DOE-HDBK-1122-99 Module 1.02, Fundamental Academic Training Instructor's Guide Phase I; Module 1.02, Unit Analysis and Conversion
Functional areas: Radiological Control, Technician Training, Study Guide, Unit Analysis, Conversion
A working knowledge of the unit analysis and conversion process is necessary for the Radiological Control Technician. It is useful for air and water sample activity calculations, contamination calculations, and many other applications. This lesson will introduce the International System of Units (SI), the prefixes used with SI units, and the unit analysis and conversion process. Many calculations accomplished in radiological control are actually unit conversions, not complex calculations involving formulas that must be memorized.
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Section 1
DOE-HDBK-1122-99
Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
1.02-1
Course Title: Radiological Control Technician
Module Title: Unit Analysis & Conversion
Module Number: 1.02
Objectives:
1.02.01 Identify the commonly used unit systems of measurement and the base units
for mass, length, and time in each system.
1.02.02 Identify the values and abbreviations for SI prefixes.
1.02.03 Given a measurement and the appropriate conversion factor(s) or conversion
factor table, convert the measurement to the specified units.
1.02.04 Using the formula provided, convert a given temperature measurement to
specified units.
INTRODUCTION
A working knowledge of the unit analysis and conversion process is necessary for the
Radiological Control Technician. It is useful for air and water sample activity
calculations, contamination calculations, and many other applications. This lesson will
introduce the International System of Units (SI), the prefixes used with SI units, and the
unit analysis and conversion process. Many calculations accomplished in radiological
control are actually unit conversions, not complex calculations involving formulas that
must be memorized.
REFERENCES:
1. "Health Physics and Radiological Health Handbook"; Scinta, Inc; 1989.
2. DOE-HDBK-1010-92 (June 1992) "Classical Physics" DOE Fundamental
Handbook; US Department of Energy.
3. "Nuclides and Isotopes"; Fourteenth Edition, General Electric Company;
1989.
4. "Chemistry: An Investigative Approach"; Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston;
1976.
5. "Introduction to Chemistry: sixth ed.; Dickson, T. R.; John Wiley & Sons,
Inc.; 1991.
6. "Physics"; 2nd ed.; Giancoli, Douglas C.; Prentice Hall, Inc.; 1985.
7. "Modern Physics"; Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Publishers; 1976.
8. NIST Special Publication 330; "The International System of Units"' National
Institute of Standards and Technology; 1991.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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L e n g t h
T i m eM a s s
Figure 1. Fundamental Units
UNITS AND MEASUREMENTS
Units are used in expressing physical quantities or measurements, i.e., length, mass, etc.
All measurements are actually relative in the sense that they are comparisons with some
standard unit of measurement. Two items are necessary to express these physical
quantities: a number which expresses the magnitude and a unit which expresses the
dimension. A number and a unit must both be present to define a measurement.
Measurements are algebraic quantities and as such may be mathematically manipulated
subject to algebraic rules.
Fundamental Quantities
All measurements or physical
quantities can be expressed in terms of
three fundamental quantities. They
are called fundamental quantities
because they are dimensionally
independent. They are:
• Length (L)
• Mass (M) (not the same as
weight)
• Time (T)
Derived Quantities
Other quantities are derived from the fundamental quantities. These derived quantities
are formed by multiplication and/or division of fundamental quantities. For example:
• Area is the product of length times length (width), which is L × L, or L2.
• Volume is area times length, which is length times length times length, or L3.
• Velocity is expressed in length per unit time, or L/T.
• Density is expressed in mass per unit volume, or M/L3.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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1.02.01 Identify the commonly used unit systems of measurement and the base units
for mass, length, and time in each system.
Section 2
SYSTEMS OF UNITS
The units by which physical quantities are measured are established in accordance with an
agreed standard. Measurements made are thereby based on the original standard which
the unit represents. The various units that are established, then, form a system by which
all measurements can be made.
