The process of making a conversion cannot produce a more precise result than the original quoted figure. Appropriate rounding of results is normally performed after conversion. (See significant figures).
Multiplication Factors[]
Conversion between units in the metric (SI) system can be discerned by their prefixes (for example, 1 kilogram = 1000 grams, 1 milligram = 0.001 grams) and are thus not listed in this article. Exceptions are made if the unit is commonly known by another name (for example, 1 micron = 10−6 metre). For a full listing of multiplication factors, see SI prefix.
Table Ordering[]
Within each table, the units are listed alphabetically, and the SI units (base or derived) are highlighted.
Tables of conversion factors[]
This article gives lists of conversion factors for each of a number of physical quantities, which are listed in the index. For each physical quantity, a number of different units (some only of historical interest) are shown and expressed in terms of the corresponding SI unit.
Legend
Symbol
Definition
≡
exactly equal to
≈
approximately equal to
digits
indicates that digits repeat infinitely (e.g. 8.294 369 corresponds to 8.294 369 369 369 369…)
The angle subtended at the center of a circle by an arc whose length is equal to the circle's radius. One full revolution encompasses 2π radians.
= 1 rad
sextant
≡ 60°
≈ 1.047 198 rad
sign
≡ 30°
≈ 0.523 599 rad
Solid angle[]
Solid angle
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
steradian (SI unit)
sr
The solid angle subtended at the center of a sphere of radius r by a portion of the surface of the sphere having an area r2. A sphere encompasses 4π sr.[14]
= 1 sr
Mass[]
Notes:
See Weight for detail of mass/weight distinction and conversion.
In this table, the unit gee is used to denote standard gravity in order to avoid confusion with the "g" symbol for grams.
Definitions vary; see [20] and [14]. See also discussion at Talk:Conversion of units#Zentner
In physics, the pound of mass is sometimes written lbm to distinguish it from the pound-force (lbf). It should not be read as the mongrel unit "pound metre".
Density[]
Density
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
gram per millilitre
g/mL
≡ g/mL
= 1,000 kg/m3
kilogram per cubic metre (SI unit)
kg/m3
≡ kg/m3
= 1 kg/m3
kilogram per litre
kg/L
≡ kg/L
= 1,000 kg/m3
ounce (avoirdupois) per cubic foot
oz/ft3
≡ oz/ft3
≈ 1.001153961 kg/m3
ounce (avoirdupois) per cubic inch
oz/in3
≡ oz/in3
≈ 1.729994044×103 kg/m3
ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon (Imperial)
oz/gal
≡ oz/gal
≈ 6.236023291 kg/m3
ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon (U.S. fluid)
oz/gal
≡ oz/gal
≈ 7.489151707 kg/m3
pound (avoirdupois) per cubic foot
lb/ft3
≡ lb/ft3
≈ 16.01846337 kg/m3
pound (avoirdupois) per cubic inch
lb/in3
≡ lb/in3
≈ 2.767990471×104 kg/m3
pound (avoirdupois) per gallon (Imperial)
lb/gal
≡ lb/gal
≈ 99.77637266 kg/m3
pound (avoirdupois) per gallon (U.S. fluid)
lb/gal
≡ lb/gal
≈ 119.8264273 kg/m3
slug per cubic foot
slug/ft3
≡ slug/ft3
≈ 515.3788184 kg/m3
Time[]
Time, t
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
atomic unit of time
au
≡ a0/(α·c)
≈ 2.418 884 254×10−17 s
Callippic cycle
≡ 441 mo (hollow) + 499 mo (full) = 76 a of 365.25 d
≡ Time needed for the Earth to rotate once around its axis, determined from successive transits of a very distant astronomical object across an observer's meridian (International Celestial Reference Frame)
time of 9 192 631 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the 2 hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium 133 atom at 0 K[8] (but other seconds are sometimes used in astronomy)
(SI base unit)
shake
≡ 10−8 s
= 10 ns
sigma
≡ 10−6 s
= 1 μs
Sothic cycle
≡ 1 461 a of 365 d
= 4.607 4096×1010 s
svedberg
S
≡ 10−13 s
= 100 fs
week
wk
≡ 7 d
= 604 800 s
year (Gregorian)
a, y, or yr
= 365.2425 d average, calculated from common years (365 d) plus leap years (366 d) on most years divisible by 4. See leap year for details.
