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Guide for the

Use of the International

System of Units (SI)

NIST Special Publication 81 1 • 200S Edition

Ambler Thompson and Barry N. Taylor

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NIST Special Publication 811

2008 Edition

Guide for the Use of the International

System of Units (SI)

Ambler Thompson

Technology Services

and

Barry N. Taylor

Physics Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Gaithersburg, MD 20899

(Supersedes NIST Special Publication 811, 1995 Edition, April 1995)

March 2008

U.S. Department of Commerce

Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary

National Institute of Standards and Technology

James M. Turner, Acting Director
National Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 81 1 , 2008 Edition

(Supersedes NIST Special Publication 811, April 1995 Edition)

Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 811, 85 pages (March 2008, 1 printing)

CODEN: NSPUE3
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Preface

The International System of Units, universally abbreviated SI (from the French he Systeme

International d'Unites), is the modern metric system of measurement. Long the dominant measurement

system used in science, the SI is becoming the dominant measurement system used in international commerce.

The Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of August 1988 [Public Law (PL) 100-418] changed

the name of the National Bureau of Standards (NBS) to the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) and gave to NIST the added task of helping U.S. industry increase its competitiveness in the global

marketplace. It also recognized the rapidly expanding use of the SI by amending the Metric Conversion Act

of 1975 (PL 94-168). In particular, section 5164 (Metric Usage) of PL 100-418 designates

the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and measures for United

States trade and commerce . . .

and requires that

each Federal agency, by a date certain and to the extent economically feasible by the end of

fiscal year 1992, use the metric system of measurement in its procurements, grants, and other

business-related activities, except to the extent that such use is impractical or is likely to cause

significant inefficiencies or loss of markets for United States firms . . .

In January 1991, the Department of Commerce issued an addition to the Code of Federal

Regulations entitled "Metric Conversion Policy for Federal Agencies," 15 CFR 1170, which removes the

voluntary aspect of the conversion to the SI for Federal agencies and gives in detail the policy for that conversion. Executive Order 12770, issued in July 1991, reinforces that policy by providing Presidential

authority and direction for the use of the metric system of measurement by Federal agencies and

departments.*

The Metric Act of 1866 allowed use of the metric system of measurement in the United States. In 2007, the 1866 law was amended by PL 110-69, also known as the America COMPETES Act. This

amendment updated the definition of the metric system:

"The metric system of measurement shall be defined as the International System of Units as established in 1960, and subsequently maintained, by the General Conference of Weights and

Measures, and as interpreted or modified for the United States by the Secretary of Commerce."

The America COMPETES Act also repealed separate legislation on electrical and photometric units, as they are included in SI, and it established UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) as the basis for standard

time in the United States.

Because of the importance of the SI to both science and technology, NIST has over the years

published documents to assist NIST authors and other users of the SI, especially to inform them of changes

in the SI and in SI usage. For example, this third edition of the Guide replaces the second edition (1995)

prepared by Barry N. Taylor, which replaced the first edition (1991) prepared by Arthur O. McCoubrey.

That edition, in turn, replaced NBS Letter Circular LC 1 120 (1979), which was widely distributed in the

United States and which was incorporated into the NBS Communications Manualfor Scientific, Technical,

and Public Information, a manual of instructions issued in 1980 for the preparation of technical

publications at NBS.

* Executive Order 12770 was published in the Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 145, p. 35801, July 29, 1991; 15 CFR 1170 was

originally published in the Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 1, p. 160, January 2, 1991, as 15 CFR Part 19, but was redesignated

15 CFR 1170.

ill
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

It is quite natural for NIST to publish documents on the use of the SI. First, NIST coordinates the

Federal Government policy on the conversion to the SI by Federal agencies and on the use of the SI by U.S.

industry and the public. Second, NIST provides official U.S. representation in the various international

bodies established by the Meter Convention (Convention du Metre, often called the Treaty of the Meter in the United States), which was signed in Paris in 1875 by seventeen countries, including the United States

(5 1 countries are now members of the Convention).

One body created by the Meter Convention is the General Conference on Weights and Measures

(CGPM, Conference Generate des Poids et Mesures), a formal diplomatic organization.** The

International System was in fact established by the 1 1th CGPM in 1960, and it is the responsibility of the

CGPM to ensure that the SI is widely disseminated and that it reflects the latest advances in science and

technology.

This 2008 edition of the Guide corrects a small number of misprints in the 1995 edition, incorporates

the modifications made to the SI by the CGPM and CIPM in the last 13 years, and updates the

bibliography. Some minor changes in format have also been made in an attempt to improve the ease of use of the Guide.

In keeping with U.S. and International practice (see Sec. C.2), this Guide uses the dot on the line as the decimal marker. In addition this Guide utilizes the American spellings "meter," "liter," and "deka"

rather than "metre," "litre," and "deca," and the name "metric ton" rather than "tonne."

Barry N. Taylor

** See Ref. [1] or [2] for a brief description of the various bodies established by the Meter Convention: The International Bureau of

Weights and Measures (BIPM, Bureau International des Poids et Mesures), the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM, Comite International des Poids et Mesures ), and the CGPM. The BIPM, which is located in Sevres, a suburb of Paris, France, and which has the task of ensuring worldwide unification of physical measurements, operates under the exclusive supervision of the CIPM, which itself comes under the authority of the CGPM. In addition to a complete description of the SI, Refs. [1] and [2] also give

the various CGPM and CIPM resolutions on which it is based.

March 2008

Ambler Thompson

iv
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Check List for Reviewing Manuscripts

The following check list is intended to help NIST authors review the conformity of their

manuscripts with proper SI usage and the basic principles concerning quantities and units. (The chapter or

section numbers in parentheses indicate where additional information may be found.)

( 1 ) Only SI units and those units recognized for use with the SI are used to express the values of

quantities. Equivalent values in other units are given in parentheses following values in acceptable units only when deemed necessary for the intended audience. (See Chapter 2.)

(2) Abbreviations such as sec (for either s or second), cc (for either cm

3 or cubic centimeter), or mps (for either m/s or meter per second), are avoided and only standard unit symbols, SI prefix symbols, unit names, and SI prefix names are used. (See Sec. 6.1.8.)

(3) The combinations of letters "ppm," "ppb," and "ppt," and the terms part per million, part per

billion, and part per trillion, and the like, are not used to express the values of quantities. The

following forms, for example, are used instead: 2.0 uL/L or 2.0 x 10"6 V, 4.3 nm/m or

4.3 x 10~9

/, 7 ps/s or 7 * 10~ 12?, where V, /, and t are, respectively, the quantity symbols for

volume, length, and time. (See Sec. 7.10.3.)

(4) Unit symbols (or names) are not modified by the addition of subscripts or other information.

The following forms, for example, are used instead. (See Sees. 7.4 and 7.10.2.)

Fmax = 1 000 V but not: V = 1 000 Vm«

a mass fraction of 10 % but not: 10 % (m/m) or 10 % (by weight)

(5) Statements such as "the length U exceeds the length l2 by 0.2 %" are avoided because it is recognized that the symbol % represents simply the number 0.01. Instead, forms such as "/,= l2 (1 + 0.2 %)" or "A = 0.2 %" are used, where A is defined by the relation

A = (l l -l2 )/l2 . (See Sec. 7.10.2.)

(6) Information is not mixed with unit symbols (or names). For example, the form "the water

content is 20 mL/kg" is used and not "20 mL H2 0/kg" or "20 mL of water/kg." (See

Sec. 7.5.)

