CONVERSION TABLE

General Abbreviations
Ap Aprthecaries w.t. galls Gallons Pt. Pint
Av. Average Grs. Grams qt. Quareer
Avior Avoirdupois w.t. hr. Hour Sec. Second
avp Imp Imperial Sq. Square
Br. British Ins. Inches Sr. Stone
Cu., C. Cube, Cubic Ibs. Pounds Tr. Troy wt.
Cwt. Hundred weight Iiq. Liquid US United States
Dr. dram, drachm Md. Maund Wt. weight
Fl. Fluid Min. Minute Yds. Yards
Ft. Foot, Feet Oz. Ounce

Metric System Symbols

a. are dm. decimeter Km. Kilometre
cg. Centigram g., gm. Gram I. litre
cl. Centilitre ha. Hectare M. Metre
cm., C Centimiter hg. Hectogram M.g. Miligram
dg. Deeigram hl. Hectoliter Ml. Millilitre
dkg. Dekagram hm. Hectometer M.m. Millimetre
dkm. Dekametre kg., kgm. Kilogram q. quintal
dlk. Dekalitre kilo. t., T metric ton .
dl. deciliter kl. Kilolitre
 THE METRIC SYSTEM

The metric system is a system of weights and measure which was first adopted by France and is now
almost universally used in the science and arts. The greater part of the population of the world works
on the metric system. The metric is so called because it uses the ‘metre’ as the primary unit.
In the metric system there are three principal or primary units : the metre – the unit of length
the life (pronounced lee-ter) – the unit of capacity (usually liquid), and the Gram- the unit of weight
or mass. Multiples of these units are obtained by pre fixing to the name of the principal units the
Greek words deka or deco (10-ten times), hector (100- hundred times ), Kilo (1000- Thousand
times), Myria (10,000- ten thousand times) and mega (1,000,000 times). The sub multiples or
division are obtained by pre fixing the Latin words deci (1/10- one tenth), centi (1/100 – one
hundredth, and milli ( 1/1000 – one thousandth). These pre-fixes form the key to the entire system.
Metre Metres Metres Metres
1 Gram = 10 Deci Grams = 100 centi Grams = 1000 milli Grams
Litre Litres Litres Litres

Metre Metres Metres Metres

1 Kilo Gram = 10 Hecto Grams =100 Deka Grams 1000 Grams
Litre Litres Litres Litres

Metric numbers are written with the decimal Point (.) at the right of the figures denoting the units ;
thus, the expression 18 metres 8 centimeters, is written -18.05 m., 58746 isnread – 56 metres and
746 millimeters, 1 cm. 2.25 mm. is written as 1.225 cm. (the English System is a Fractions system
while the Metric system is a ‘decimal’ System)
 THE METRIC SYSTEM
Basic Standards: The standard relationship between English measure and Metric measure is as
follows:-
1 Inch = 25.4 Millimetres = 2.54 cm. (exact)
1 Metre = 39.37 inches = 1.09 yards
1 litre = 1.76 pints (imp) = 0.22 Galls (Imp.)
1 Gallon (imp.) = 4.546 litres
1 gallon (US) = 3.785 Litres
1 Pound avp = 0.4536 Kilograms.
1 Kilogram = 2.2046 pounds avp.

The following fundamental standards or units are used in the metric system:-
For Length Metre
For Mass Kilogram or gram
For volume Litre
For Force Dyne on dyn
For work & energy erg or dyne-cm.
For heat gram-calorie or calorie
For power watt

