Note Conversion
Unit Conversions Tutorial
Tools to help us with unit conversions are called conversion factors. Most books have tables either in the front or as appendices in the back with all different kinds of conversions factors, such as from one unit system to another (Metric to English) or within the same unit system.
Unit analysis technique
Step 1. Get the conversion factors needed.
Step 2. Draw lines to create boxes
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Note: Depending on how many conversions we need we can have more or less columns.
Column 1 will have the number that we want to convert
Columns 2, 3, etc will have the conversion factors. In this example having two more columns after column 1 means that there will be two conversions (one for column 1 and one for column 2).
Step 3. Take the number we want to convert and put it in the upper left box, box 1.
Step 4. Look at your conversion factors and find one that has the same units with the number we want to convert.
Step 5. Put the side of the conversion factor with the same units as that of the number in box 1 in the bottom in column 2 in box 4. That way the units will cancel out.
Step 6. Since we placed the part of the conversion factor in box 4 that has the same units as 1, we must put the other part in column 2 box 3.
Step 7. Repeat steps 4-6 until we end up with the appropriate units.
Step 8. Now time to calculate the answer. We multiply any numbers in the top and divide by the ones in the bottom.
Step 9. Don’t forget your units! Whichever units did not cancel will be your answer.
Example 1. One Step conversion How many kg are in 1640g?
Step 1. Conversion factors (get this from reference tables)
1 kg = 1000 grams
Step 2. Draw lines to create boxes (Note one step conversion only need 2 columns) | | | |
Step 3. Take the number we want to convert and put it in the upper left box, box 1 1640 grams | | | |
Step 4.
Tools to help us with unit conversions are called conversion factors. Most books have tables either in the front or as appendices in the back with all different kinds of conversions factors, such as from one unit system to another (Metric to English) or within the same unit system.
Unit analysis technique
Step 1. Get the conversion factors needed.
Step 2. Draw lines to create boxes
Column 1 | Column 2 | Column 3 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 6 |
Note: Depending on how many conversions we need we can have more or less columns.
Column 1 will have the number that we want to convert
Columns 2, 3, etc will have the conversion factors. In this example having two more columns after column 1 means that there will be two conversions (one for column 1 and one for column 2).
Step 3. Take the number we want to convert and put it in the upper left box, box 1.
Step 4. Look at your conversion factors and find one that has the same units with the number we want to convert.
Step 5. Put the side of the conversion factor with the same units as that of the number in box 1 in the bottom in column 2 in box 4. That way the units will cancel out.
Step 6. Since we placed the part of the conversion factor in box 4 that has the same units as 1, we must put the other part in column 2 box 3.
Step 7. Repeat steps 4-6 until we end up with the appropriate units.
Step 8. Now time to calculate the answer. We multiply any numbers in the top and divide by the ones in the bottom.
Step 9. Don’t forget your units! Whichever units did not cancel will be your answer.
Example 1. One Step conversion How many kg are in 1640g?
Step 1. Conversion factors (get this from reference tables)
1 kg = 1000 grams
Step 2. Draw lines to create boxes (Note one step conversion only need 2 columns) | | | |
Step 3. Take the number we want to convert and put it in the upper left box, box 1 1640 grams | | | |
Step 4.