(7) It is clear to which unit symbol a numerical value belongs and which mathematical operation

applies to the value of a quantity because forms such as the following are used. (See

Sec. 7.7.)

35 cm x 48 cm but not: 35 x 48 cm

1MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz but not: 1 MHz - 10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz

20 °C to 30 °C or (20 to 30) °C but not: 20 °C - 30 °C or 20 to 30 °C

123 g±2gor(123 ± 2) g but not: 123 ±2g

70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) % but not: 70 ± 5 %

240 x ( 1 ± 1 0 %) V but not: 240 V ± 1 0 % (one cannot add

240 V and 10%)

(8) Unit symbols and unit names are not mixed and mathematical operations are not applied to unit names. For example, only forms such as kg/m3

, kg m~ , or kilogram per cubic meter

are used and not forms such as kilogram/m3

, kg/cubic meter, kilogram/cubic meter, kg per

m

3

, or kilogram per meter

3

. (See Sees. 6.1.7, 9.5, and 9.8.)

v
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

(9) Values of quantities are expressed in acceptable units using Arabic numerals and the

symbols for the units. (See Sec. 7.6.)

m = 5 kg but not: m = five kilograms or m = five kg

the current was 1 5 A but not: the current was 1 5 amperes.

(10) There is a space between the numerical value and unit symbol, even when the value is used

as an adjective, except in the case of superscript units for plane angle. (See Sec. 7.2.)

a 25 kg sphere but not: a 25-kg sphere an angle of 2°3'4" but not: an angle of 2 °3 '4 "

If the spelled-out name of a unit is used, the normal rules of English are applied: "a roll of

35-millimeter film." (See Sec. 7.6, note 3.)

(11) The digits of numerical values having more than four digits on either side of the decimal

marker are separated into groups of three using a thin, fixed space counting from both the

left and right of the decimal marker. For example, 15 739.012 53 is highly preferred to 15739.01253. Commas are not used to separate digits into groups of three. (See Sec. 10.5.3.)

(12) Equations between quantities are used in preference to equations between numerical values,

and symbols representing numerical values are different from symbols representing the

corresponding quantities. When a numerical-value equation is used, it is properly written

and the corresponding quantity equation is given where possible. (See Sec. 7.11.)

(13) Standardized quantity symbols such as those given in Refs. [4] and [5] are used, for

example, R for resistance and AT for relative atomic mass, and not words, acronyms, or ad

hoc groups of letters. Similarly, standardized mathematical signs and symbols such as are given in Ref. [4: ISO 3 1 - 1 1 ] are used, for example, "tan jc" and not "tg x." More specifically,

the base of 'log" in equations is specified when required by writing logo* (meaning log to the base a of x), lb x (meaning log2 x ), In x (meaning loge x), or lg x (meaning log 10 x ). (See

Sees. 10.1.1 and 10.1.2.)

(14) Unit symbols are in roman type, and quantity symbols are in italic type with superscripts and

subscripts in roman or italic type as appropriate. (See Sec. 10.2 and Sees. 10.2.1 to 10.2.4.)

(15) When the word "weight" is used, the intended meaning is clear. (In science and technology,

weight is a force, for which the SI unit is the newton; in commerce and everyday use, weight

is usually a synonym for mass, for which the SI unit is the kilogram.) (See Sec. 8.3.)

(16) A quotient quantity, for example, mass density, is written "mass divided by volume" rather

than "mass per unit volume." (See Sec. 7.12.)

(17) An object and any quantity describing the object are distinguished. (Note the difference

between "surface" and "area," "body" and "mass," "resistor" and "resistance," "coil" and

"inductance.") (See Sec. 7.13.)

(18) The obsolete term normality and the symbol N, and the obsolete term molarity and the

symbol M, are not used, but the quantity amount-of-substance concentration of B (more

commonly called concentration of B), and its symbol cB and SI unit mol/m3 (or a related

acceptable unit), are used instead. Similarly, the obsolete term molal and the symbol m are not used, but the quantity molality of solute B, and its symbol bB or wB and SI unit mol/kg

(or a related SI unit), are used instead. (See Sees. 8.6.5 and 8.6.8.)

vi
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Contents

Preface iii

Check List for Reviewing Manuscripts v

1 Introduction 1

1 . 1 Purpose of Guide 1

1 .2 Outline of Guide 1

2 NIST policy on the Use of the SI 2

2.1 Essential data 2

2.1.1 Tables and graphs 2

2.2 Descriptive information 2

3 Other Sources of Information on the SI 3

3.1 Publications 3

3.2 Fundamental Constants Data Center 3

3.3 Metric Program 3

4 The Two Classes of SI Units and the SI Prefixes 3

4.1 SI base units 4

4.2 SI derived units 4

4.2.1 SI derived units with special names and symbols 4

4.2.1.1 Degree Celsius 5 4.2.2 Use of SI derived units with special names and symbols 6

4.3 Decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units: SI prefixes 7

5 Units Outside the SI 7

5.1 Units accepted for use with the SI 7

5.1.1 Hour, degree, liter, and the like 8

5. 1 .2 Neper, bel, shannon, and the like 8

5. 1 .3 Electronvolt, astronomical unit, and unified atomic mass unit 9

5. 1 .4 Natural and atomic units 9

5.2 Non-SI units accepted for use with the SI 10

5.3 Units not accepted for use with the SI 10

5.3.1 CGS units 10

5.3.2 Other unacceptable units 11 5.4 The terms "SI units" and "acceptable units" 1

1

6 Rules and Style Conventions for Printing and Using Units 12

6.1 Rules and style conventions for unit symbols 12

6.1.1 Typeface 12

6. 1 .2 Capitalization 12

6.1.3 Plurals 12

6.1.4 Punctuation 12

6.1.5 Unit symbols obtained by multiplication 12

6. 1 .6 Unit symbols obtained by division 1

3

6. 1 .7 Unacceptability of unit symbols and unit names together 1

3

6. 1 .8 Unacceptability of abbreviations for units 1

3

vii
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

6.2 Rules and style conventions for SI prefixes 13

6.2.1 Typeface and spacing 13

6.2.2 Capitalization 14

6.2.3 Inseparability of prefix and unit 14

6.2.4 Unacceptability of compound prefixes 14

6.2.5 Use of multiple prefixes 14

6.2.6 Unacceptability of stand-alone prefixes 14

6.2.7 Prefixes and the kilogram 14

6.2.8 Prefixes with the degree Celsius and units accepted for use with the SI 15

7 Rules and Style Conventions for Expressing Values of Quantities 15

7. 1 Value and numerical value of a quantity 15

7.2 Space between numerical value and unit symbol 16

7.3 Number of units per value of a quantity 16

7.4 Unacceptability of attaching information to units 16

7.5 Unacceptability of mixing information with units 17

7.6 Symbols for numbers and units versus spelled-out names of numbers and units 1

7.7 Clarity in writing values of quantities 18

7.8 Unacceptability of stand-alone unit symbols 18

7.9 Choosing SI prefixes 18

7. 1 0 Values of quantities expressed simply as numbers: the unit one, symbol 1 19

