𝑡 ( ) ≈ 1.98 𝑚
3.28084 𝑓𝑡

3. 325 𝑘𝑚 → _____________ 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠

Note that 1 𝑚𝑖 = 1.60934 𝑘𝑚. The conversion then goes as follows:

1 𝑚𝑖 325
325 𝑘𝑚 ( )= 𝑚𝑖 ≈ 202 𝑚𝑖
1.60934 𝑘𝑚 1.60934

Conversion of quantities whose units have exponents

When a quantity is derived by multiplying its dimensions to itself, this results to its units having exponents. Such
is the case in the units for areas and volumes. Take the area of a rectangle for example. The area is defined as
the product of the ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 of the rectangle and its 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ. If the 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ of the rectangle is 𝑤 and it’s ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 as ℎ,
then the 𝑎𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝐴 of the rectangle would then be 𝐴 = 𝑤 ∗ ℎ. If the 𝑤 and ℎ are both measured in 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠, then the
unit for area then becomes 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 ∗ 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 or 𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 which is usually written as 𝑠𝑞. 𝑚 or 𝑚2 .

The units for 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑠 are expressed in 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑠. The 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑉 of rectangular room for example is the product
of the room’s 𝑤𝑖𝑑𝑡ℎ 𝑤, ℎ𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 ℎ, and 𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑔𝑡ℎ 𝑙. If each dimension of the room is measured in 𝑓𝑜𝑜𝑡, then the volume
of the rectangular room is given by 𝑉 = 𝑙 ∗ 𝑤 ∗ ℎ whose units will be in 𝑐𝑢𝑏𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑒𝑒𝑡 which is usually written as
𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 or 𝑓𝑡 3 .

Consider the following examples.

Examples:

1. 150 𝑚2 → _____________ 𝑠𝑞. 𝑓𝑡

Note that 1 𝑚 = 3.28084 𝑓𝑡. The conversion then goes as follows:

3.28084 𝑓𝑡 2 (3.28084)2 𝑓𝑡 2
150 𝑚2 ( ) = 150 𝑚2 ( ) = 150 ∗ (3.28084)2 𝑓𝑡 2 ≈ 1615 𝑓𝑡 2
1𝑚 12 𝑚 2

2. 300 𝑐𝑢. 𝑓𝑡 → _____________ 𝑐𝑚3

 Note that 1 𝑓𝑡 = 12 𝑖𝑛 = and 1 𝑖𝑛 = 2.54 𝑐𝑚. The conversion then goes as follows:

12 𝑖𝑛 3 2.54 𝑐𝑚 3
300 𝑓𝑡 3 ( ) ( ) = 300 ∗ 1728 ∗ 16.387064 𝑐𝑚3 = 8495053.978 𝑐𝑚3
1 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑖𝑛

3. 9.8 𝑚/𝑠 2 → _____________ 𝑘𝑚/ℎ2

Note that 1 𝑘𝑚 = 1000 𝑚 = and 1 ℎ = 3600 𝑠. The conversion then goes as follows:

9.8 𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚 3600 𝑠 2 9.8 ∗ 12960000

( ) ( ) ( ) = 𝑘𝑚/ℎ2 = 127008 𝑘𝑚/ℎ2
1 𝑠2 1000 𝑚 1ℎ 1000

Conversion using a formula of conversion

There are situations where the conversion requires a conversion formula. Such is the case for converting
temperature scales. The common temperature scales are the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales whose units are ℃
and ℉, respectively. The SI unit for temperature is the Kelvin scale whose units is the 𝑘𝑒𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛 or K. Note that we
do not use the degrees symbol "°" for the Kelvin scale. The following are the conversion formulas for the different
temperature scales.

Celsius to Kelvin

𝑇K = 𝑇C + 273.15

Kelvin to Celsius

𝑇C = 𝑇K − 273.15

Celsius to Fahrenheit

9
𝑇F = 𝑇C + 32
5

Fahrenheit to Celsius

5
𝑇C = (𝑇F − 32)
9

Consider the following examples.

Examples:

1. 36.5 ℃ → _____________ ℉

9 9
𝑇F = 𝑇C + 32 = (36.5 ℃) + 32 = 97.7 ℉
5 5

2. 305 ℉ → _____________ ℃

5 5
𝑇C = (𝑇F − 32) = (305 ℉ − 32) ≈ 151.67 ℃
9 9
3. 98 ℃ → _____________ K

𝑇K = 𝑇C + 273.15 = 98 ℃ + 273.15 = 371.15 K

4. 212 ℉ → _____________ K

This is a two-stage solution. First, we convert from ℉ to ℃ as shown.

5 5
𝑇C = (𝑇F − 32) = (212 ℉ − 32) = 100 ℃
9 9

Then we convert from ℃ to K.

𝑇K = 𝑇C + 273.15 = 100 ℃ + 273.15 = 373.15 K