A Learner's Guide to SI Units

and their Conversion

October 2004
Workbook for students
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London Qualifications is one of the leading examining and awarding bodies in the UK and
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www.edexcel.org.uk
Authorised by Jim Dobson
Prepared by Sarah Harrison
All the material in this publication is copyright
London Qualifications Limited 2004
CONTENTS
Introduction 1
What are units? 2
Operations with units 5
Submultiple and multiple units 9
Conversion of units 11
Conversion examples and exercises 13
Length 13
Area 14
Volume 15
Mass 16
Time 17
Temperature 18
Density 19
Force 20
Stress and pressure 21
Answers to exercises 23
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 1
Introduction
One of the important areas where Science and Technology students need support is in the
conversion of units. This booklet is designed to be useful for students in all Science,
Technology and Engineering subjects.
This booklet has been produced to:
introduce students to SI base and derived units and
help students with the conversion of multiple and sub-multiple units to SI base and derived
units.
This booklet can be used:
by the student for individual study and self assessment or
as an aid to teaching.
The units used in this booklet are based on the seven base units of the International System of
Units (SI system).
2 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
What are units?
1 You have probably used units without thinking about them. For example, when using a
ruler, you may have used centimetres or millimetres for the unit of length.
A unit is a quantity or an amount used as a standard of measurement.
List some other units have you used:
2 Symbols are used to represent units. For example the letter m represents the metre.
Write down the symbols for the units that you listed above:
3 The unit of length, the metre, is not built from other units. Units that are not built from
other units are called base units.
4 Some units are built up from other units. For example, the unit of area is built from the unit
of length.
Area = length x length
Square metre = metre x metre
m
2
= m
1
x m
1
Base unit
Derived unit
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 3
Example 1
3 m Area = 3 m x 3 m = 9 m
2
3 m
Units that are built up from other units are known as derived units.
The square metre is a derived unit.
5 Different units may be used to make up a derived unit eg m s
1
.
The different units are separated by a space.
State whether each of the following units is a base unit or a derived unit:
m s
2
_______________
kg _______________
m
3
_______________
s _______________
6 Sometimes one symbol represents two or more different base units.
Example: The unit for force is the newton. Its symbol is N. The newton is derived from the
base units kilogram, metre and second:
N = kg m s
2
4 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Base units
Name Symbol Topic Area
metre m Length
second s Time
kelvin K Temperature
kilogram kg Mass
ampere A Electric current
mole mol Amount of substance
candela cd Luminous intensity
Derived units
Name Symbol Topic Area
newton N Force
joule J Energy
hertz Hz Frequency
ohm W Electric resistance
volt V Potential difference
watt W Power
pascal Pa Pressure
When a unit is named after a person, the name begins with a small letter (newton) but the
symbol starts with a capital ( N ).
7 When a unit is used which has a power of 1, the power is excluded for convenience, eg
m
1
= m
s
1
= s
8 Many of the topic areas are abbreviated using the Greek alphabet, eg
Name Symbol Topic Area
Theta Temperature
Lambda Wavelength
Mu Friction Coefficient
Rho Density
Sigma Stefans Constant
Omega Electrical Resistance
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 5
Operations with units
When operations are carried out using units, the units from the same topic area must be the
same, eg
millimetres cannot be added to metres (without converting the millimetres to metres first)
metres can be added to metres.
Addition and subtraction
Measurements can only be added or subtracted if they have the same units.
Example 1:
Two lengths are added together and both are in metres:
2 m + 3 m = 5 m
The sum is also in metres.
Example 2:
One length is subtracted from another and both are in metres:
6 m 2 m = 4 m
The difference is also in metres.
Example 3:
Lengths measured in different units cannot be added:
X 10 m + 5 cm = ?
Exercise 1
Carry out the following operations and check your answers
1 2 m + 3 m + 4 m = 3 N + 3 N + 2 N =
2 5 s + 6 s 4 s = 4 4 J J + 2 J =
6 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Multiplication
When multiplying the same topic area units the indices (power numbers) are added together.
Example 1:
m
1
x m
1
= m
2
ie: m x m = m
2
eg 2 m x 2 m = 4 m
2
When multiplying two different units the indices should not be changed.