7. 1 0. 1 Decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit one 19

7.10.2 %, percentage by, fraction 19

7.10.3 ppm, ppb, and ppt 20

7.10.4 Roman numerals 21

7. 1 1 Quantity equations and numerical-value equations 2

7. 1 2 Proper names of quotient quantities 22

7. 13 Distinction between an object and its attribute 22

7.14 Dimension of a quantity 22

8 Comments on Some Quantities and Their Units 23

8.1 Time and rotational frequency 23

8.2 Volume 23

8.3 Weight 23

8.4 Relative atomic mass and relative molecular mass 24

8.5 Temperature interval and temperature difference 24

8.6 Amount of substance, concentration, molality, and the like 25

8.6.1 Amount of substance 25

8.6.2 Mole fraction of B; amount-of-substance fraction of B 25

8.6.3 Molar volume 26

8.6.4 Molar mass 27

8.6.5 Concentration of B; amount-of-substance concentration of B 27

8.6.6 Volume fraction of B 27

8.6.7 Mass density; density 28

8.6.8 Molality of solute B 28

8.6.9 Specific volume 28

8.6.10 Mass fraction of B 28

8.7 Logarithmic quantities and units: level, neper, bel 28

8.8 Viscosity 30

8.9 Massic, volumic, areic, lineic 30

viii
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

9 Rules and Style Conventions for Spelling Unit Names 3

1

9.1 Capitalization 31

9.2 Plurals 31

9.3 Spelling unit names with prefixes 3

1

9.4 Spelling unit names obtained by multiplication 3

1

9.5 Spelling unit names obtained by division 32

9.6 Spelling unit names raised to powers 32

9.7 Other spelling conventions 32

9.8 Unacceptability of applying mathematical operations to unit names 32

10 More on Printing and Using Symbols and Numbers in Scientific and Technical Documents 32

10.1 Kinds of symbols 33

10.1.1 Standardized quantity symbols 33

1 0. 1 .2 Standardized mathematical signs and symbols 33

10.2 Typefaces for symbols 33

10.2.1 Quantities and variables—italic 34

10.2.2 Units—roman 35

10.2.3 Descriptive terms—roman 35

10.2.4 Sample equations showing correct type 35

10.3 Greek alphabet in roman and italic type 35

10.4 Symbols for the elements 36

10.4.1 Typeface and punctuation for element symbols 36

10.4.2 Subscripts and superscripts on element symbols 36

10.5 Printing numbers 37

10.5.1 Typeface for numbers 37

10.5.2 Decimal sign or marker 37

10.5.3 Grouping digits 37

10.5.4 Multiplying numbers 37

Appendix A. Definitions of the SI Base Units 39

A.l Introduction 39

A.2 Meter 39

A.3 Kilogram 39

A.4 Second 39

A. 5 Ampere 39

A.6 Kelvin 39

A.7 Mole 39

A.8 Candela 39

Appendix B. Conversion Factors 40

B. l Introduction 40

B.2 Notation 40

B.3 Use of conversion factors 40

B.4 Organization of entries and style 41

B.5 Factor for converting motor vehicle efficiency 42

B.6 U.S. survey foot and mile 42

B.7 Rules for rounding numbers and converted numerical values of quantities 43

B.7.1 Rounding numbers 43

B.7.2 Rounding converted numerical values of quantities 43

B.8 Factors for units listed alphabetically 45

B.9 Factors for units listed by kind of quantity or field of science 57

ix
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Appendix C. Comments on the References of Appendix D—Bibliography 70

C. 1 Defining document for the SI: BIPM SI Brochure 70

C.2 United States version of defining document for the SI: NIST SP 330 70

C.3 ISOandlEC 70

C.4 ANSI/IEEE SI- 10 70

C.5 Federal Register notices 71

C.6 Federal Standard 376B 72

C.7 2006 CODATA values of the fundamental constants 72

C.8 Uncertainty in measurement 72

Appendix D. Bibliography 73

x
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

1 Introduction

1.1 Purpose of Guide

The International System of Units was established in 1960 by the 11th General Conference on

Weights and Measures (CGPM— see Preface). Universally abbreviated SI (from the French Le Systeme

International d"Unites), it is the modern metric system of measurement used throughout the world. This

Guide has been prepared by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to assist members

of the NIST staff, as well as others who may have need of such assistance, in the use of the SI in their

work, including the reporting of results of measurements.

1.2 Outline of Guide

The Preface gives the principal Federal Government actions taken since 1988 regarding the SI and

introduces the international body— the CGPM—that is responsible for the SI.

A check list immediately follows the Preface to help NIST authors review the conformity of their

manuscripts with proper SI usage and the basic principles concerning quantities and units.

A detailed Contents, the aim of which is to simplify the use of the Guide, follows the check list.

This introductory chapter gives the purpose of the Guide and its outline, while Chapter 2 summarizes

and clarifies the NIST policy on the use of the SI in NIST publications.

Chapter 3 notes the existence of a number of publications on the SI and gives the two organizational

units at NIST to which questions concerning the SI may be directed and from which additional information

about the SI may be obtained.

Chapter 4 discusses the fundamental aspects of the SI, including the two current classes of SI units:

base, and derived; those derived units that have special names and symbols, including the degree Celsius;

and the SI prefixes that are used to form decimal multiples and submultiples of units.

Chapter 5 discusses units that are outside the SI and indicates those that may be used with it and

those that may not. It also gives (see Sec. 5.4) precise definitions of the terms "SI units" and "acceptable

units" as used in this Guide.

Chapter 6 gives the rules and style conventions for printing and using units, especially unit symbols

and SI prefix symbols.

Chapters 7 and 8, which some readers may view as the most important parts of this Guide, provide,

respectively, the rules and style conventions for expressing the values of quantities, and clarifying

comments on some often troublesome quantities and their units.

Chapter 9 gives the rules and style conventions for spelling unit names.

Chapter 10 further elaborates on printing and using symbols and numbers in scientific and technical

documents and is intended to assist NIST authors prepare manuscripts that are consistent with accepted

typesetting practice.

Appendix A gives the definitions of the SI base units, while Appendix B gives conversion factors for

converting values of quantities expressed in units that are mainly unacceptable for use with the SI to values

expressed mainly in SI units. Appendix B also includes a simplified discussion of rounding numbers and

rounding converted numerical values of quantities. Appendix C discusses in some detail most of the

references included in Appendix D—Bibliography, which concludes the Guide.

1
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

2 NIST Policy on the Use of the SI

In accordance with various Federal Acts, the Code of Federal Regulations, and Executive Order

12770 (see Preface), it is NIST policy that the SI shall be used in all NIST publications. 1 When the field of

application or the special needs of users of NIST publications require the use of other units, the values of

quantities shall first be expressed in acceptable units, where it is to be understood that acceptable units

include the SI units and those units recognized for use with the SI; the corresponding values expressed in the other units shall then follow in parentheses. (For precise definitions of the terms "SI units" and

"acceptable units" as used in this Guide, see Sec. 5.4.) Exceptions to this policy require the prior approval

of the NIST Director. The following three sections—2.1 Essential data, 2.1.1 Tables and graphs, and

2.2 Descriptive information—elaborate upon this policy.

2.1 Essential data

Essential data express or interpret quantitative results. All such data shall be given in acceptable

units. In those cases where —the sole use of acceptable units would compromise good communication, or — units other than acceptable units have been specified as a contractual requirement,

values of quantities shall be given in acceptable units followed, in parentheses, by the values of the same

quantities given in the other units.

Exceptions may sometimes be necessary for commercial devices, technical standards, or quantities

having special legal significance; examples include commercial weights and measures devices and the

related laws and regulations. However, even in such cases, values of quantities expressed in acceptable

units should be used when possible with the same values expressed in other units following in parentheses.

