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Conversion Factors

The document discusses unit conversion and calculation involving different units. It provides examples of converting between units like feet to inches, meters to centimeters, days to seconds, and area and volume units like cm2 to m2 and cm3 to m3. The key steps involve identifying the correct conversion factors between units and setting up proportions to calculate the conversions while canceling out units.

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api-282222457
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
76 views

Conversion Factors

The document discusses unit conversion and calculation involving different units. It provides examples of converting between units like feet to inches, meters to centimeters, days to seconds, and area and volume units like cm2 to m2 and cm3 to m3. The key steps involve identifying the correct conversion factors between units and setting up proportions to calculate the conversions while canceling out units.

Uploaded by

api-282222457
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Conversion Factors

and
Unit Cancellation

A physical quantity must include:

Number + Unit

Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches

Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches
1 foot
12 inches

Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion

1 foot = 12 inches
1 foot
12 inches
12 inches
1 foot

Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion


1 foot

12 inches

12 inches

1 foot

Conversion factors

Calculation Corner: Unit Conversion


1 foot

12 inches

12 inches

1 foot

Conversion factors

3 feet

)(

12 inches
1 foot

= 36 inches

How many cm are in 1.32 meters?


equality: 1 m = 100 cm

(or 0.01 m = 1 cm)

applicable conversion factors:

______
1m
100 cm

or

100 cm
______
1m

cm
______
X cm = 1.32 m 100
= 132 cm
1m
We use the idea of unit cancellation
to decide upon which one of the two
conversion factors we choose.

How many meters is 8.72 cm?


equality: 1 m = 100 cm
applicable conversion factors:

______
1m
100 cm

or

100 cm
______
1m

1m
X m = 8.72 cm ______
= 0.0872 m
100 cm
Again, the units must cancel.

How many feet is 39.37 inches?


equality: 1 ft = 12 in
applicable conversion factors:

______
1 ft
12 in

or

( )

1 ft
X ft = 39.37 in ____
12 in

______
12 in
1 ft
= 3.28 ft

Again, the units must cancel.

How many kilometers is


15,000 decimeters?

( )(

1m
X km = 15,000 dm ____
10 dm

1 km
______
= 1.5 km
1,000 m

How many seconds


is 4.38 days?

( )(

24 h
X s = 4.38 d ____
1d

)( )

60
min
_____
1h

60 s
____
1 min

= 378,432 s
If we are accounting for significant
figures, we would change this to

3.78 x 105 s

Simple Math
with
Conversion Factors

Example Problem
Measured dimensions of a rectangle:
length (L) = 9.70 cm
width (W) = 4.25 cm
Find area of rectangle.
A=L. W

= (9.70 cm)(4.25 cm)


= 41.2 cm2. cm

Convert 41.2 cm2 to m2.

1m
X m2 = 41.2 cm2 ______
= 0.412 m2
WRONG!
100 cm
= 0.412 cm.m
Recall that

41.2 cm2 = 41.2 cm.cm

X m2 = 41.2 cm.cm

)(

1m
______
100 cm

1m
______
100 cm

= 0.00412 m2

1m
X m2 = 41.2 cm2 ______
100 cm

0.00412 m2

Convert 41.2 cm2 to mm2.


Recall that

41.2 cm2 = 41.2 cm.cm

X mm2 = 41.2 cm.cm 10


mm
_____
1 cm

)(

10
mm
_____
1 cm

= 4,120 mm2
X mm = 41.2 cm
2

10
mm
_____
1 cm

4,120 mm2

Measured dimensions of a rectangular solid:


Length = 15.2 cm
Width = 3.7 cm
Height = 8.6 cm
Find volume of solid.

H
L

V=L.W.H
= (15.2 cm)(3.7 cm)(8.6 cm)
= 480 cm3

Convert to m3.
cm.cm.cm

)(

1m
X m3 = 480 cm32 _____
100 cm

1m
_____

)(

100 cm

1m
_____
=
100 cm

or

1m
X m3 = 480 cm3 _____
100 cm

0.000480 m3

or

1m
4.80 x 10-4 m3
X m3 = 480 cm3 _________
=
1000000 cm3

Convert to m3...
Measured dimensions of a rectangular solid:
Length = 15.2 cm 0.152 m
Width = 3.7 cm 0.037 m
Height = 8.6 cm 0.086 m H
L

Convert to mm3.

By what factor do mm and cm differ?


10

1 cm = 10 mm

By what factor do mm2 and cm2 differ?


100
1 cm
(1
cm)22==100
(10 mm
mm)2 2

By what factor do mm3 and cm3 differ?


1,000
1 cm
mm33
(1
cm)3 3==1000
(10 mm)

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