English System
The system that has historically been used in the United States is the English System,
sometimes called the English Engineering System (EES). Though no longer used in
England, many of the units in this system have been used for centuries and were
originally based on common objects or human body parts, such as the foot or yard.
Though practical then, the standards for these units were variable as the standard varied
from object to object, or from person to person. The base units for length, mass, and time
in the English system are the foot, pound, and second, respectively.
Even though fixed standards have since been established for these antiquated units, no
uniform correlation exists between units established for the same quantity. For example,
in measuring relatively small lengths there are inches, feet, and yards. There are twelve
inches in a foot, and yet there are only three feet in a yard. This lack of uniformity makes
conversion from one unit to another confusing as well as cumbersome. However, in the
U.S., this system is still the primary system used in business and commerce.
Table 1. English System Base Units
Physical
Quantity
Unit Abbr.
Length: foot ft.
Mass: pound lb.
Time: second sec.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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1.02.02 Identify the values and abbreviations for SI prefixes.
International System of Units (SI)
Since the exchange of scientific information is world-wide today, international
committees have been set up to standardize the names and symbols for physical
quantities. In 1960, the International System of Units (abbreviated SI from the French
name Le Système Internationale d'Unites) was adopted by the 11th General Conference
of Weights and Measures (CGPM). The SI, or modernized metric system, is based on
the decimal (base 10) numbering system. First devised in France around the time of the
French Revolution, the metric system has since been refined and expanded so as to
establish a practical system of units of measurement suitable for adoption by all countries.
The SI system consists of a set of specifically defined units and prefixes that serve as an
internationally accepted system of measurement. Nearly all countries in the world use
metric or SI units for business and commerce as well as for scientific applications.
SI Prefixes
The SI system is completely decimalized and uses prefixes for the base units of meter (m)
and gram (g), as well as for derived units, such as the liter (l) which equals 1000 cm3.
SI prefixes are used with units for various magnitudes associated with the measurement
being made. Units with a prefix whose value is a positive power of ten are called
multiples. Units with a prefix whose value is a negative power of ten are called
submultiples.
For example, try using a yard stick to measure the size of a frame on film for a camera.
Instead you would use inches, because it is a more suitable unit. With the metric system,
in order to measure tiny lengths, such as film size, the prefix milli- can be attached to the
meter unit to make a millimeter, or 1/1000 of a meter. A millimeter is much smaller and
is ideal in this situation. On the other hand, we would use a prefix like kilo- for
measuring distances traveled in a car. A kilometer would be more suited for these large
distances than the meter.
Section 3
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Table 2. SI Prefixes
PREFIX FACTOR SYMBOL PREFIX FACTOR SYMBOL
yotta 1024 Y deci 10-1 d
zetta 1021 Z centi 10-2 c
exa 1018 E milli 10-3 m
peta 1015 P micro 10-6 µ
tera 1012 T nano 10-9 n
giga 109 G pico 10-12 p
mega 106 M femto 10-15 f
kilo 103 k atto 10-18 a
hecto 102 h zepto 10-21 z
deka 101 da yocto 10-24 y
Prior to the adoption of the SI system, two groups of units were commonly used for the
quantities length, mass, and time: MKS (for meter-kilogram-second) and CGS (for
centimeter-gram-second).
Table 3. Metric Subsystems
Physical
Quantity
CGS MKS
Length: centimeter meter
Mass: gram kilogram
Time: second second
SI Units
There are seven fundamental physical quantities in the SI system . These are length,
mass, time, temperature, electric charge, luminous intensity, and molecular quantity (or
amount of substance). In the SI system there is one SI unit for each physical quantity.
The SI system base units are those in the metric MKS system. Table 4 lists the seven
fundamental quantities and their associated SI unit. The units for these seven
fundamental quantities provide the base from which the units for other physical quantities
are derived.
For most applications the RCT will only be concerned with the first four quantities as
well as the quantities derived from them.
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Radiological Units
In the SI system, there are derived units for quantities used for radiological control.