Example 2:
m x s
2
= m s
2
eg 6 m x 2 s
2
= 12 m s
2
Exercise 2
Carry out the following operations and check your answers
5 4 m x 2 m = 7 5 N x 8 m =
6 2 m x 3 s
2
= 8 6 m
2
x m =
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 7
Division
When the same units with the same power are divided they cancel each other and in some cases
the result is a ratio.
Example 1
( ) units no ratio
m
m
= eg 3
m 2
m 6
=
When different topic area units are divided, the denominator (bottom of the fraction) unit
changes its power sign from positive to negative or vice versa.
Example 2
1 -
= s m
s
m
eg
1
s m 4
s 2
m 8
-
=
Exercise 3
Carry out the following operations and check your answers:
9
K 4
K 4
= 11
2
s 3
m 12
=
10
s
s 5 x m 3
= 12
2
m 5
N 10
=
8 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 9
Submultiple and multiple units
Submultiple unit
When using a 30 cm ruler to measure objects, most people take the measurement in centimetres
or millimetres since it is easier to write 5 mm than 0.005 m.
Base units that are too big for some measurements, for example, the metre can be split into
smaller units, e.g. the millimetre.
Base units can be split into smaller units called submultiple units.
The millimetre is an example of a submultiple unit and it is a smaller quantity than the metre.
A submultiple unit is a smaller quantity unit than a base unit.
Multiple unit
Sometimes the base unit can be too small. For example, large distances are often measured in
kilometres instead of metres.
The kilometre is a larger quantity than the metre.
A multiple unit is a larger quantity than the base unit.
10 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Common prefixes used for multiple and submultiple units are shown in the table below:
Prefix Symbol
Number in
words
Number in
figures
Powers of ten
Mega M Million 1 000 000 10
6
Kilo k Thousand 1 000 10
3
Centi c Hundredth
100
1
10
2
Milli m Thousandth
000 1
1
10
3
Micro u Millionth
000 000 1
1
10
6
Multiple and submultiple units must be converted into SI units when used in formulae for
problem solving.
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 11
Conversion of units
Conversion is an operation of changing submultiple or multiple units into SI base units.
The Conversion Factor is the figure, which relates the multiple, or submultiple unit to the SI
unit.
Rules for conversion
Rule 1
When converting a multiple unit (larger quantity) into the SI base unit (smaller quantity),
multiply the multiple unit by the conversion factor.
Larger Quantity Smaller Quantity = Multiply by a factor
Example
The kilometre is a multiple unit of the SI base unit of length, the metre. A kilometre is one
thousand times larger than the metre.
Multiple Conversion Factor Conversion SI units
1 kilometre (km) 1 000 1 x 1 000 1 000 m
Relationship 1 kilometre = 1 000m = 1 x 10
3
m
Rule 2
When converting a submultiple unit (smaller quantity) into the SI base unit (larger quantity)
divide the submultiple unit by the conversion factor.
Smaller Quantity Larger Quantity = Divide by a factor
Example
The millimetre is a submultiple unit (smaller quantity) of the SI base unit of length, the metre. A
millimetre is one thousand times smaller than the metre.
Submultiple Conversion Factor Conversion SI units
1 millimetre (mm) 1 000 000 1 1 0.001 m
Relationship 1 millimetre = 0.001 m = 1 x 10
3
m
12 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 13
Conversion examples and exercises
Length
SI base unit metre (m)
Multiple or Submultiple Conversion Factor Relationship
Multiple kilometre km 1 000 1 km = 1 000 m
Submultiple centimetre cm 100 100 cm = 1 m
Submultiple millimetre mm 1 000 1 000 mm = 1 m
Examples
Convert the following into metres:
5 kilometres 1
5 km = 5 x 1 000 = 5 000 m = 5 x 10
3
m
25 centimetres 2
25 cm =
100
25
= 0.25 m = 2.5 x 10 m
1
236 millimetres 3
236 mm =
000 1
236
= 0.236 m = 2.36 x 10
1
m
Exercise 4
Convert the following into metres:
13 12 km 16 220 cm
14 6.32 km 17 212 mm
15 12 cm 18 1234 mm
14 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Area
Derived unit square metre (m2)
Multiple or submultiple Conversion factor Relationship
Multiple hectare 10 000 1 hectare = 10 000 m
2
Submultiple square millimetre mm
2
1 000 000 1 000 000 mm
2
= 1 m
2
Submultiple square centimetre cm
2
10 000 10 000 cm
2
= 1 m
2
The hectare is a multiple unit used for measuring large areas.