2.1.1 Tables and graphs

In tables, values of quantities expressed in acceptable units and the corresponding values expressed

in other units may be shown in parallel columns, with the acceptable-unit column preceding the other-unit

column. In graphs, axes labeled in other units shall be given secondary status. This may preferably be done

by placing scale marks on and labeling the left-hand ordinate and bottom abscissa in acceptable units, and

placing scale marks on and labeling the right-hand ordinate and top abscissa in other units. Alternatively,

lighter-weight scale marks and smaller type may be employed to indicate other units using the same

ordinate and abscissa as is used for the acceptable units.

2.2 Descriptive information

Descriptive information characterizes arrangements, environments, the generalized dimensions of

objects, apparatus, or materials, and other attributes that do not enter directly into calculations or results. When necessary for effective communication, such information may be expressed using customary terms

that are widely used and recognized. Examples include common drill sizes and traditional tools used in the

United States, U.S. standard fastener sizes, commercial pipe sizes, and other common terms used in the

trades, the professions, the marketplace, sports, and various social activities. When such descriptive

information is given, values in acceptable units are not required. For example, it is permissible to refer to a "36-inch pipeline" or a "half-inch drill" without first giving the value in an acceptable unit.

' The NIST policy on the use of the SI is set forth in the NIST Administration Manual, Chapter 4, Communications, Subchapter 4.09, NIST Technical Communications Program, Appendix D—Use of Metric Units.

2
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

3 Other Sources of Information on the SI

3.1 Publications

Appendix C briefly describes a number of publications that deal with the SI and related topics;

citations for these publications are given in Appendix D—Bibliography. Additional information about the

SI is also available from the two NIST organizational units indicated in Sees. 3.2 and 3.3.

3.2 Fundamental Constants Data Center

Questions concerning the more fundamental aspects of the SI and subtle aspects of proper SI usage

may be directed to:

Fundamental Constants Data Center

Physics Laboratory

National Institute of Standards and Technology

1 00 Bureau Drive, Stop 8420

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-8420

Telephone: (301) 975-3200

Fax: (301)-990-1350

SI Units Web Page: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/index.html

3.3 Metric Program

Questions concerning Federal Government use of the SI and Federal Government policy on the use of the SI by U.S. industry and the public may be directed to:

Metric Program

Technology Services

National Institute of Standards and Technology

100 Bureau Drive, Stop 2600

Gaithersburg, MD 20899-2600

Telephone: (301)975-4004

Fax:(301)975-8091

Email: TheSI@nist.gov

http://nist.gov/metric

4 The Two Classes of SI Units and the SI Prefixes

Since the 1995 edition of this Guide, the 20th CGPM, which met October 9 -12, 1995, decided to eliminate the class of supplementary units as a separate unit class in the SI. The SI now consists of only two

classes of units: base units and derived units. The radian and steradian, which were the two supplementary

units, are now subsumed into the class of SI derived units. Thus the SI units are currently divided into base

units and derived units, which together form what is called "the coherent system of SI units."2 The SI also

includes the prefixes to form decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units.

2 According to Ref. [4: ISO 31-0], a system of units is coherent with respect to a system of quantities and equations if the system of

units is chosen in such a way that the equations between numerical values have exactly the same form (including the numerical

factors) as the corresponding equations between the quantities (see Sees. 7.1 1 and 7.14). In such a coherent system, of which the SI is an example, no numerical factor other than the number I ever occurs in the expressions for the derived units in terms of the base units.

3
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

4.1 SI base units

Table 1 gives the seven base quantities, assumed to be mutually independent, on which the SI is founded, and the names and symbols of their respective units, called "SI base units." Definitions of the SI base units are given in Appendix A. The kelvin and its symbol K are also used to express the value of a temperature interval or a temperature difference (see Sec. 8.5).

Table 1. SI base units

SI base unit

Base 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

4.2 SI derived units

Derived units are expressed algebraically in terms of base units or other derived units. The symbols

for derived units are obtained by means of the mathematical operations of multiplication and division. For

example, the derived unit for the derived quantity molar mass (mass divided by amount of substance) is the

kilogram per mole, symbol kg/mol. Additional examples of derived units expressed in terms of SI base

units are given in Table 2. (The rules and style conventions for printing and using SI unit symbols are given

in Sees. 6.1.1 to 6.1.8.)

Table 2. Examples of SI coherent derived units expressed in terms of SI base units

SI coherent derived unit

Derived quantity Name Symbol

area square meter m

2

volume cubic meter m

3

speed, velocity meter per second m/s

acceleration meter per second squared m/s2 wavenumber reciprocal meter m

density, mass density kilogram per cubic meter kg/m3

specific volume cubic meter per kilogram m

3/kg

current density ampere per square meter A/m2

magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m

luminance candela per square meter cd/m2

amount-of-substance concentration

mol/m3 amount concentration , concentration mole per cubic meter

4.2.1 SI coherent derived units with special names and symbols

Certain SI coherent derived units have special names and symbols; these are given in Table 3. Consistent with the discussion in Sec. 4, the radian and steradian, which are the two former supplementary

units, are included in Table 3. The last four units in Table 3 were introduced into the SI for reasons of

safeguarding human health.

4
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Table 3. The 22 SI coherent derived units with special names and symbols.

SI coherent derived unit

(fl>

Special name Special Expression in Expression in symbol terms of other terms of SI base

SI units units

nlane anele radian

(h) rad ] 0>) m/m

solid angle steradian sr

(c) 1 (b) m2/m2

frequency hertz Hz s"

1

force newton N m • kg s~

2

pressure, stress pascal Pa N/m2 m

1

' kg s

2

energy, work, ioule J N • m

2 i -2 m ' kg ' s amount of heat

power, radiant flux watt W J/s m

2

• kg • s

electric charge, coulomb c s A

amount of electricity

electric potential difference^, volt V W/A 2 i -3 a -1 m kg • s A

electromotive force

capacitance farad F C/V m"2

• kg" 1• s

4

• A"2

electric resistance ohm Q. V/A m

2

• kg • s"

3

• A"2

electric conductance Siemens S A/V m"2

• kg" 1• s

3

• A

2

magnetic flux weber Wb V-s 2 i -2 a-1 m • kg • s A

magnetic flux density tesla T Wb/m2 kg • s"

2

• A"1

inductance henry H Wb/A m

2 kg • s"

2

• A

2

Celsius temperature degree Celsius ^ °c

cd • srw

K

luminous flux lumen lm Cd

illuminance lux lx lm/m2 m~

2

• cd

activity referred to becquerel Bq s"

1

a radionuclide fe)

absorbed dose, gray Gy J/kg m

2

• s"

2

specific energy (imparted),

kerma

dose equivalent, sievert

(h) Sv J/kg

2 -2 m ' s ambient dose equivalent,

directional dose equivalent,

personal dose equivalent

catalytic activity katal kat s"

1

• mol

{a) The SI prefixes may be used with any of the special names and symbols, but when this is done the resulting unit will no longer be coherent. (See Sec. 6.2.8.) (b) The radian and steradian are special names for the number one that may be used to convey information about the quantity concerned. In practice the symbols rad and sr are used where appropriate, but the symbol for the derived unit one is generally omitted in specifying the values of dimensionless quantities. (See Sec 7. 10.)

(c) In photometry the name steradian and the symbol sr are usually retained in expressions for units.

(</) The hertz is used only for periodic phenomena, and the becquerel is used only for stochastic processes in activity referred to a radionuclide.