These are the becquerel, the gray, and the sievert. The SI unit of activity is the becquerel,
which is the activity of a radionuclide decaying at the rate of one spontaneous nuclear
transition per second. The gray is the unit of absorbed dose, which is the energy per unit
mass imparted to matter by ionizing radiation, with the units of one joule per kilogram.
The unit for dose equivalence is the sievert, which has the units of joule per kilogram.
These quantities and their applications will be discussed in detail in Lesson 1.06.
Other units
There are several other SI derived units that are not listed in Table 4. It should be noted
that the SI system is evolving and that there will be changes from time to time. The
standards for some fundamental units have changed in recent years and may change again
as technology improves our ability to measure even more accurately.
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Table 4. International System (SI) Units
Physical Quantity Unit Symbol Dimensions
Base units
Length: meter m m
Mass: kilogram kg kg
Time: second s or sec. s
Temperature: kelvin K K or °K
Electric current: ampere A or amp A or (C/s)
Luminous intensity: candela cd cd
Molecular quantity: mole mol mol
Selected derived units
Volume: cubic
meter
m3 m3
Force: newton N kg�m/s2
Work/Energy: joule J N�m
Power: watt W J/s
Pressure: pascal Pa N/m2
Electric charge: coulomb C A�s
Electric potential: volt V J/C
Electric resistance: ohm Ω V/A
Frequency: hertz Hz s-1
Activity: becquerel Bq disintegration/s
Absorbed dose: gray Gy J/kg
Dose equivalence: sievert Sv Gy�Q�N
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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1.02.03 Given a measurement and the appropriate conversion factor(s) or
conversion factor table, convert the measurement to the specified units.
UNIT ANALYSIS AND CONVERSION PROCESS
Section 4
Units and the Rules of Algebra
Remember that a measurement consists of a number and a unit. When working problems
with measurements, it should be noted that the measurement units are subject to the same
algebraic rules as the values. Some examples are provided below.
(cm) × (cm) � cm 2
ft 3
ft
� ft 2
1
yr
� yr �1
As a result, measurements can be multiplied, divided, etc., in order to convert to a
different system of units. Obviously, in order to do this, the units must be the same. For
example, a square measures one foot in length and 18 inches in width. To find the area of
the square in square inches we must multiply the length by the width. However, when the
measurements are in different units, and cannot be multiplied directly.
We can convert feet to inches. We know that there are 12 inches in one foot. We can use
this ratio to convert 1 foot to 12 inches. Then we can then calculate the area as 12 inches
× 18 inches, which equals 216 in2, which is a valid measurement.
Steps for Unit Analysis and Conversion
1) Determine given unit(s) and desired unit(s).
2) Build (or obtain) conversion factor(s) -- see Conversion Tables at end of lesson
A conversion factor is a ratio of two equivalent physical quantities expressed in different
units. When expressed as a fraction, the value of all conversion factors is 1. Because a
conversion factor equals 1, it does not matter which value is placed in the numerator or
denominator of the fraction.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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1E�2m
1cm
�
1m
100cm
Examples of conversion factors are:
365 days
1 year
12 inches
1 foot
1 foot 3
2.832E4 cm 3
Building conversion factors involving the metric prefixes for the same unit can be tricky.
This involves the conversion of a base unit to, or from, a subunit or superunit.
To do this, use the following
steps:
a) Place the base unit in the
numerator and the
subunit/ superunit in the
denominator (or vice
versa):
Example: 1 gram to milligrams
g
mg
b) Place a 1 in front of the
subunit/superunit:
g
1 mg
c) Place the value of the
prefix on the subunit/
superunit in front of the
base unit:
m (milli-) = 10-3 or 1E-3
1E�3 g
1 mg
Also remember that algebraic manipulation can be used when working with metric
prefixes and bases. For example, 1 centimeter = 10-2 meters. This means that 1 meter =
1/10-2 centimeters, or 100 cm. Therefore, the two conversion factors below are equal:
3) Set up an equation by multiplying the given units by the conversion factor(s) to
obtain desired unit(s).