Examples
Convert the following into square metres:
6.2 hectares 1
6.2 hectares = 6.2 x 10 000 = 62 000 m
2
= 6.2 x 10
4
m
2
200 square centimetres 2
200cm
2
=
000 10
200
= 0.02 m
2
= 2 x 10
2
m
2
5210 square millimetres 3
5210 mm
2
=
000 000 1
210 5
= 0.00521 m
2
= 5.210 x 10
3
m
2
Exercise 5
Convert the following into square metres:
19 2 500 cm
2
22 21 510 mm
2
20 22.2 cm
2
23 0.21 hectares
21 600 mm
2
24 23 hectares
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 15
Volume
Derived unit cubic metre (m
3
)
Multiple or Submultiple Conversion Factor Relationship
Submultiple cubic millimetre mm
3
1 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 mm
3
= 1 m
3
Submultiple cubic centimetre cm
3
1 000 000 1 000 000 cm
3
= 1 m
3
Submultiple cubic decimetre dm
3
(or litre l) 1 000 1 000 dm
3
= l m
3
(or litres)
Examples
Convert the following into cubic metres:
102 dm
3
or litres 1
102 litres =
000 1
102
= 0.102 m
3
= 1.02 x 10
1
m
3
235 cubic centimetres 2
253 cm
3
=
000 000 1
235
= 0.000235 m
3
= 2.35 x 10
4
m
3
10290 cubic millimetres 3
10290 mm
3
=
000 000 000 1
290 10
= 0.00001029 m
3
= 1.029 x 10
5
m
3
Exercise 6
Convert the following into square metres:
25 5 200 mm
3
28 25 000 litres
26 112 345 mm
3
29 10.2 litres
27 55 cm
3
16 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Mass
SI unit kilogram (kg)
Multiple or submultiple conversion factor Relationship
Submultiple gram g 1 000 1 000 g = 1 kg
Multiple tonne t 1 000 1 tonne = 1 000 kg
Examples
Convert the following into kilograms:
200 grams 1
200 g =
000 1
200
= 0.2 kg = 2 x 10
1
kg
3.3 tonne 2
3.3 tonne = 3.3 x 1 000 = 3 300 kg = 3.3 x 10
3
kg
Exercise 7
Convert the following into kilograms:
30 2 520 g 32 0.56 tonne
31 22 g 33 21 tonne
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 17
Time
SI unit second (s)
Multiple or submultiple Conversion factor Relationship
Multiple minute min 60 1 min = 60 s
Multiple hour h 3 600 1 h = 3 600 s
Examples
Convert the following into seconds:
5 minutes 1
5 minutes = 5 x 60 = 300 s = 3.0 x 10
2
s
2 hours 2
2 hours = 2 x 3 600 = 7 200 s = 7.2 x 10
3
s
Exercise 8
Convert the following into seconds
34 12 min 36 6 h
35 21 min 37 3 h 25 min
18 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Temperature
SI unit kelvin (K)
This is purely a mathematical relationship between temperature scales, there are no multiples or
submultiples. Degree celsius can be converted into kelvin.