= 31 556 952 s
year (Julian)
a, y, or yr
= 365.25 d average, calculated from common years (365 d) plus one leap year (366 d) every four years
= 31 557 600 s
year (sidereal)
a, y, or yr
≡ time taken for Sun to return to the same position with respect to the stars of the celestial sphere
≈ 365.256 363 d ≈ 31 558 149.7632 s
year (tropical)
a, y, or yr
≡ Length of time it takes for the Sun to return to the same position in the cycle of seasons
≈ 365.242 190 d ≈ 31 556 925 s
Where UTC is observed, the length of time units longer than 1 s may increase or decrease by 1 s if a leap second occurs during the time interval of interest.
Frequency[]
Frequency
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
hertz (SI unit)
Hz
≡ Number of cycles per second
= 1 Hz = 1/s
revolutions per minute
rpm
≡ One unit rpm equals one rotation completed around a fixed axis in one minute of time.
≡ The constant current needed to produce a force of 2 ×10-7 newton per metre between two straight parallel conductors of infinite length and negligible circular cross-section placed one metre apart in a vacuum.[8]
= 1 A
electromagnetic unit; abampere (cgs unit)
abamp
≡ 10 A
= 10 A
esu per second; statampere (cgs unit)
esu/s
≡ (0.1 A·m/s) / c
≈ 3.335641×10−10 A
Electric charge[]
Electric charge
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
abcoulomb; electromagnetic unit (cgs unit)
abC; emu
≡ 10 C
= 10 C
atomic unit of charge
au
≡ e
≈ 1.602 176 462×10−19 C
coulomb (SI unit)
C
≡ The amount of electricity carried in one second of time by one ampere of current.[26]
= 1 C = 1 A·s
faraday
F
≡ 1 mol × NA·e
≈ 96 485.3383 C
statcoulomb; franklin; electrostatic unit (cgs unit)
Electromotive force, electric potential difference[]
Voltage, electromotive force
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
abvolt (cgs unit)
abV
≡ 1×10-8 V
= 1×10-8 V
statvolt (cgs unit)
statV
≡ c· (1 μJ/A·m)
= 299.792 458 V
volt (SI unit)
V
The difference in electric potential across two points along a conducting wire carrying one ampere of constant current when the power dissipated between the points equals one watt.[26]
= 1 V = 1 W/A = 1 kg·m2/(A·s3)
Electrical resistance[]
Electrical resistance
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
ohm (SI unit)
Ω
The resistance between two points in a conductor when one volt of electric potential difference, applied to these points, produces one ampere of current in the conductor.[26]
= 1 Ω = 1 V/A = 1 kg·m2/(A2·s3)
Capacitance[]
Capacitor's ability to store charge
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
farad (SI unit)
F
The capacitance between two parallel plates that results in one volt of potential difference when charged by one coulomb of electricity.[26]
Magnetic flux which, linking a circuit of one turn, would produce in it an electromotive force of 1 volt if it were reduced to zero at a uniform rate in 1 second.[26]
The inductance of a closed circuit that produces one volt of electromotive force when the current in the circuit varies at a uniform rate of one ampere per second.[26]
= 1 H = 1 Wb/A = 1 kg·m2/(A·s)2
Temperature[]
For more details on this topic, see Temperature conversion.
°C = K − 273.15. A unit of °C is the same size as a unit of K; however, their numerical values differ as the zero point of Celsius is set at 273.15 K (the ice point).[8]
≡ 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water.[8]
1 K
Information entropy[]
Information entropy
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
Relation to bits
SI unit
J/K
≡ J/K
= 1 J/K
nat; nip; nepit
nat
≡ kB
= 1.380 650 5(23)×10-23 J/K
bit; shannon
bit; b; Sh
≡ ln(2) × kB
= 9.569 940 (16)×10-24 J/K
= 1 bit
ban; hartley
ban; Hart
≡ ln(10) × kB
= 3.179 065 3(53)×10-23 J/K
nibble
≡ 4 bits
= 3.827 976 0(64)×10-23 J/K
= 22 bit
byte
B
≡ 8 bits
= 7.655 952 (13)×10-23 J/K
= 23 bit
kilobyte (decimal)
kB
≡ 1 000 B
= 7.655 952 (13)×10-20 J/K
kilobyte (kibibyte)
KB; KiB
≡ 1 024 B
= 7.839 695 (13)×10-20 J/K
= 210 bit
Often, information entropy is measured in shannons, whereas the (discrete) storage space of digital devices is measured in bits. Thus, uncompressed redundant data occupy more than one bit of storage per shannon of information entropy. The multiples of a bit listed above are usually used with this meaning. Other times the bit is used as a measure of information entropy and is thus a synonym of shannon.