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
1.02-10
3 years� 365.25 days�
1 year�
24 hours�
1 day�
60 minutes�
1 hour�
60 seconds
1 minute�
� 94,672,800 sec.
When a measurement is multiplied by a conversion factor, the unit(s) (and
probably the magnitude) will change; however, the actual measurement itself does
not change. For example, 1 ft and 12 inches are still the same length; only
different units are used to express the measurement.
By using a "ladder" or "train tracks," a series of conversions can be accomplished
in order to get to the desired unit(s). By properly arranging the numerator and
denominator of the conversion factor(s), given and intermediate units will cancel
out by multiplication or division, leaving the desired units. Some examples of the
unit analysis and conversion process follow:
EXAMPLE 1.
Convert 3 years to seconds.
Step 1 - Determine given and desired unit(s):
Section 5
Given units: years
Desired units: seconds.
Step 2 - Build/obtain conversion factor(s):
We can use multiple conversion factors to accomplish this problem:
1 year = 365.25 days
1 day = 24 hours
1 hour = 60 minutes
1 minute = 60 seconds
Step 3 - Analyze and cancel given and intermediate units. Perform multiplication and
division of numbers:
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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2000 dpm�
gal�
4.5E�7 µCi
1 dpm�
0.26418 gal�
1 ��
1 ��
1,000 ml
� 2.38E�7 µCi
ml
EXAMPLE 2.
What is the activity of a solution in if it has 2000 ?
µCi
ml
dpm
gallon
Step 1 - Determine given and desired unit(s):
Given units:
dpm
gallon
Desired units:
µCi
ml
Step 2 - Build conversion factor(s):
1 liter = 0.26418 gallons
1 dpm = 4.5 E-07 µCi
1 liter = 1000 ml
Step 3 - Analyze and cancel given and intermediate units. Perform multiplication and
division of numbers.
Practical exercises and their solutions are provided at the end of this lesson.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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1.02.04 Using the formula provided, convert a given temperature measurement to
specified units.
TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENTS AND CONVERSIONS
Temperature measurements are made to determine the amount of heat flow in an
environment. To measure temperature it is necessary to establish relative scales of
comparison. Three temperature scales are in common use today. The general
temperature measurements we use on a day-to-day basis in the United States are based on
the Fahrenheit scale. In science, the Celsius scale and the Kelvin scale are used. Figure
2 shows a comparison of the three scales.
The Fahrenheit scale, named for its developer, was devised in the early 1700's. This scale
was originally based on the temperatures of human blood and salt-water, and later on the
freezing and boiling points of water. Today, the Fahrenheit scale is a secondary scale
defined with reference to the other two scientific scales. The symbol °F is used to
represent a degree on the Fahrenheit scale.
About thirty years after the Fahrenheit scale was adopted, Anders Celsius, a Swedish
astronomer, suggested that it would be simpler to use a temperature scale divided into one
hundred degrees between the freezing and boiling points of water. For many years his
scale was called the centigrade scale. In 1948 an international conference of scientists
re-named it the Celsius scale in honor of its inventor. The Celsius degree, °C, was
defined as 1/100 of the temperature difference between the freezing point and boiling
point of water.
In the 19th century, an English scientist, Lord Kelvin, established a more fundamental
temperature scale that used the lowest possible temperature as a reference point for the
beginning of the scale. The lowest possible temperature, sometimes called absolute zero,
was established as 0 K (zero Kelvin). This temperature is 273.15°C below zero, or
-273.15°C. Accordingly, the Kelvin degree, K, was chosen to be the same as a Celsius
degree so that there would be a simple relationship between the two scales.
Note that the degree sign (°) is not used when stating a temperature on the Kelvin scale.