(e) Electric potential difference is also called "voltage" in the United States.

If) The degree Celsius is the special name for the kelvin used to express Celsius temperatures. The degree Celsius and the kelvin are equal in size, so that the numerical value of a temperature difference or temperature interval is the same when expressed in either degrees Celsius or in kelvins. (See Sees. 4.2. 1 . 1 and 8.5.)

(g) Activity referred to a radionuclide is sometimes incorrectly called radioactivity. (h) See Refs. [1,2], on the use of the sievert.

4.2.1.1 Degree Celsius

In addition to the quantity thermodynamic temperature (symbol 7), expressed in the unit kelvin, use

is also made of the quantity Celsius temperature (symbol /) defined by the equation

t=T-T0,

5
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

where T0 = 273.15 K by definition. To express Celsius temperature, the unit degree Celsius, symbol °C,

which is equal in magnitude to the unit kelvin, is used; in this case, "degree Celsius" is a special name used

in place of "kelvin." An interval or difference of Celsius temperature, however, can be expressed in the unit

kelvin as well as in the unit degree Celsius (see Sec. 8.5). (Note that the thermodynamic temperature T0 is exactly 0.01 K below the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water (see Sec. A.6).)

4.2.2 Use of SI derived units with special names and symbols

Examples of SI derived units that can be expressed with the aid of SI derived units having special names and symbols are given in Table 4.

Table 4. Examples of SI coherent derived units expressed with the aid of SI derived units having special names and symbols.

SI coherent derived unit

Derived quantity Name Symbol Expression in terms of

SI base units

dynamic viscosity pascal second Pa • s m"1 kg • s"

1 moment of force newton meter N • m m

2

• kg • s

-2

kg s"

2 surface tension newton per meter N/m

angular velocity radian per second rad/s m • nf 1

' s"

1 = s"1

angular acceleration radian per second squared rad/s

2 mm-1 -2 -2

s = s heat flux density, watt per square meter W/m2 kg • s"

3

irradiance

heat capacity, entropy joule per kelvin J/K m

2

• kg • s"

2

• K"1

specific heat capacity, joule per kilogram kelvin J/(kg • K) m

2

• s"

2

• KT1

specific entropy

m

2

• s"

2 specific energy joule per kilogram J/kg

thermal conductivity watt per meter kelvin W(m K) m • kg • s"

3

• KT 1

energy density joule per cubic meter J/m3 nf1 kg s

-2

electric field strength volt per meter V/m m • kg • s"

3

• A

-1

electric charge density coulomb per cubic meter C/m3 nf3• s

• A

surface charge density coulomb per square meter C/m2 nf2

• s A

electric flux density, coulomb per square meter C/m2 nf2• s•

electric displacement

permittivity farad per meter F/m m"3

• kg"

1

• s

4

• A

2

permeability henry per meter H/m m kg s~

2

" A"2

molar energy joule per mole J/mol m

2

• kg • s

2

• mof1

molar entropy, joule per mole kelvin J/(mol • K) m

2 kg s2 K1 mol" 1

molar heat capacity

exposure (x and yrays) coulomb per kilogram C/kg kg" 1 s

• A

m

2 s"

3 absorbed dose rate gray per second Gy/s

radiant intensity watt per steradian W/sr m

4 nf2 kg s3 = m2 kg s3

radiance watt per square meter

steradian

W/(m2 sr) m

2

• m"2• kg • s"

3 = kg s"3

catalytic activity katal per cubic meter kat/m3 m~

3 s1 mol

concentration

The advantages of using the special names and symbols of SI derived units are apparent in Table 4. Consider, for example, the quantity molar entropy: the unit J/(mol K) is obviously more easily understood

than its SI base-unit equivalent, m

2

• kg • s"

2

• K" 1 mol" 1

. Nevertheless, it should always be recognized that

the special names and symbols exist for convenience; either the form in which special names or symbols

are used for certain combinations of units or the form in which they are not used is correct. For example,

because of the descriptive value implicit in the compound-unit form, communication is sometimes

facilitated if magnetic flux (see Table 3) is expressed in terms of the volt second (V • s) instead of the

weber ( Wb) or the combination of SI base units, m

2 kg s

2 A" 1

.

6
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Tables 3 and 4 also show that the values of several different quantities are expressed in the same SI

unit. For example, the joule per kelvin (J/K) is the SI unit for heat capacity as well as for entropy. Thus the

name of the unit is not sufficient to define the quantity measured.

A derived unit can often be expressed in several different ways through the use of base units and

derived units with special names. In practice, with certain quantities, preference is given to using certain

units with special names, or combinations of units, to facilitate the distinction between quantities whose

values have identical expressions in terms of SI base units. For example, the SI unit of frequency is specified as the hertz (Hz) rather than the reciprocal second (s '), and the SI unit of moment of force is specified as the newton meter (N • m) rather than the joule (J).

Similarly, in the field of ionizing radiation, the SI unit of activity is designated as the becquerel (Bq)

rather than the reciprocal second (s

_1

), and the SI units of absorbed dose and dose equivalent are designated

as the gray (Gy) and the sievert (Sv), respectively, rather than the joule per kilogram (J/kg).

4.3 Decimal multiples and submultiples of SI units: SI prefixes

Table 5 gives the SI prefixes that are used to form decimal multiples and submultiples of units. They

allow very large or very small numerical values (see Sec. 7.1) to be avoided. A prefix name attaches

directly to the name of a unit, and a prefix symbol attaches directly to the symbol for a unit. For example, one kilometer, 1 km, is equal to one thousand meters, 1000 m or 10

3 m. When prefixes are used to form

multiples and submultiples of SI base and derived units, the resulting units are no longer coherent. (See

footnote 2 for a brief discussion of coherence.) The rules and style conventions for printing and using SI

prefixes are given in Sees. 6.2.1 to 6.2.8. The special rule for forming decimal multiples and submultiples

of the unit of mass is given in Sec. 6.2.7.

Table 5. SI prefixes

Factor Prefix Name Symbol Factor Prefix Name Symbol

10

24 = (103 )8

10

21 =(103 )

7

10

18 = (103 )6

yotta

zetta Y

Z

10

1

10"2 deci

centi

d

c exa E 10"3 = (10

3 )

-1

10

6 = (103 )2

10"9 = (10

3)"3

10" l2 = (10

3

) 4

10" 15 = (10

3 )"5

10" 18 = (10

3 )"6

10

21 = (103 )"7

10

24 = (103 )"8

milli m

10

15 = (10

3 )5

10

12 = (103 )

4

10

9 = (103

)

3

10

6 = (103

)

2

10

3 = (103 )'

peta

tera

P

T

micro nano

H

n giga

mega

kilo

G

M

k

pico

femto

atto

P

f

a 10

2

10'

hecto

deka

h

da

zepto

yocto

zy

Note: Alternative definitions of the SI prefixes and their symbols are not permitted. For example, it is unacceptable to use kilo (k) to represent 2

10 = 1024, mega (M) to represent 220 = 1 048 576, or giga (G) to represent 2

30 = 1 073 741 824. See the note to Ref. [5] on page 74 for the prefixes for binary powers adopted by the IEC.

5 Units Outside the SI

Units that are outside the SI, that is, non-SI units, may be divided into three categories: — those units that are accepted for use with the SI by the CIPM and hence this Guide; — those units that are not accepted for use with the SI by the CIPM, but are temporarily accepted

for use with the SI by this Guide; and — those units that are not accepted for use with the SI by either the CIPM or this Guide and in the

view of this Guide must strictly be avoided.

