Unit Conversions and SI System Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering SI systems, base units, prefixes, common conversions, and archaic volume units discussed in the lecture.

SI (Systeme International)

The modern international system of measurement based on base units and universal constants.

MKS

Meters–Kilograms–Seconds; the core base units framework used by the SI system.

CGS

Centimeter–Gram–Second system; an older metric system using cm, g, and s.

English units

Non-metric units (e.g., feet, inches) used in everyday life; mixing with SI can cause errors (e.g., NASA incident).

Length

A fundamental quantity in kinematics; base unit in SI is the meter.

Time

A fundamental quantity in kinematics; base unit in SI is the second.

Mass

A fundamental quantity in kinematics; base unit in SI is the kilogram.

Meter (m)

SI base unit of length; defined by universal constants.

Second (s)

SI base unit of time; defined by a stable frequency of radiation (e.g., cesium).

Kilogram (kg)

SI base unit of mass; defined by a fundamental constant (Planck constant).

Centimeter (cm)

CGS unit of length; 1 cm = 0.01 m.

Foot (ft)

English unit of length; 1 ft ≈ 0.3048 m.

Slug

English unit of mass used in some problems; not part of SI.

Inch

1 inch = 2.54 cm (exact conversion).

Nanometer (nm)

10^-9 meters.

Micrometer (µm)

10^-6 meters.

Millimeter (mm)

10^-3 meters.

Kilometer (km)

10^3 meters.

SI prefixes

Prefixes for powers of ten (e.g., nano 10^-9, micro 10^-6, milli 10^-3, kilo 10^3, mega 10^6, giga 10^9); Y, Z, E, h, da, a, z, y are rarely used.

Liter (L)

Unit of volume; 1 L = 1000 cm^3 (and 1 dm^3).

Area vs Volume conversions

If a unit is squared or cubed, the conversion factor must be squared or cubed as well.

1 inch = 2.54 cm

Exact conversion between inches and centimeters.

1 mile ≈ 1609 m

Approximate conversion from miles to meters.

2 cups = 1 pint

Relation between cups and pints in volume measurements.

2 pints = 1 quart

Relation between pints and quarts in volume measurements.

2 quarts = 1 pottle

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 pottles = 1 gallon

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 gallons = 1 pail

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 pails = 1 peck

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

4 pecks = 1 bushel

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 bushels = 1 strike

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 strikes = 1 coomb

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 coombs = 1 cask

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 casks = 1 barrel

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 barrels = 1 hogshead

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 hogsheads = 1 pipe

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).

2 pipes = 1 tun

Archaic volume unit relationship (from notes).