Temperature is stated simply as Kelvin (K). The Kelvin was adopted by the 10th
Conference of Weights and Measures in 1954, and is the SI unit of thermodynamic
temperature. Note that the degree Celsius (°C) is the SI unit for expressing Celsius
temperature and temperature intervals. The temperature interval one degree Celsius
equals one kelvin exactly. Thus, 0°C = 273.15 K by definition.
Section 6
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Kelvin Celsius Fahrenheit
Water boils 373 K 100� C 212� F
Human body temp.
Room temp.
Water freezes
K �C �F
37.0� C
20.0� C
0� C
-17.8� C
-40� C
310 K
293 K
273 K
255 K
233 K
98.6� F
68.0� F
32.0� F
0� F
-40� F
Absolute zero -273� C0 K -460� F
-150� C123 K -238� FLiquid nitrogen
Figure 2. Comparison of Kelvin, Celsius and Fahrenheit scales.
To convert from one unit system to another, the following formulas are used:
Table 5. Equations for Temperature Conversions
°F to °C or�C �
(�F�32)
1.8
�C � (�F�32) 5
9
°C to °F or�F � 1.8(�C) � 32 �F �
9
5
(�C) � 32
°C to K
K � �C � 273.15
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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�C �
(65�F� 32)
1.8
�C �
33
1.8
�C � 18.3�C
EXAMPLE 3.
Convert 65° Fahrenheit to Celsius.
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PRACTICAL EXERCISES:
Convert the following measurements:
1. 67 mm = __________ feet.
2. 1843 ounces = __________ kg.
3. 3500 microsieverts (µSv) = __________ millirem (mrem).
4. 0.007 years = __________ minutes.
5. 5000 disintegrations per minute (dpm) = __________ millicuries (mCi).
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6. 2350 micrometer (µm) = __________ inches.
7. 2.5E-4 ergs = __________ keV.
8. 205 �F = __________ K.
9. 2E-3 rad = __________ milligray (mGy).
10. �25 �C = __________ �F.
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
1.02-17
Use unit analysis and conversion to solve the following problems.
11. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. How many feet will light travel in one minute?
12. A worker earns a monthly salary of $2500. If the worker gets paid every two weeks and
works no overtime, what will be the gross amount for a given pay period?
13. An air sampler has run for 18 hours, 15 minutes at 60 liters per minute. When collected
and analyzed the sample reads 7685 disintegrations per minute (dpm). What is the
concentration of the sample in microcuries/cm3?
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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PRACTICAL EXERCISE SOLUTIONS:
1. 67 mm = __________ feet.
67 mm
1
1 m
1E3 mm
3.2808 ft
1 m
� 0.22 ft
2. 1843 ounces = __________ kg.
1843 oz
1
28.35 g
1 oz
1 kg
1E3 g
� 52.25 kg
3. 3500 microsieverts (µSv) = __________ millirem (mrem).
3.5E3 µSv
1
1 Sv
1E6 µSv
1E2 rem
1 Sv
1E3 mrem
1 rem
� 3.5E2 mrem � 350 mrem
4. 0.007 years = __________ minutes.
0.007 year
1
365.25 days
1 year
24 hours
1 day
60 minutes
1 hour
� 3681.72 minutes
5. 5000 dis./min. = __________ millicuries (mCi).
5E3 dis
min
1 Ci
2.22E12 dis
min
1E3 mCi
1 ci
� 2.25E�6 mCi
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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6. 2350 micrometer (µm) = __________ inch.
2350 µ
1
3.937E�5 inches
1 µ
� 0.0925 inches � 9.25E�2 inch
7. 2.5E-4 ergs = __________ keV.
2.5E�4 ergs
1
6.2148E11 ev
1 erg
1 keV
1E3 eV
� 1.55E5 keV
8. 205 �F = __________ K.
�C �
(205 �F � 32)
1.8
� 96.1 �C
K � 96.1 �C � 273.16 � 369.27 K
9. 2E-3 rad = __________ milligray (mGy).