Other scale Conversion factor Relationship
Degree Celsius C Add 273 0 C = 273 K
Examples
Convert the following into kelvin:
25 Degree celsius 1
25C = 25 + 273 = 298 K
120 Degree celsius 2
120C = 120 + 273 = 393 K
Convert the following into degrees celsius
523 Kelvins 3
523 K = 523 273 = 250C
Exercise 9
Convert the following into kelvin (or degrees Celsius):
38 10C 40 400C
39 5C 41 659 K
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 19
Density
Derived unit kilogram per cubic metre kg m
-3
Multiple or submultiple Conversion factor Relationship
Multiple-gram per cubic centimetre 1 000 1 g cm
3
= 1 000 kg m
3
Examples
Convert the following into kilograms per cubic metre:
0.8 gram per cubic centimetre 1
0.8 g cm
3
= 0.8 x 1000 = 800 kg m
3
= 8.0 x 10
2
kg m
3
5.6 gram per cubic centimetre 2
5.6 g cm
3
= 5.6 x 1000 = 5 600 kg m
3
= 5.6 x 10
3
kg m
3
Exercise 10
Convert the following into kilogram per cubic metre:
42 1.2 g cm
3
44 7.3 g cm
3
43 4.1 g cm
3
20 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Force
Derived unit newton (N)
Multiple or submultiple Conversion factor Relationship
Multiple kilonewton kN 1 000 1 kN = 1 000 N
Examples
Convert the following into newtons:
5 kilonewtons 1
5 kN = 5 x 1 000 = 5 000 N = 5.0 x 10
3
N
8.26 kilonewtons 2
8.26 x 1 000 = 8 260 N = 8.26 x 10
3
N
Exercise 11
Convert the following into newtons:
45 12 kN 47 2.12 kN
46 41 kN 48 25 kN
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 21
Stress and pressure
SI unit Newton per square metre (N m
-2
)

or Pascal (Pa)
Multiple or submultiple Conversion factor Relationship
Multiple Newton per square millimetre N mm
2
1 000 000 1 N mm
2
= 1 000 000 N m
2
Examples
Convert the following into newton per square metres:
0.5 newtons per square millimetre 1
0.5 N mm
2
= 0.5 x 1 000 000 = 500 000 N m
2
= 5 x 10
5
N m
2
0.0025 newtons per square millimetre 2
0.0025 N mm
2
= 0.0025 x 1 000 000 = 2 500 N m
2
= 2.5 x 10
3
N m
2
Exercise 12
Convert the following into newtons per square metre:
49 0.0001 N mm
2
50 0.00002 N mm
2

22 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004 23
Answers to exercises
Exercise 1
1 9 m 3 6 N
2 7 s 4 5 J
Exercise 2
3 8 m
2
7 40 N m
4 6 m s
2
8 6 m
3
Exercise 3
9 2 11 4 m s
2
10 15 m 12 2 N m
2
Exercise 4
13 12 000 m = 1.2 x 10
4
m 16 2.2 m
14 6 320 m = 6.32 x 10
3
m 17 0.212 m = 2.12 x 10
1
m
15 0.12 m = 1.2 x 10
1
m 18 1.234 m
Exercise 5
19 0.25 m
2
= 2.5 x 10
1
m
2
22 0.02151 m
2
= 2.151 x 10
2
m
2
20 0.00222 m
2
= 2.22 x 10
3
m
2
23 2 100 m
2
= 2.1 x 10
3
m
2
21 0.0006 m
2
= 6 x 10
4
m
2
24 230 000 m
2
= 2.3 x 10
5
m
2
Exercise 6
25 0.0000052 m
3
= 5.2 x 106 m
3
28 25 m
3
= 2.5 x 10 m
3
26 0.000112345 m
3
= 1.12345 x 10
4
m
2
29 0.0102 m
3
= 1.02 x 10
2
m
3
27 0.000055 m
3
= 5.5 x 10
5
m
3
Exercise 7
30 2.52 kg 32 560 kg = 5.6 x 10
2
kg
31 0.022 kg = 2.2 x 10
2
kg 33 21 000 kg = 2.1 x 10
4
kg
24 Workbook for students A Learners Guide to SI Units and their Conversion Issue 1 October 2004
Exercise 8
34 720 s = 7.2 X 10
2
s 36 21 600 s = 2.16 x 10
4
s
35 1 260 s = 1.26 x 10
3
s 37 12 300 s = 1.23 x 10
4
s
Exercise 9
38 283 K 40 673 K
39 268 K 41 386C
Exercise 10
42 1 200 kg m
3
= 1.2 x 10
3
kg m
3
44 7 300 kg m
3
= 7.3 x 10
3
kg m
3
43 4 100 kg m
3
= 4.1 x 10
3
kg m
3
Exercise 11
45 12 000 N = 1.2 x 10
4
N 47 2 120 N = 2.12 x 10
3
N
46 41 000 N = 4.1 x 10
4
N 48 25 000 N = 2.5 x 10
4
N
Exercise 12
49 100 N m
2
= 1.0 x 10
2
N m
2
50 20 N m
2
= 2.0 x 10
1
N m
2
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