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A P P E N D I X A
Overview
Attributes of measurement and control devices require the use of units of measurement to
define the physical properties. Units commonly used in such applications are of the English
system (such as pound, foot, gallon), the SI system (such as kilogram, meter, liter), or some
other unique system peculiar to a particular industry.
The International System of Units (SI, from its French name Système International d’Unités) is
a simplified system of measurement developed from the metric units of measurement. It has
been adopted almost worldwide. In the United States many large industrial leaders have started
using the SI system.
The SI Units
SI units use symbols to abbreviate numbers (Table A-1). Using the preferred form may present
a large magnitude; therefore, a more suitable term may be used. For example 1,000,000 pascals
is expressed as 1 MPa or one megapascals.
The SI system includes three types of units: base units, supplementary units, and derived units.
It derives almost all its units from only seven base units (Table A-2) and two supplementary
units (Table A-3).
Base Units
These units are listed in Table A-2. In these units, the kilogram is the only base unit that con-
tains a prefix.
Supplementary Units
These units are listed in Table A-3 and consist of two purely geometric units. However, it
should be noted here that the 360° circle, created by the Babylonians, is still in use in engineer-
ing, in latitude and longitude measurements, as well in time zones due to its practical impor-
tance and widespread use.
Other Units
In addition to the above three types of units, other units (shown in Table A-6) are in use. They
are outside the SI and yet are recognized and retained.
Metric Units
Metric units represent the origin of the SI system and contain units that should not be used with
the SI system. These are shown in Table A-7.
Flow
Flow can be expressed in units of mass or volume per second.
Volume
Volume is generally expressed in cubic meters. For small volumes of solids, cubic millimeters
can be used. For liquids and gases, quantities less than 1 m3 can use the liter (L) and smaller
quantities the milliliter (mL). The unit of liter is sometimes expressed as a lowercase “l” and in
some cases may be confused with the number 1. Therefore, some countries such as Canada,
have adopted the uppercase “L” to express liters.
Temperature
Kelvin is the absolute temperature scale in the metric system whereas degree Rankine is the
absolute temperature scale in the English (Fahrenheit) system. However, the degree Celsius is
the most commonly used unit. Note that 1°C is equivalent to 1 K. (The term “degree Kelvin”
should not be used, just the term “Kelvin.”)
Pressure
The proper unit is the pascal (Pa); however, the kPa is recognized as the most commonly used
except for vacuum applications, where the Pa is more convenient to use. The kPa is used for
measurement of both gage and absolute pressure, but to avoid misunderstanding it is recom-
mended that the unit kPa be followed by the word “gage” or “absolute” in parentheses—for
example, 120 kPa (gage). Some companies abbreviate these two words to “g” and “a” respec-
tively, while others have specific instructions not to do so. Where differential pressure is mea-
sured, the units are Pa (or kPa) only. It should be noted that the use of the “bar” unit is
discouraged, even though it is a multiple of the Pa unit (1 bar = 100 kPa).
Table A-1:
Multiples and Submultiples of SI units
Prefix Symbol Multiplying Factor