2E�3 rad
1
0.01 Gy
1 rad
1E3 mGys
1 Gy
� 2E�2 mGy � 0.02 mGy
10. �25 �C = __________ �F.
�F � (�25 �C)1.8 � 32 � �13 �F
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Module 1.02 Unit Analysis & Conversion Study Guide
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Use unit analysis and conversion to solve the following:
Section 7
11. Light travels at 186,000 miles per second. How many feet will light travel in one minute?
186,000 miles
sec
5280 ft
1 mile
60 sec
1 minute
� 5.89E10 ft
min
12. A worker earns a monthly salary of $2500. If the worker gets paid every two weeks and
works no overtime, what will be the gross amount for a given pay period?
2500 dollars
month
12 months
1 year
1 year
52 weeks
2 weeks
pay period
� 1153.85 dollars
pay period
13. An air sampler has run for 18 hours, 15 minutes at 60 liters per minute. When collected
and analyzed the sample reads 7685 dis./min. What is the concentration of the sample in
microcuries/cm3?
15 minutes
1
1 hour
60 minutes
� 0.25 hour
18 hours � 0.25 hours � 18.25 hours
18.25 hours
1
60 minutes
1 hour
60 l
1 minute
� 65,700 l
7685 dpm
6.57E4 l
1 Ci
2.22E12 dpm
1E6 µCi
1 Ci
1l
1E3 ml
0.99997 ml
1 cc
� 5.26E�11 µCi
cc
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INSTRUCTIONS FOR USING CONVERSION FACTOR TABLES
The tables that follow include conversion factors that are useful to the RCT. They are
useful in making a single conversion from one unit to another by using the guide arrows
at the top of the page in accordance with the direction of the conversion. However, when
using the tables to develop equivalent fractions for use in unit analysis equations, a better
understanding of how to read the conversion factors given in the table is required.
The conversions in the table have been arranged by section in the order of fundamental
units, followed by derived units:
Length
Mass
Time
Area
Volume
Density
Radiological
Energy
Fission
Miscellaneous (Temperature, etc.)
The easiest way to read a conversion from the table is done as follows. Reading left to
right, "one (1) of the units in the left column is equal to the number in the center column
of the unit in the right column." For example, look at the first conversion listed under
Length. This conversion would be read from left to right as "1 angstrom is equal to E-8
centimeters," or
1� � 10�8 centimeters �
1 �
10�8 centimeters
Another conversion would be read from left to right as "1 millimeter (mm) is equal to
1E-1 centimeters," or 1 mm = 0.1 cm. This method can be applied to any of the
conversions listed in these tables when reading left to right.
If reading right to left, the conversion should be read as "one (1) of the unit in the right
column is equal to the inverse of (1 over) the number in the center column of the unit in
the left column." For example, using the conversion shown previously, the conversion
reading right to left would be "1 inch is equal to the inverse of 3.937E-5 (1/3.937E-5)
micrometers," or
1 inch �
1
3.937E�5 µm
� 2.54E4 µm
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-22
Length
angstroms (Å) 10-8 cm
Å 10-10 m
micrometer (µm) 10-3 mm
µm 10-4 cm
µm 10-6 m
µm 3.937 × 10-5 in.
mm 10-1 cm
cm 0.3937 in.
cm 3.2808 × 10-2 ft
cm 10-2 m
m 39.370 in.
m 3.2808 ft
m 1.0936 yd
m 10-3 km
m 6.2137 × 10-4 miles
km 0.62137 miles
mils 10-3 in.
mils 2.540 × 10-3 cm
in. 103 mils
in. 2.5400 cm
ft 30.480 cm
rods 5.500 yd
miles 5280 ft
miles 1760 yd
miles 1.6094 km
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
Section 8
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-23
Mass
mg 10-3 g
mg 3.527 × 10-5 oz avdp
mg 1.543 × 10-2 grains
g 3.527 × 10-2 oz avdp
g 10-3 kg
g 980.7 dynes
g 2.205 × 10-3 lb
kg 2.205 lb
kg 0.0685 slugs
kg 9.807 × 105 dynes
lb 4.448 × 105 dynes
lb 453.592 g
lb 0.4536 kg
lb 16 oz avdp
lb 0.0311 slugs
dynes 1.020 × 10-3 g
dynes 2.248 × 10-6 lb
u (unified--12C scale) 1.66043 × 10-27 kg
amu (physical--160 scale) 1.65980 × 10-27 kg
oz 28.35 g
oz 6.25 × 10-2 lb
NOTE: Mass to energy conversions under miscellaneous.