5.1 Units accepted for use with the SI

The following four sections discuss in detail the units this Guide accepts for use with the SI.

7
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

5.1.1 Hour, degree, liter, and the like

Certain units that are not part of the SI are essential and used so widely that they are accepted by the

CIPM, and thus by this Guide, for use with the SI [2, 3]. These units are given in Table 6. The combination

of units of this table with SI units to form derived units should be restricted to special cases in order not to lose the advantages of the coherence of SI units. (The use of SI prefixes with the units of Table 6 is discussed in Sec. 6.2.8.)

Additionally, this Guide recognizes that situations on occasion will require the use of time-related

units other than those given in Table 6; such as using intervals of time be expressed in weeks, months, or

years. In such cases, if a standardized symbol for the unit is not available, the name of the unit should be

written out in full. (See Sec. 8.1 for a suggestion regarding the symbol for year and Chapter 9 for the rules

and style conventions for spelling unit names.)

Table 6. Non-SI units accepted for use with the SI by the CIPM and this Guide

Name Symbol Value in SI units

minute min 1 min = 60s

hour |

time h 1 h = 60 min = 3600 s day d 1 d = 24 h = 86 400 s degree

^> plane angle

(a)

o 1° (7i/180)rad

minute 1 1' (1/60)° = (7i/10 800)rad

second M 1" (1/60)' = (tt/648 000) rad

lhm2 = 10

4 m2 hectare1 '0 ha lha =

liter l}

b)

, 1 1 L

= 1dm3 = 10

3 m3

metric ton

(c) T 1 t 10

3 kg

neper NpW/) [see footnote (g) regarding the numerical

bel B

kf) value of logarythmic ratio quantities such

decibel dB<^> as the neper, the bel, and the decibel]

(a) See also Sec. 7.2.

(b) The alternative symbol for the liter, L, was adopted by the CGPM in order to avoid the risk of confusion between the letter I and

the number 1 (see Ref. [1] or [2]). Thus, although both I and L are internationally accepted symbols for the liter, to avoid this risk the symbol to be used in the United States is L (see Refs. [2] and [6]). The script letter I is not an approved symbol for the liter.

(c) This is the name to be used for this unit in the United States (see Refs. [2] and [6]); it is also used in some other English-speaking

countries. However, this unit is called "tonne" in Ref. [1] and is the name used in many countries.

(d) The statement LA = n Np (where n is a number) is interpreted to mean that ln(/4 2 / A x ) = n. Thus when LA = 1 Np, A2 I A x = e. The

symbol A is used here to denote the amplitude of a sinusoidal signal, and LA is then called the Napierian logarithmic amplitude

ratio, or the Napierian amplitude level difference.

(e) The statement L\ = m dB = (m I 10) B (where m is a number) is interpreted to mean that lg(A7 X0 ) = m/10. Thus when Lx = 1 B, X/X0 = 10, and when L\ = 1 dB, XI Xo = 10

1 "0

. If X denotes a mean square signal or power-like quantity, Lx is called a power

level referred to X0 . (See Sec. 8.7.)

(/) In using these units it is important that the nature of the quantity be specified, and that any reference value used be specified.

These units are not SI units, but they have been accepted by the CIPM for use with the SI. For additional information on the neper and bel, see Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3], and Sec. 8.7 of this Guide.

(g) The numerical values of the neper, bel, and decibel (and hence the relation of the bel and the decibel to the neper) are rarely required. They depend on the way in which the logarithmic quantities are defined.

(h) This unit and its symbol are used to express agrarian area.

5.1.2 Electronvolt, astronomical unit, and unified atomic mass unit

The CIPM, and thus this Guide, accepts for use with the SI the units given in Table 7 [1, 2]. These

units are used in specialized fields; their values in SI units must be obtained from experiment and,

therefore, are not known exactly. (The use of SI prefixes with the units of Table 7 is discussed in Sec.

6.2.8.)

8
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Table 7. Non-SI Units accepted for use with the SI by the CIPM and this Guide, whose values in SI units

are obtained experimentally =====^__=___=== =^==

Name Symbol Definition and Value in SI units

electronvolt eV (a)

astronomical unit ua (b)

unified atomic mass unit u (c)

dalton Da (d)

(a) The electronvolt is the kinetic energy acquired by an electron in passing through a potential difference of 1 V in vacuum,

1.602 176 487(40) * 10"" J. This value of 1 eV is the 2006 CODATA recommended value with the standard uncertainty in the

last two digits given in parenthesis [19, 20]. (b) The astronomical unit is approximately equal to the mean Earth-Sun distance. It is the radius of an unperturbed circular Newtonian orbit about the Sun of a particle having infinitesimal mass, moving with a mean motion of 0.017 202 098 95 radians per day (known as the Gaussian constant). The value and standard uncertainty of the astronomical unit, ua, is 1.495 978 706

91(6) x 10" m. This is cited from the IERS Conventions 2003 (D.D. McCarthy and G. Petit eds., IERS Technical Note 32, Frankfurt am Main: Verlag des Bundesamts fur Kartographie und Geodasie, 2004, 12). The value of the astronomical unit in meters comes from the JPL ephemerides DE403 (Standish E.M., Report of the 1AU WGAS Sub-Group on Numerical Standards,

Highlights of Astronomy, Appenzeller ed., Dordrecht: Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1995, 180-184).

(c) The unified atomic mass unit is equal to 1/12 times the mass of a free carbon 12 atom, at rest and in its ground state, 1.660 538 782(83) * 10"27 kg. This value of 1 u is the 2006 CODATA recommended value with the standard uncertainty in the

last two digits given in parenthesis [18, 19]. (d) The dalton (Da) and the unified atomic mass unit (u) are alternative names (and symbols) for the same unit, equal to 1/12 times

the mass of a free carbon 12 atom, at rest and in its ground state. The dalton is often combined with SI prefixes, for example to express the masses of large molecules in kilodaltons, kDa, or megadaltons, MDa.

Note: The abbreviation, AMU is not an acceptable unit symbol for the unified atomic mass unit. The only allowed name is "unified atomic mass unit" and the only allowed symbol is u.

5.1.3 Units from International Standards

There are a few highly specialized units that are given by the International Organization for

Standardization (ISO) or the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and which in the view of this

Guide are also acceptable for use with the SI. They include the octave, phon, and sone, and units used in information technology, including the baud (Bd), bit (bit), erlang (E), hartley (Hart), and shannon (Sh)3

. It

is the position of this Guide that the only such additional units NIST authors may use with the SI are those

given in either the International Standards on quantities and units of ISO (Ref. [4]) or of IEC (Ref. [5]).

5.1.4 Natural and atomic units

In some cases, particularly in basic science, the values of quantities are expressed in terms of

fundamental constants of nature. The two most important of these unit systems are the natural unit (n.u.)

system used in high energy or particle physics, and the atomic unit (a.u.) system used in atomic physics and

quantum chemistry. The use of these units with the SI is not formally accepted by the CIPM, but the CIPM

recognizes their existence and importance. Therefore, this Guide formally accepts their use when it is necessary for effective communication. In such cases, the specific unit system used must be identified.

Examples of physical quantities used as units are given in Table 8.