The metric system of units called the centimetrc- gram- second (CGS) system is commonly used in
scientific circles, and metre –kilogram-second (MKS) or metre-tonne-second (MTS) system is more
generally used in engineering.
 COMMERCIAL WEIGHTS OR UNITS OF MASS
British Units
Avoirdupois Units (avp) Troy Units (tr) – Partly obsolete
Ordinary Commercial Weights fro gold and silver etc.
1 Dram = 27.344 Grains 480 grains = 1 oz. (Tr)
16 Drams = 437.5 grains = 1.097 ozs. avp
= 1 ounce (oz) 12 ounces = 5760 grains
= 0.911 oz . tr = 1 lb. (tr)
16 ounces = 7000 grains = 13.100 ozs. Avp.
= 1 pounds (lb.) = 0.823 lb. avp.
= 1.215 lbs. ap, tr. 175 lbs. troy = 144 lbs. Avp
= 14.583 ozs. Tr. 100 lbs. troy = 82 lbs. avp.
14 pounds = 1 stone An avp pound is heavier than a tr or ap
28 pounds = 1 quarter (qr.) pound, but an avp ounce is lighter than
4 quarters = 1 Cwt. A tr or ap ounce which are of the same
= 112 ibs. weight.
20 cwts = 1 ton
= 2240 lbs.

The only recognized pound is the avoirdupois (avp) pound US and British pound are of the same
weight.
Apothecaries Units (ap) – Dry- used for medicine.

20 Grains = 1 scruple (scr) The apothecaries weights and

3 scruples = 60 grains measure are used by chemists
= 1 drachm in compounding medicines, but
8 drachms = 480 grains drugs and medicines are bought
= 1 ounce and sold by avoirdupois weight.
12 ounces = 5760 grains.
= 1 pound
1 Pound avp = 7000 grains This weight of the “grains” is the
1 Pound tr or ap = 5760 grains same in all systems.
1 drachm (ap) = 2.194 drams avp.
1 dram (avp) = 0.456 drachms ap.

AMERICAN WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

The British systems of weights and measures are used in the United states and the following
measures are different in capacity or weights although called by the same name : Ton ; Hundred
weight; fluid Ounce; Gill; Pint ; Quart; Gallon (wet and dry); bushel; Peck; Dram.
American Units
1 US cwt. = 100 pounds (avp) = 1/20 US ton
1 US ton (short ton) = 2000- pounds (avp) = 20 US cwts.
1000 pounds (avp) = 1 kip
1 quintal US = 0.4536 quintals metric

Ton & Tonne explained

British ton is called “long ton”; US ton is called “short ton”; and “tonne” is metric ton, (also called
tonneau or millier).
1Br. Ton = 1.120 US tons 1 US ton = 0.8939 Br. Tons
= 1.016 toonnes = 0.9072 tonnes
= 2240 lbs. avp = 2000 Ibs. Avp
= 20 cwts. Br. = 17.857 cwts. Br.
= 22.4 cwts. US = 20 cwts . US
= 1016.06 kilograms = 907.18 kilograms
2 tonne = 0.9842 Br. tone
= 1.1023 US tone
= 2204.6 Ibs. Avp
= 19.68 cwts Br. 1 shipping ton (merchandise) is
= 22.05 cwts US 42 cu. ft. in UK and 40 cu. ft. in US
= 1000 kilograms
Metric Units of Weights
1 tonne = 1,000,000 grams = 1000 kilograms
1 quintal (q) = 100,000 ” = 100 ”
1 myriagram (mg) = 10,000 ” = 10 ”
1kilogram (kg) = 1,000 ” =1 ”
1 hectogram (hg) = 100 ” = 1/10 ”
1 dekagram (dkg) = 10 ” = 1/100 ”
1 gram (g) = 1 ” = 1/1000 mg.
1 decigarm (dg) = 1/10 ” = 10 cg.
1 centigram (cg) = 1/100 “ = 10 mg.
1 milligram (mg) = 1/1000 “
1 microgram = 1/100,000 “

The gram is the weight of one cubic centimeter or one milliliter of water ; the kilogram is the weight
of one liter of water; and the one is the weight of one cubic meter of water.
The gram is used in weighing gold, silver, letters and small quantities of things. The kilogram is used
by grocers and is the primary unit of mass. The tonne is used for heavy articles.
(Dekagram = decagram ; gram =- gramme; kilogram= kilogramme; milligram = milligramme.
Metric ton is called tonne.) /