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
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to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-24
Time
days 86,400 sec
days 1440 min
days 24 hours
years 3.15576 × 107 sec
years 525,960 min
years 8766 hr
years 365.25 days
Area
barns 10-24 cm2
circular mils 7.854 × 10-7 in.2
cm2 1024 barns
cm2 0.1550 in.2
cm2 1.076 × 10-3 ft2
cm2 10-4 m2
ft2 929.0 cm2
ft2 144 in2
ft2 9.290 × 10-2 m2
in.2 6.452 cm2
in.2 6.944 × 10-3 ft2
in.2 6.452 × 10-4 m2
m2 1550 in.2
m2 10.76 ft2
m2 1.196 yd2
m2 3.861 × 10-7 sq mi
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-25
Volume
cm3 (cc) 0.99997 ml
cm3 6.1023 × 10-2 in.3
cm3 10-6 m3
cm3 9.9997 × 10-4 liters
cm3 3.5314 × 10-5 ft3
m3 35.314 ft3
m3 2.642 × 102 gal
m3 9.9997 × 102 liters
in.3 16.387 cm3
in.3 5.787 × 10-4 ft3
in.3 1.639 × 10-2 liters
in.3 4.329 × 10-3 gal
ft3 2.832 × 10-2 m3
ft3 7.481 gal
ft3 28.32 liters
ft3 1728 in.3
gal (U.S.) 231.0 in.3
gal 0.13368 ft3
liters 33.8147 fluid oz
liters 1.05671 quarts
liters 0.26418 gal
gm moles (gas) 22.4 liters (s.t.p.)
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-26
Density
cm3/g 1.602 × 10-2 ft3/lb
ft3/lb 62.43 cm3/g
g/cm3 62.43 lb/ft3
lb/ft3 1.602 × 10-2 g/cm3
lb/in.3 27.68 g/cm3
lb/gal 0.1198 g/cm3
Radiological Units
becquerel 2.703 × 10-11 curies
curies 3.700 × 1010 dis/sec
curies 2.220 × 1012 dis/min
curies 103 millicuries
curies 106 microcuries
curies 1012 picocuries
curies 10-3 kilocuries
curies 3.700 × 1010 becquerel
dis/min 4.505 × 10-10 millicuries
dis/min 4.505 × 10-7 microcuries
dis/sec 2.703 × 10-8 millicuries
dis/sec 2.703 × 10-5 microcuries
kilocuries 103 curies
microcuries 3.700 × 104 dis/sec
microcuries 2.220 × 106 dis/min
millicuries 3.700 × 107 dis/sec
millicuries 2.220 × 109 dis/min
R 2.58 × 10-4 C/kg of air
R 1 esu/cm3 of air (s.t.p.)
R 2.082 × 109 ion prs/cm3 of air
(s.t.p.)
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-27
Radiological Units (continued)
R 1.610 × 1012 ion prs/g of air
R (33.7 eV/ion pr.) 7.02 × 104 MeV/cm3 of air
(s.t.p.)
R (33.7 eV/ion pr.) 5.43 × 107 MeV/g of air
R (33.7 eV/ion pr.) 86.9 ergs/g of air
R (33.7 eV/ion pr.) 2.08 × 10-6 g-cal/g of air
R (33.7 eV/ion pr.) �98 ergs/g of soft tissue
rads 0.01 gray
rads 0.01 J/kg
rads 100 ergs/g
rads 8.071 × 104 MeV/cm3 or air
(s.t.p.)