Table 8. Examples of physical quantities sometimes used as units

Kind of quantity Physical quantity used as a unit Symbol

speed speed of light in vacuum (n.u.) c action Planck constant divided by 2ti (n.u.) h mass electron rest mass (n.u. and a.u.) me electric charge elementary charge (a.u.) e

length Bohr radius (a.u.) ao energy Hartree energy (a.u.) Eh time ratio of action to energy (a.u.) h/Eh

3 The symbol in parentheses following the name of the unit is its internationally accepted unit symbol, but the octave, phon, and sone have no such unit symbols. For additional information on the neper and bel, see Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3], and Sec. 8.7 of this Guide.

9
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

5.2 Other Non-SI units accepted for use with the SI

Because of established practice in certain fields or countries, in 1978 the CIPM considered that it was permissible for the following units given in Table 9, nautical mile, knot, angstrom, are, barn, bar, and

millimeter of mercury to continue to be used with the SI. However, these units must not be introduced in

fields where they are not presently used. Further, this Guide strongly discourages the continued use of these

units by NIST authors except when absolutely necessary. If these units are used by NIST authors the

values of relevant quantities shall be given in terms of SI units first followed by these non-SI units in parentheses.

The curie, roentgen, rad, and rem have been added to the NIST SP 330 [2] and Table 9 of this Guide,

since they are in wide use in the United States, especially in regulatory documents dealing with health and

safety. Nevertheless, this Guide strongly discourages the continued use of the curie, roentgen, rad, and rem

and recommends that SI units should be used by NIST authors only if necessary. If these units are used by

NIST authors the values of relevant quantities shall be given in terms of SI units first followed by these

outdated non-SI units in parentheses.

Table 9. Other non-SI units accepted for use with the SI either by the CIPM and this Guide (indicated by*), or by this Guide (indicated by ) Name Symbol Value in SI units

nautical mile*

knot*

angstrom*

barn*

bar

millimeter of mercury

A

b

bar

mmHg

1 nautical mile = 1852 m

1 nautical mile per hour = (1 852/3600) m/s

1 A = 0.1 ran = 10"'°m

1 b = 100 fin

2 = 10~28 m

2

1 bar = 0.1 MPa= 100 kPa = 1000 hPa = 10

5 Pa

1 mmHg= 133.322 Pa

curie

roentgen

rad** rem

Ci

R

rad,0)

rem

1 Ci = 3.7 X 10

10 Bq

1 R = 2.58x 10"4 C/kg

1 rad = 1 cGy = 10"2 Gy

1 rem = 1 cSv = 10~2 Sv

(a) When there is risk of confusion with the symbol for the radian, rd may be used as the symbol for rad.

5.3 Units not accepted for use with the SI

The following two sections briefly discuss units not accepted for use with the SI.

5.3.1 CGS units

Table 10 gives examples of centimeter-gram-second (CGS) units having special names. These units

are not accepted for use with the SI by this Guide. Further, no other units of the various CGS systems of

units, which includes the CGS Electrostatic (ESU), CGS Electromagnetic (EMU), and CGS Gaussian

systems, are accepted for use with the SI by this Guide except such units as the centimeter, gram, and

second that are also defined in the SI.

10
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Table 10. Examples of CGS units with special names (not accepted for use with the SI by this Guide)

Name Symbol Value in SI units

erg

dyne

(a) poisev

'

stokes(/,)

erg

dyn

P

St

1 erg = 10" ' J

1 dyn= 10"5 N

1 P= 1 dyn - s/cm

2 = 0.1 Pa" s

1 St = 1 cm

2/s= 10~4 m

2/s gauss

(c)

oersted

<c)

maxwell(c)

stilb

Gs, G

Oe

Mx

sb

1 Gs corresponds to 10

4 T

1 Oe corresponds to ( 1 000/4ji) A/m

1 Mx corresponds to 10

8 Wb

1 sb = 1 cd/cm2 = 10

4 cd/m2

phot

gal

(rf> ph

Gal

1 ph= 10

4 lx

1 Gal = 1 cm s

2 = 10~2 m s~2

(a) The poise (P) is the CGS unit for viscosity (also called dynamic viscosity). The SI unit is the pascal second (Pa • s).

(b) The stokes (St) is the CGS unit for kinematic viscosity. The SI unit is the meter squared per second (m2/s).

(c) This unit is part of the so-called electromagnetic three-dimensional CGS system and cannot strictly speaking be compared to the corresponding SI unit, which has four dimensions when only mechanical and electric quantities are considered.

(d) The gal is employed in geodesy and geophysics to express acceleration due to gravity.

5.3.2 Other unacceptable units

There are many units besides CGS units that are outside the SI and not accepted for use with it, including, of course, all of the U.S. customary (that is, inch-pound) units. In the view of this Guide such

units must strictly be avoided and SI units, their multiples or submultiples, or those units accepted or temporarily accepted for use with the SI (including their appropriate multiples and submultiples), must be

used instead. This restriction also applies to the use of unaccepted special names for SI units or special names for multiples or submultiples of SI units, such as mho for Siemens (S) and micron for micrometer

(urn). Table 1 1 gives a few examples of some of these other unacceptable units.

Table 11. Examples of other unacceptable units

Name Symbol Value in SI units

fermi fermi 1 fermi = 1 fin = 10"' 5 m

photometric carat metric carat 1 metric carat = 200 mg = 2 x 10

4 kg

ton- Ton- 1 Ton = (101 325/760) Pa

standard atmosphere arm 1 atm= 101 325 Pa

kilogram-force kgf 1 kgf =9.806 65 N

micron 1 m = 1 um = 10"6 m

calorie (various) caltt, (thermochemical) 1 cal,h = 4.184 J x unit xu 1 xu* 0.1002 pm= 1.002 x 10

13 m

stere St 1 st = 1 m

3 gamma y 1 y = 1 nT= 10

9 T

gamma (mass) y ly = 1 ug=10"9 kg

lambda (volume) X U= 1 uL= 10"6 L= 10

9 m3

5.4 The terms "SI units" and "acceptable units"

Consistent with accepted practice [1, 2], this Guide uses either the term "SI units" or "units of the

SI" to mean the SI base units and SI coherent derived units, and multiples and submultiples of these units

formed by using the SI prefixes. The term "acceptable units," which is introduced in this Guide for

convenience, is used to mean the SI units plus (a) those non-SI units accepted for use with the SI (see

Tables 6 - 9); and (b) appropriate multiples and submultiples of such accepted non-SI units.

11
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

6 Rules and Style Conventions for Printing and Using Units

6.1 Rules and style conventions for unit symbols

The following eight sections give rules and style conventions related to the symbols for units.

6.1.1 Typeface

Unit symbols are printed in roman (upright) type regardless of the type used in the surrounding text. (See also Sec. 10.2 and Sees. 10.2.1 to 10.2.4.)

6.1.2 Capitalization

Unit symbols are printed in lower-case letters except that:

(a) the symbol or the first letter of the symbol is an upper-case letter when the name of the unit is derived

from the name of a person; and

(b) the recommended symbol for the liter in the United States is L. (See Table 6, footnote (b).)

Examples: m (meter) s (second) V (volt)

Pa (pascal) lm (lumen) Wb (weber)

6.1.3 Plurals

Unit symbols are unaltered in the plural.

Example: I = 75 cm but not: 1=15 cms

Note: I is the quantity symbol for length. (The rules and style conventions for expressing the values of

quantities are discussed in detail in Chapter 7.)

6.1.4 Punctuation

Unit symbols are not followed by a period unless at the end of a sentence.