exa E 10 18 1 000 000 000 000 000 000
peta P 1015 1 000 000 000 000 000
tera T 1012 1 000 000 000 000
giga G 109 1 000 000 000
mega M 106 1 000 000
kilo k 103 1 000
hecto* h 10 2
100
deca* da 10 10
deci* d 10-1 0.1
centi c 10-2 0.01
milli m 10 -3
0.001
micro u 10-6 0.000 001
nano n 10-9 0.000 000 001
pico p 10 -12
0.000 000 000 001
femto f 10-15 0.000 000 000 000 001
atto a 10-18 0.000 000 000 000 000 001
* these prefixes are not normally used
Table A-2
SI Base Units
Quantity Name Symbol
Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Electric current ampere A
Thermodynamic temperature kelvin K
Amount of substance mole mol
Luminous intensity candela cd
Table A-3
SI Supplementary Units
Quantity Name Symbol
Plane angle radian rad
Solid angle steradian sr
Table A-4
SI Derived Units with Special Names
SI Unit Expressed Expressed in
in Terms of Terms of Base and
Quantity Name Symbol Other SI Units Supplementary Units
Frequency hertz Hz s-1 s-1
2
Force newton N m·kg/s m·kg·s-2
2
Pressure, stress pascal Pa N/m m-1·kg·s-2
Energy, work, quantity of heat joule J N·m m2·kg·s-2
Power, radiant flux watt W J/s m2·kg·s-3
Quantity of electricity,
electric charge coulomb C s·A s·A
Electric potential, potential dif-
ference, electromotive force volt V W/A m2·kg·s-3·A-1
Electric capacitance farad F C/V m-2·kg-1·s4·A2
Electric resistance ohm Ω V/A m2·kg·s-3·A-2
Electric conductance siemens S A/V m-2·kg-1·s3·A2
Magnetic flux weber Wb V·s m2·kg·s-2·A-1
2
Magnetic flux density tesla T Wb/m kg·s-2·A-1
Inductance henry H Wb/A m2·kg·s-2·A-2
Luminous flux lumen lm cd·sr cd·sr
Illuminance lux lx lm/m2 m-2·cd·sr
Activity of radionuclides becquerel Bq s-1 s-1
Absorbed dose of ionizing radi-
ation gray Gy J/kg m2·s-2
Table A-5
Examples of SI Derived Units Without Special Names
Expressed in Expressed in Terms of
Terms of Base and Supplementary
Quantity Description Other SI Units Units
Area square meter m2 m2
3
Volume cubic meter m m3
Table A-6
Other recognized Units
Name Symbol Value in SI Units
Minute min 1 min = 60 s
Hour h 1 h = 60 min = 3600 s
Day d 1 d = 24 h = 86400 s
Year a
Degree (of arc) ° 1° = (π/180) rad
Minute (of arc) ' 1' = (1/60)° = (π/ 10 800) rad
Second (of arc) " 1" = (1/60)' = (π/648 000) rad
Liter L or l 1 liter = 1 dm3
Celsius temperature °C temperature difference 1°C = 1K
Hectare ha 1 ha = 10 000 m2
Electronvolt eV 1 eV = 0.160 210 aJ (approx)
Unified atomic mass unit u 1u = 1.660 44 x 10-27 kg (approx)
Revolution per minute r/min
Revolution per second r/s
1.
Table A-7
Metric Units that should not be used with the SI System
Quantity Name Symbol Definition
Å
Length ångstrom 1Å = 0.1 nm
micron µ 1µ = 1µm
fermi fm 1 fermi = 1 femtometer = 1 fm
X unit 1 X unit = 100.2 fm
Area are a 1 a = 100 m2
barn b 1 b = 100 fm2
Volume stere st 1 st = 1 m3
lambda λ 1 λ = 1 µl = 1 mm3
Mass metric carat – 1 metric carat = 200 mg
gamma γ 1 γ = 1 µg
Force kilogram-force kgf 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N
kilopond kp 1 kp = 9.806 65 N
dyne dyn 1 dyn = 10 µN
Pressure torr Torr 1 torr = (101 325/760)Pa
Energy calorie cal 1 cal = 4.1868 J
erg erg 1 erg = 0.1 µj
Viscosity
dynamic poise P 1 P = 1 dyn·s/cm2 = 0.1 Pa·s
kinematic stokes St 1 St = 1 cm2/s
Conductance mho mho 1 mho = 1 S
Magnetic field
strength oersted Oe 1 Oe ≅ (1000/4π)A/m
Magnetic flux maxwell Mx 1 Mx ≅ 0.01 µWb
Magnetic flux density gauss Gs, G 1 Gs ≅ 0.1 mT
Magnetic
induction gamma γ 1 g ≅ 1 nT
Iilluminance phot ph 1 ph = 10 klx
Luminance stilb sb 1 sb = 1 cd/cm2
Activity
(radioactive) curie Ci 1 Ci = 37 GBq
Absorbed dose of ioniz-
ing radiation rad rad 1 rad = 10 mGy
Table A-8
Length Units