Section 9
rads 6.242 × 107 MeV/g
rads 10-5 watt-sec/g
rads (33.7 eV/ion pr.) 2.39 × 109 ion prs/cm3 of air
(s.t.p.)
gray 100 rad
rem 0.01 sievert
sievert 100 rem
µCi/3 (µCi/ml) 2.22 × 1012 dpm/m3
µCi/cm3 2.22 × 109 dpm/liter
dpm/m3 0.4505 pCi/m3
Energy
Btu 1.0548 × 103 joules (absolute)
Btu 0.25198 kg-cal
Btu 1.0548 × 1010 ergs
Btu 2.930 × 10-4 kW-hr
Btu/lb 0.556 g-cal/g
eV 1.6021 × 10-12 ergs
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-28
Energy (continued)
eV 1.6021 × 10-19 joules (abs)
eV 10-3 keV
eV 10-6 MeV
ergs 10-7 joules (abs)
ergs 6.2418 × 105 MeV
ergs 6.2418 × 1011 eV
ergs 1.0 dyne-cm
ergs 9.480 × 10-11 Btu
ergs 7.375 × 10-8 ft-lb
ergs 2.390 × 10-8 g-cal
ergs 1.020 × 10-3 g-cm
gm-calories 3.968 × 10-3 Btu
gm-calories 4.186 × 107 ergs
joules (abs) 107 ergs
joules (abs) 0.7376 ft-lb
joules (abs) 9.480 × 10-4 Btu
g-cal/g 1.8 Btu/lb
kg-cal 3.968 Btu
kg-cal 3.087 × 103 ft-lb
ft-lb 1.356 joules (abs)
ft-lb 3.239 × 10-4 kg-cal
kW-hr 2.247 × 1019 MeV
kW-hr 3.60 × 1013 ergs
MeV 1.6021 × 10-6 ergs
NOTE: Energy to mass conversion under miscellaneous
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-29
Fission
Btu 1.28 × 10-8 grams 235U fissionedb
Btu 1.53 × 10-8 grams 235U
destroyedb,c
Btu 3.29 × 1013 fissions
fission of 1 g 235U 1 megawatt-days
fissions 8.9058 × 10-18 kilowatt-hours
fissionsb 3.204 × 10-4 ergs
kilowatt-hours 2.7865 × 1017 235U fission neutrons
kilowatts per kilogram 235U 2.43 × 1010 average thermal
neutron flu× in fuelb,d
megawatt-days per ton U 1.174 × 10-4 % U atoms fissionede
megawatts per ton U 2.68 × 1010/Ef average thermal
neutron flu× in fuelb
neutrons per kilobarn 1 × 1021 neutrons/cm2
watts 3.121 × 1010 fissions/sec
______________________
b At 200 MeV/fission.
c Thermal neutron spectrum (α = 0.193).
d õ(fission = 500 barns).
e At 200 MeV fission, in 235U-238U mi×ture of low 235U content.
f E = enrichment in grams 235U/gram total. No other fissionable isotope present.
Project Number TRNG-0003
Conversion Factors Study Guide
Multiply # of �������������������� by �������������������� to obtain # of
to obtain # of �������������������� by �������������������� Divide # of
1.02-30
Miscellaneous
radians 57.296 degrees
eV 1.78258 × 10-33 grams
eV 1.07356 × 10-9 u
erg 1.11265 × 10-21 grams
proton masses 938.256 MeV
neutron masses 939.550 MeV
electron masses 511.006 keV
u (amu on 12C scale) 931.478 MeV
Temperature
�C �
(�F�32)
1.8
�C � (�F�32) 5
9
�F � 1.8(�C) � 32 �F �
9
5
(�C) � 32
�K � �C � 273.16
Wavelength to Energy Conversion
keV = 12.40/Å
eV = 1.240 × 10-6/m
Module Number: 1.02