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Bio 210A
Scientific Units of Measurement & Conversion
Worksheet
Principle or Rationale:
Scientific measurements are made and reported using the metric system and conversion between different units is an integral part of scientific measurement and data analysis.
Reference table of common prefixes and scientific units of measurement:
Prefix Decimal Equivalent Exponent Equivalent
Hecto- (h) 100 10 + Kilo – (k) 1000 10 + Deca - (d) 10 10 + Meter, Liter, or Gram 1 10 0 Centi – (c) 1/100 or 0.01 10 – Milli – (m) 1/1000 or 0.001 10 – Micro – (μ) 1/1000000 or 0.000001 10 – Nano – (n) 1/1000000000 or 0.
In science, and increasingly in other fields, the International System of units (metric system) is universally used. The scientific unit of measurement for length and distance is a meter ( m ), for volume a liter ( l) , and for mass or weight a gram ( g ). The prefixes are added to the unit to represent the size of measurement prefixes. The meter is used as an example below and the same applies to units of volume and weight. In descending order,
1 meter ( m ) = 100 centi meters ( cm ) = 1000 milli meter ( mm ) = 1000,000 micro meter (μm) = 1,000,000, nano meter (nm)
Note that 1 meter ( m ) = 100 centimeters ( cm ) can also be represented as the conversion factor which can be used for any conversion between the two units.
1 meter (m) = 1 m 100 centimeter (cm) 100 cm
For example, to calculate how many meters are present in 20 cm, written as 20 cm =? m, you multiply 20 by the conversion factor, in this way
20 cm X 1 m = 20 cm x 1 m = 2 m = 0.2 m 100 cm 100 cm 10
Note that as 1 meter ( m ) = 100 centimeters ( cm ) when you convert a quantity less than 100 centimeters to meter the answer is <1 since a centimeter is a smaller unit than a meter.
The same conversion factor is used to calculate how many centimeters are present in 20 meters, written as 20 m =? cm, in this way:
20 m x 100 cm = 2000 m x cm = 2000 cm 1 m 1 m
and when you convert from meter to centimeter the answer is >1 since a meter is a larger unit than a centimeter.
Follow the example presented above and demonstrate your understanding of conversion of units by answering the questions in the Scientific Units of Measurement & Conversion sheets.
Scientific Units of Measurement & Conversion sheet
I. Conversion of Units
A. Fill in the spaces in the following table with the symbols, conversion factor, and calculation, as appropriate
Symbols Conversion Solve ( Showing your calculation )
Meter to centimeter m to cm multiply by 100 cm/1 m 0.5 m = cm
Centimeter to meter cm to m multiply by 1 m/100 cm 50 cm = m
Centimeter to millimeter cm to mm multiply by 10 mm/1 cm 0.2 cm = mm
Millimeter to centimeter mm to cm multiply by 1 cm/10 mm 20 mm = cm
Millimeter to micrometer mm to m multiply by 1000 m/1 mm
5 mm = m
Micrometer to millimeter m to mm multiply by 1 mm/1000 m
50 m = mm
Micrometer to nanometer m to nm multiply by 1000 nm/1 m
50 m = nm
Nanometer to Micrometer
nm to m multiply by 1 m/1000 nm
5 nm = m
B. Figure out how many micrometers are present in 1 meter by solving the following 1 m = ??? m equation.
You can do so by systematically sequentially converting from one unit to the next until you learn it and no longer have to do it the long way. If you know that 1 m = 100 cm 1 cm = 10 mm
1 mm = 1000 m
then 1 m x 100 cm x 10 mm x 1000 m = 1,000,000 m or 10 6 m
1 m 1 cm 1 mm
C. Calculate how many nanometers are present in 1 meter. (Show your calculations)
In contrast to the American/English unit of the pound (lb) consisting of 16 ounces (oz), the gram with its 10- fold subdivisions and multiples the unit of measurement in the metric system, as shown in the reference table above.
It is very useful to remember that one kilogram (kg) = 2.21 pounds (lb)
- Use this relationship to calculate your weight from the American to the Metric system. Or from the Metric to the American system, as applicable.
a. Enter your weight in the units that you know : (lb or kg)
b. Calculate your weight in the opposite units, showing your calculations:
- Apply your understating of the difference between the American and Metric units of weight measurement using the following scenario: Your normally weigh 160 lbs and you have been traveling abroad on a one month trip to Europe experiencing the variety of attractions and enjoying the local food, and drinks using public transport systems and walking around. At the end of the trip you weigh yourself in Europe using a scale that shows your weight to be 72.3kg. Have you added or lost weight over that month? (Show you calculation and reasoning!)
B. Measurement of Height or Length In contrast to the American/English unit of the foot (ft) consisting of 12 inches (in), the meter with its 10-fold subdivisions and multiples the unit of measurement in the metric system, as shown in the reference table above.
It is very useful to remember that 1 inch (in) = 2.54 centimeter (cm)
- Use this relationship to calculate your weight from the American to the Metric system. Or from the Metric to the American system, as applicable.
a. Record your height in the units that you know : : ‘ ‘’ i.e. ft ins or m
b. Calculate your height in the opposite units, showing your calculations: Remember that you need to convert your height in feet into inches first (1 ft = 12 inches) and to calculate your total height in inches first.
C. Measurement of Liquid Volume In contrast to the American/ English units of the gallon (gal), quart (qt), pint (pt), and cup (cp), the liter (L) with its 10-fold subdivisions and multiples the unit of measurement in the metric system, as shown in the reference table above.
It is very useful to remember that 1 gallon (gal) = 4 quarts (qts), 1 quart (qt) = 2 pints (pts), 1 pint (pt) = 2 cup (cp), and 1 cup (1 cp) = 8 fluid ounces (fl oz) and that 1 gallon (gal) = 3.79 Liters (L) or that 1 pint (pt) = 0. Liters (L).
Use the above relations to determine the following, showing your calculations:
- the number of pints within a gallon
- the number of cups within a gallon
- the volume of liquid coffee in 1 cup
D. Measurement of Temperature In contrast to the customary use in the US of the Fahrenheit scale to measure temperature in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) by non-scientists, the Celsius scale is used instead by biological scientists to measure temperature in degrees Celsius (°C). The two scales are linearly correlated with the freezing temperature of water at 0 °C corresponding to 32 °F and the boil temperature at 100 °C corresponding to at 212 °F.
To convert temperature from Fahrenheit to Celsius the following conversion formula is used
°C = 5 (°F -32) or °C = 0.55 (°F -32) or °C = 1 (°F -32)
For example, if you want to know a temperature of 55 °F is equivalent to how many °C, you start by subtracting 32 from 55 °F as in 55-32 = 23, then multiply the answer by 5/9 or 0.55 as in 23 x 0.55 = 12.78 °C
On the other hand, t o convert temperature from Celsius to Fahrenheit the following conversion formula is used
°F = 9 °C + 32 or °F = 1.8 °C + 32
For example if you wanted to know a temperature of 40 °C is equivalent to how many °F, you start by multiplying 40 °C by 9/5 or 1.8 as in 40 X 1.8 = 72, then add 32 to the answer, as in 72 + 32 = 104 °F
- Calculate your body temperature in Celsius, given that the normal human body temperature is 98.6 °F. 2. On your one month long trip to Europe, the temperature was 24 °C. What was that temperature in °F? (Show your calculations!)