Millimeters Centimeters Meters Kilometers Inches Feet Yards Miles
mm cm m km in ft yd mi
1 0.1 0.001 0.000001 0.03937 0.003281 0.001094 6.21e-07
10 1 0.01 0.00001 0.393701 0.032808 0.010936 0.000006
1000 100 1 0.001 39.37008 3.28084 1.093613 0.000621
1000000 100000 1000 1 39370.08 3280.84 1093.613 0.621371
25.4 2.54 0.0254 0.000025 1 0.083333 0.027778 0.000016
304.8 30.48 0.3048 0.000305 12 1 0.333333 0.000189
914.4 91.44 0.9144 0.000914 36 3 1 0.000568
1609344 160934.4 1609.344 1.609344 63360 5280 1760 1
Table A-9
Area Units
Millimeter square Centimeter square Meter square Inch square Foot square Yard square
Table A-10
Volume Units
Centimeter Imperial
Meter cube Liter Inch cube Foot cube US gallons US barrel (oil)
cube gallons
Table A-11
Mass Units
Grams Kilograms Metric tonnes Short ton Long ton Pounds Ounces
Table A-12
Density Units
Gram/milliliter Kilogram/meter cube Pound/foot cube Pound/inch cube
Table A-13
Volumetric Liquid Flow Units
Liter/second Liter/minute Meter cube/hour Foot cube/minute Foot cube/hour US gallons/minute US barrels (oil)/day
3 3 3
L/sec L/min m /hr ft /min ft /hr gal/min US brl/d
1 60 3.6 2.119093 127.1197 15.85037 543.4783
0.016666 1 0.06 0.035317 2.118577 0.264162 9.057609
0.277778 16.6667 1 0.588637 35.31102 4.40288 150.9661
0.4719 28.31513 1.69884 1 60 7.479791 256.4674
0.007867 0.472015 0.02832 0.01667 1 0.124689 4.275326
0.06309 3.785551 0.227124 0.133694 8.019983 1 34.28804
0.00184 0.110404 0.006624 0.003899 0.2339 0.029165 1
Table A-14
Volumetric gas flow units
Normal meter cube/hour Standard cubic feet/hour Standard cubic feet/minute
Table A-15
Mass flow units
Kilogram/hour Pound/hour Kilogram/second Ton/hour
Table A-16
High Pressure Units
Kilogram force/
Pound/square Millimeter of
Bar Kilopascal Megapascal centimeter Atmospheres
inch mercury
square
Table A-17
Low Pressure Units
Meter of water Foot of water Centimeter of mercury Inches of mercury Inches of water Pascal
Table A-18
Speed Units
Meter/second Meter/minute Kilometer/hour Foot/second Foot/minute Miles/hour
Table A-19
Torque Units
Newton meter Kilogram force meter Foot pound Inch pound
Table A-20
Dynamic Viscosity Units
Centipoise* Poise Pound/foot·second
cp poise lb/(ft·s)
1 0.01 0.000672
100 1 0.067197
1488.16 14.8816 1
b
Table A-21
Kinematic Viscosity Units
Centistoke* Stoke Foot square/second meter square/second
2
cs St ft /s m2/s
1 0.01 0.000011 0.000001
100 1 0.001076 0.0001
92903 929.03 1 0.092903
1000000 10000 10.76392 1
*note: centistokes x specific gravity = centipoise
Table A-22
Temperature Conversion Formulas
Degree Celsius (°C) (°F - 32) x 5/9
(K - 273.15)
Degree Fahrenheit (°F) (°C x 9/5) + 32
(1.8 x K) - 459.67
Kelvin (K) (°C + 273.15)
(°F + 459.67) ÷ 1.8
Table A-23
Temperature Conversions
In the center column, locate the temperature to be converted. In the left and right columns are the converted (and rounded off) Celsius
and Fahrenheit temperatures, respectively.
C F C F C F C F C F
-273.15 -459.67 -118 -180 -292 -11.7 11 51.8 4.4 40 104.0 36.7 98 208.4
-268 -450 -112 -170 -274 -11.1 12 53.6 5.0 41 105.8 37.2 99 210.2
-262 -440 -107 -160 -256 -10.6 13 55.4 5.6 42 107.6 37.8 100 212.0
-257 -430 -101 -150 -238 -10.0 14 57.2 6.1 43 109.4 43 110 230
-251 -420 -95.6 -140 -220 -9.4 15 59.0 6.7 44 111.2 49 120 248
-246 -410 -90.0 -130 -202 -8.9 16 60.8 7.2 45 113.0 54 130 266
-240 -400 -84.4 -120 -184 -8.3 17 62.6 7.8 46 114.8 60 140 284
-234 -390 -78.9 -110 -166 -7.8 18 64.4 8.3 47 116.6 66 150 302
-229 -380 -73.3 -100 -148 -7.2 19 66.2 8.9 48 118.4 71 160 320
-223 -370 -67.8 -90 -130 -6.7 20 68.0 9.4 49 120.2 77 170 338
