PART 1

UNITS
Units are labels that are used to distinguish one type of
measurable quantity from other types. Length, mass, and
time are distinctly different physical quantities, and
therefore have different unit names, such as meters,
kilograms and seconds. We use several systems of units,
including the metric (SI) units, the English (or US
customary units), and a number of others, which are of
mainly historical interest.
This part of the book contains the following:
1. International System of Units
2. Metric Units of Measurement
3. U.S. Units of Measurement
4. Tables of Equivalents
 UNITS 3
International System of Units

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS

The International System of Units, abbreviated as SI, is
the modernized version of the metric system established
by international agreement.

Quantity Name Symbol

length meter m
mass kilogram kg

1 I,
time second S
elecrc current ~ mo;
ame ere
thermodynamic kelvin
tem erature
amount of a substance

Quantity Name Symbol

area square meter m2
volume cubic meter m3
speed, velocity meter per second d S
acceleration meter per second m/S
squared
wave number reciprocal meter m-'
mass density kilogram per cubic kg/m3
meter
,
4 UNITS
International System of Units

Continued from # 2
specific volume cubic meter per

I current density ampere per square

4
1
meter
I magnetic field ampere per meter

I concentration

I luminance
mass fraction
candela per square
meter
kilogram per

Quantity Name I Symbol I

plane angle radian rad
solid angle steradian sr
I frequency hertz I HZ I
force newton N
pressure, stress pascal Pa
 UNITS 5
International System of Units

Continued from# 3
electric charge,
quantity of
electricity
coulomb
Ic
electric potential
difference
capacitance
electric resistance
1
farad

electric conductance siemens

I s
I

magnetic flux weber

magnetic flux
densitv
inductance
tesla

henry
I T H
Celsius temperature degree Celsius OC
luminous flux lumen
I
1
lrn
illuminance

activity of a becquerel
radionuclide

I
absorbed dose,
specific energy,
kerma Gy
dose equivalent sievert I sv
catalytic activity katal I kat
 6 UNITS
International System of Units

Quantity Name Symbol

I dynamic viscosity I pascal second I Pa.s I

moment of force I newton meter I N-m I

I electric field strength volt per meter

I v'm I
electric charge coulomb per cubic c/m3
density meter
 UNITS 7
International System of Units

electric flux density coulomb per C/m2

square meter
permittivity farad per meter Flm
permeability henry per meter Hlm
molar energy joule per mole Jlmol
molar entropy, molar joule per mole J/(mol. K)
heat capacity kelvin
exposure (x and
Y rays>
absorbed dosety
radiant intensi
radiance
rate 1 coulomb per
kilogram
grayier second
watt er steradian
watt per square
1 C k

w/ m .sr
meter steradian
~

5. Units Outside the SI that Are Accepted for

Use with the SI
Name I Symbol I Value in SI units
minute I min I 1min=60s
hour h 1 h = 60 min = 3600 s
day d 1 d = 24h = 86400 s
liter L 1L = 1dm3 = 10-3m3

be1 I B IlB=lOdB
8 UNITS
International System of Units

Continued from # 5
degree (angle) I 0
1’ = (x/180)rad
minute (angle) I 1’=(1/60)O =
= (x/ 10800)rad

second (angle) 1 1”= (1160)’ =

= (x/ 648000)rad
electronvolt eV 1eV = 1.60218 x lO-”J
unified atomic U 1u = 1.66054x kg
mass unit
astronomical ua 1ua = 1.49598x 10“ m
unit
nautical mile 1 nautical mile =1852 m
knot 1 knot = 1852/3600 m / s

+
are
hectare

angstrom
I ;
a l a =loom2
1ha = 100 a = 1O4 m2
lbar =102kPa =105Pa
0
1A = 0.lnm = 10-’Om
curie 1Ci = 3.7 x loloBq
rad I rad 1rad=1OP2Gy
rem
I rem
Irem = 10-2Sv
 UNITS 9
Metric Units of Measurement

6. SIPrefmes
Factor Name Symb. Factor Name Symb.

10 - 1 deci d
hecto
kilo

METRIC UNITS OF MEASUREMENT

The metric system was first proposed in 1791. The
French Revolutionary Assembly adopted it in 1795, and
the first metric standards (a standard meter bar and
kilogram bar) were adopted in 1799.

Name Symbol Value

millimeter mm 1 mm=O.OOl m
centimeter cm 1 c m = 1Omm