Luminous intensity[]
The candela is the preferred nomenclature for the SI unit.
Luminous intensity
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
candela (SI base unit); candle
cd
The luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540×1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of 1/683 watt per steradian.[8]
= 1 cd
candlepower (new)
cp
≡ cd The use of candlepower as a unit is discouraged due to its ambiguity.
= 1 cd
candlepower (old, pre-1948)
cp
Varies and is poorly reproducible.[33] Approximately 0.981 cd.[14]
≈ 0.981 cd
Luminance[]
Luminance
Name of unit
Symbol
Definition
Relation to SI units
candela per square foot
cd/ft2
≡ cd/ft2
≈ 10.763910417 cd/m2
candela per square inch
cd/in2
≡ cd/in2
≈ 1,550.0031 cd/m2
candela per square metre (SI unit); nit (deprecated[14])
Home and office computers come with converters in bundled spreadsheet applications or can access free converters via the Internet. Units and measurements can be easily converted using these tools, but only if the units are explicitly defined and the conversion is compatible (e.g., cmHg to kPa).
Free conversion software[]
Units (software), a popular cross-platform command-line utility
Converter, contextual unit converter for Mozilla Firefox browsers
based on the wikipedia page (This page is used to help explain terminology used in Tractor Wikis main article pages) as part of the Glossary Index of terms.
↑National Bureau of Standards. (June 30, 1959). Refinement of values for the yard and the pound. Federal Register, viewed September 20, 2006 at National Geodetic Survey web site.
↑P. Kenneth Seidelmann, Ed. (1992). Explanatory Supplement to the Astronomical Almanac. Sausalito, CA: University Science Books. p. 716 and s.v. parsec in Glossary.
↑National Bureau of Standards. (June 30, 1959). Refinement of values for the yard and the pound. Federal Register, viewed September 20, 2006 at National Geodetic Survey web site.
↑Thompson, A. and Taylor, B.N. (2008). Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI). National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 811. p. 57.
↑Barry N. Taylor, Ed.,NIST Special Publication 330: The International System of Units (SI) (2001 Edition), Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 43,"The 12th Conference Generale des Poids et Mesures (CGPM)…declares that the word “litre” may be employed as a special name for the cubic decimetre".
↑The Swiss Federal Office for Metrology gives Zentner on a German language web page[1] and quintal on the English translation of that page[2]; the unit is marked "spécifiquement suisse !"
↑ 21.021.1Pedersen O. (1983). "Glossary" in Coyne, G., Hoskin, M., and Pedersen, O. Gregorian Reform of the Calendar: Proceedings of the Vatican Conference to Commemorate its 400th Anniversary. Vatican Observatory. Available from Astrophysics Data System.
↑Richards, E.G. (1998). Mapping Time. Oxford University Press, 94-95. ISBN 0-19-850413-6.
↑Steel, Duncan (2000). Marking Time. John Wiley & Sons, 46. ISBN 0-471-29827-1.
↑Barry N. Taylor, (April 1995), Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI) (NIST Special Publication 811), Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, p. 5.
↑Standard for the Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern Metric System IEEE/ASTM SI 10-1997. (1997). New York and West Conshohocken, PA: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and American Society for Testing and Materials. Tables A.1 through A.5.
Dalton (Atomic mass unit)·Astronomical unit·Day·Decibel·Degree of arc·Electronvolt·Hectare·Hour·Litre·Minute·Minute of arc·Neper·Second of arc·Tonne Atomic units·Natural units
See also
SI prefixes·Systems of measurement·Conversion of units·New SI definitions·History of the metric system
Book:International System of Units·Category:SI base units
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