-218 -360 -62.2 -80 -112 -6.1 21 69.8 10.0 50 122.0 82 180 356
-212 -350 -56.7 -70 -94 -5.6 22 71.6 26.7 80 176.0 88 190 374
-207 -340 -51.1 -60 -76 -5.0 23 73.4 27.2 81 177.8 93 200 392
-201 -330 -45.6 -50 -58 -4.4 24 75.2 27.8 82 179.6 99 210 410
-196 -320 -40.0 -40 -40 -3.9 25 77.0 28.3 83 181.4 100 212 414
-190 -310 -34.4 -30 -22 -3.3 26 78.8 28.9 84 183.2 104 220 428
-184 -300 -28.9 -20 -4 -2.8 27 80.6 29.4 85 185.0 110 230 446
-179 -290 -23.3 -10 14 -2.2 28 82.4 30.0 86 186.8 116 240 464
-173 -280 -17.8 0 32 -1.7 29 84.2 30.6 87 188.6 121 250 482
-169 -273 -459.4 -17.2 1 33.8 -1.1 30 86.0 31.1 88 190.4 127 260 500
-168 -270 -454 -16.7 2 35.6 -0.6 31 87.8 31.7 89 192.2 132 270 518
-162 -260 -436 -16.1 3 37.4 0.0 32 89.6 32.2 90 194.0 138 280 536
-157 -250 -418 -15.6 4 39.2 0.6 33 91.4 32.8 91 195.8 143 290 554
-151 -240 -400 -15.0 5 41.0 1.1 34 93.2 33.3 92 197.6 149 300 572
-146 -230 -382 -14.4 6 42.8 1.7 35 95.0 33.9 93 199.4 154 310 590
-140 -220 -364 -13.9 7 44.6 2.2 36 96.8 34.4 94 201.2 160 320 608
-134 -210 -346 -13.3 8 46.4 2.8 37 98.6 35.0 95 203.0 166 330 626
-129 -200 -328 -12.8 9 48.2 3.3 38 100.4 35.6 96 204.8 171 340 644
-123 -190 -310 -12.2 10 50.0 3.9 39 102.2 36.1 97 206.6 177 350 662
182 360 680 349 660 1220 516 960 1760 682 1260 2300 849 1560 2840
188 370 698 354 670 1238 521 970 1778 688 1270 2318 854 1570 2858
193 380 716 360 680 1256 527 980 1796 693 1280 2336 860 1580 2876
199 390 734 366 690 1274 532 990 1814 699 1290 2354 866 1590 2894
204 400 752 371 700 1292 538 1000 1832 704 1300 2372 871 1600 2912
210 410 770 377 710 1310 543 1010 1850 710 1310 2390 877 1610 2930
216 420 788 382 720 1328 549 1020 1868 716 1320 2408 882 1620 2948
221 430 806 388 730 1346 554 1030 1886 721 1330 2426 888 1630 2966
227 440 824 393 740 1364 560 1040 1904 727 1340 2444 893 1640 2984
232 450 842 399 750 1382 566 1050 1922 732 1350 2462 899 1650 3002
238 460 860 404 760 1400 571 1060 1940 738 1360 2480 904 1660 3020
243 470 878 410 770 1418 577 1070 1958 743 1370 2498 910 1670 3038
249 480 896 416 780 1436 582 1080 1976 749 1380 2516 916 1680 3056
254 490 914 421 790 1454 588 1090 1994 754 1390 2534 921 1690 3074
260 500 932 427 800 1472 593 1100 2012 760 1400 2552 927 1700 3092
266 510 950 432 810 1490 599 1110 2030 766 1410 2570 932 1710 3110
271 520 968 438 820 1508 604 1120 2048 771 1420 2588 938 1720 3128
277 530 986 443 830 1526 610 1130 2066 777 1430 2606 943 1730 3146
282 540 1004 449 840 1544 616 1140 2084 782 1440 2624 949 1740 3164
288 550 1022 454 850 1562 621 1150 2102 788 1450 2642 954 1750 3182
293 560 1040 460 860 1580 627 1160 2120 793 1460 2660 960 1760 3200
599 570 1058 466 870 1598 632 1170 2138 799 1470 2678 966 1770 3218
304 580 1076 471 880 1616 638 1180 2156 804 1480 2696 971 1780 3236
310 590 1094 477 890 1634 643 1190 2174 810 1490 2714 977 1790 3254
316 600 1112 482 900 1652 649 1200 2192 816 1500 2732 982 1800 3272
321 610 1130 488 910 1670 654 1210 2210 821 1510 2750 988 1810 3290
327 620 1148 493 920 1688 660 1220 2228 827 1520 2768 993 1820 3308
332 630 1166 499 930 1706 666 1230 2246 832 1530 2786 999 1830 3326
338 640 1184 504 940 1724 671 1240 2264 838 1540 2804 1004 1840 3344
343 650 1202 510 950 1742 677 1250 2282 843 1550 2822 1010 1850 3362
1016 1860 3380 1143 2090 3794 1271 2320 4208 1399 2550 4622 1527 2780 5036
1021 1870 3398 1149 2100 3812 1277 2330 4226 1404 2560 4640 1532 2790 5054
1027 1880 3416 1154 2110 3830 1282 2340 4244 1410 2570 4658 1538 2800 5072
1032 1890 3434 1160 2120 3848 1288 2350 4262 1416 2580 4676 1543 2810 5090
1038 1900 3452 1166 2130 3866 1293 2360 4280 1421 2590 4694 1549 2820 5108