Grams = grams x 0.065 grams x 15.43 = grains

= drachms ap x 3.9 x 0.032 = oz. ap or tr
= oz. ap x 31.10 x 0.035 = oz. avp
= oz. avp x 28.35 kg. x 2.2 = ibs. Avp
= ibs. Avp x 453.6 Usually 1 grain is taken = 60 mg.
and 1 oz. avp = 30 grams
Carat Weight – for precious stones
1. carat (metric) = 3.086 grains A carat has different weight at
= 0.200 or 1/5 gram different places.
= 200 milligrams
 1. Some of the measures are wholly or partly obsolete, although not mentioned as such, but
have been given for clarification to avoid confusion.
2. Figures for some of the conversion Factors may differ slightly in value (due to rounding
off), but that will make no difference for practical purposes.

“Avoirdupois” literally means ‘things or goods that sell by weight’ “troy is derived from Troyes, a
town in France where this weight was first used, “Apothecary’ means a Druggist’.

The term carat is also used to express the fineness of gold, each carat meaning a twenty-fourth part,
Pure gold or fine gold is described as “24-carat fine”. Standard gold is “22-carat fine” since it
contains 22 parts there are 14 parts (by weight) of pure gold.

CONVERSION FACTORS

1 grain = 64.8 milligrams 1 milligram = 0.0154 grains

= 0.0648 grams 1 gram = 15.43 ”
1 oz. avp = 28.35 ” = 0.035 oz avp
1 oz. tr or ap = 31.103 ” = 0.032 ” tr
1 Ib. avp = 453.592 ” 1 Kilogram = 35.27 ” avp
= 0.454 kilograms = 32.15 ” tr
1 stone = 6.35 ” = 2.2 ibs. avp
1 cwt.Br. = 50.802 ” 1 quintal = 220.46 ” ”
= 0.508 quintals = 1.968 cwt.Br.
1cwt.Us = 45.352 kilograms = 2.2 quintalsUs
1 ton Br. = 1016.06 ” 1 tonne = 2204.6Ibs.avp
= 1.016 tonnes = 0.9842 tonsBr.
1 ton Us. = 907.2 kilograms = 1.1023 ” Us
= 0.907 tonnes = 19.68 cwts. Br
 MEASURES OF LENGTH

British Units Gunter’s Surveying Chain

12 inches = 1 foot 7.92 inches = 1 link
3 feet = 1 yard 25 links = 1 rod or pole
52 yards = 1 rod, pole 100 links = 1 chain*=66ft.
or pench 10 chains = 1 furlong
220 yards = 1 furlong 80 chains = 1 mile
8 furlongs = I mile I0 sq. chains = 1 acre
= 1760 yards
5000 feet = 1 canal mile * Engineer’s chain is 2 ft.

1 mil or milli-inch = one- thousandth of an inch

1 micro- inch = one- millionth of an inch

NAUTICAL MEASURES
A nautical or sea mile is the distance on the earth’s surface at the sea level of one minute of arc
(1/60 of a degree) of longitude of earth at the equator. A nautical mile is taken equal to 6080.26 ft. or
1.1515 statute (or land) mile- (5280*1.1515) by the British Admiralty, and 6086.07 ft. or 1.152664
statute miles by the US Coast Survey Dept. (The statute or land miles being 5280 ft.) The
International nautical miles is 6076.12 ft. or 1852 metres, i.e., 1.15078 miles or 1.852 kilometres per
hour.

‘Knot’ is a rate and not a distance and is used for expressing ship’s rate of travel: 1 Knot is one
nautical mile or 6080 ft. per hour =1.1515 land miles (British Admiralty) per hour (or 1.853
kilometres per hour.)