Example: "Its length is 75 cm." or "It is 75 cm long." but not: "It is 75 cm. long."

6.1.5 Unit symbols obtained by multiplication

Symbols for units formed from other units by multiplication are indicated by means of either a halfhigh (that is, centered) dot or a space. However, this Guide, as does Ref. [6], prefers the half-high dot

because it is less likely to lead to confusion.

Example: N • m or N m

Notes:

1. A half-high dot or space is usually imperative. For example, m • s

1 is the symbol for the meter per

second while ms-1 is the symbol for the reciprocal millisecond (10

3 s

-1 — see Sec. 6.2.3).

2. Reference [4: ISO 31-0] suggests that if a space is used to indicate units formed by multiplication,

the space may be omitted if it does not cause confusion. This possibility is reflected in the

common practice of using the symbol kWh rather than kW • h or kW h for the kilowatt hour.

Nevertheless, this Guide takes the position that a half-high dot or a space should always be used to
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

avoid possible confusion; for this same reason, only one of these two allowed forms should be

used in any given manuscript.

6.1.6 Unit symbols obtained by division

Symbols for units formed from other units by division are indicated by means of a solidus (oblique

stroke, /), a horizontal line, or negative exponents.

Example: m/s, E, or m • s

-1

s

However, to avoid ambiguity, the solidus must not be repeated on the same line unless parentheses

are used.

Examples: m/s2 or m • s

2 but not: m/s/s

m • kg/(s

3

• A) or m kg • s

-3 A

H but not: m • kg/s3/A

Negative exponents should be used in complicated cases.

6.1.7 Unacceptability of unit symbols and unit names together

Unit symbols and unit names are not used together. (See also Sees. 9.5 and 9.8.)

Example: C/kg, C • kg ', or coulomb per kilogram but not: coulomb/kg; coulomb per kg;

C/kilogram; coulomb kg" 1

; C per

kg; coulomb/kilogram

6.1.8 Unacceptability of abbreviations for units

Because acceptable units generally have internationally recognized symbols and names, it is not

permissible to use abbreviations for their unit symbols or names, such as sec (for either s or second), sq. mm (for either mm2 or square millimeter), cc (for either cm

3 or cubic centimeter), mins (for either min or

minutes), hrs (for either h or hours), lit (for either L or liter), amps (for either A or amperes), AMU (for

either u or unified atomic mass unit), or mps (for either m/s or meter per second). Although the values of

quantities are normally expressed using symbols for numbers and symbols for units (see Sec. 7.6), if for

some reason the name of a unit is more appropriate than the unit symbol (see Sec. 7.6, note 3), the name of

the unit should be spelled out in full.

6.2 Rules and style conventions for SI prefixes

The following eight sections give rules and style conventions related to the SI prefixes.

6.2.1 Typeface and spacing

Prefix names and symbols are printed in roman (upright) type regardless of the type used in the

surrounding text, and are attached to unit symbols without a space between the prefix name or symbol and

the unit name or symbol. This last rule also applies to prefixes attached to unit names.

Examples: mL (milliliter) pm (picometer) GO. (gigaohm) THz (terahertz)

13
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

6.2.2 Capitalization

The prefix symbols Y (yotta), Z (zetta), E (exa), P (peta), T (tera), G (giga), and M (mega) are printed in upper-case letters while all other prefix symbols are printed in lower-case letters (see Table 5). Prefix names are normally printed in lowercase letters.

6.2.3 Inseparability of prefix and unit

The grouping formed by a prefix symbol attached to a unit symbol constitutes a new inseparable

symbol (forming a multiple or submultiple of the unit concerned) which can be raised to a positive or negative power and which can be combined with other unit symbols to form compound unit symbols.

Examples: 2.3 cm

3 = 2.3 (cm)3 = 2.3 (10~2 m)3 = 2.3 * 10"6 m

3

1 cm" 1 = 1 (cm)"

1 = 1 (10~2 m)" 1 = 10

2 m1

5000 us

1 = 5000 (us)"

1 = 5000 (10~6 s)"1 = 5000 x 10

6 s"1 = 5 * 10

9 s"1

1 V/cm = (1 V)/(10"

2 m) = 10

2 V/m

Prefix names are also inseparable from the unit names to which they are attached. Thus, for example,

millimeter, micropascal, and meganewton are single words.

6.2.4 Unacceptability of compound prefixes

Compound prefix names or symbols, that is, prefix names or symbols formed by the juxtaposition of

two or more prefix names or symbols, are not permitted.

Example: nm (nanometer) but not: m^m (millimicrometer)

6.2.5 Use of multiple prefixes

In a derived unit formed by division, the use of a prefix symbol (or a prefix name) in both the

numerator and the denominator can cause confusion. Thus, for example, 10 kV/mm is acceptable, but

1 0 MV/m is often considered preferable because it contains only one prefix symbol and it is in the

numerator.

In a derived unit formed by multiplication, the use of more than one prefix symbol (or more than one

prefix name) can also cause confusion. Thus, for example, 10 MV ms is acceptable, but 10 kV • s is often

considered preferable.

Note: Such considerations usually do not apply if the derived unit involves the kilogram. For example,

0.13 mmol/g is not considered preferable to 0.13 mol/kg.

6.2.6 Unacceptability of stand-alone prefixes

Prefix symbols cannot stand alone and thus cannot be attached to the number 1 , the symbol for the

unit one. In a similar vein, prefix names cannot be attached to the name of the unit one, that is, to the word

"one." (See Sec. 7.10 for a discussion of the unit one.)

Example: the number density of Pb atoms is 5 *106/m3 but not: the number density of Pb atoms

is5M/m3

6.2.7 Prefixes and the kilogram

For historical reasons, the name "kilogram" for the SI base unit of mass contains the name "kilo,"

the SI prefix for 10

3

. Thus, because compound prefixes are unacceptable (see Sec. 6.2.4), symbols for

decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit of mass are formed by attaching SI prefix symbols to g, the

14
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

unit symbol for gram, and the names of such multiples and submultiples are formed by attaching SI prefix names to the name "gram."

Example: 10~6 kg = 1 mg (1 milligram) but not: 10~6 kg = 1 ukg (1 microkilogram)

6.2.8 Prefixes with the degree Celsius and units accepted for use with the SI

Prefix symbols may be used with the unit symbol °C and prefix names may be used with the unit

name "degree Celsius." For example, 12 m °C (12 millidegrees Celsius) is acceptable. However, to avoid

confusion, prefix symbols (and prefix names) are not used with the time-related unit symbols (names) min

(minute), h (hour), d (day); nor with the angle-related symbols (names) ° (degree), ' (minute), and

" (second) (see Table 6).

Prefix symbols (and prefix names) may be used with the unit symbols (names) L (liter), t (metric

ton), eV (electronvolt), u (unified atomic mass unit), Da (dalton) (see Tables 6 and 7). However, although

submultiples of the liter such as mL (milliliter) and dL (deciliter) are in common use, multiples of the liter such as kL (kiloliter) and ML (megaliter) are not. Similarly, although multiples of the metric ton such as kt (kilometric ton) are commonly used, submultiples such as mt (millimetric ton), which is equal to the

kilogram (kg), are not. Examples of the use of prefix symbols with eV and u are 80 MeV (80

megaelectronvolts) and 15 nu (15 nanounified atomic mass units).

7 Rules and Style Conventions for Expressing Values of Quantities

7.1 Value and numerical value of a quantity

The value of a quantity is its magnitude expressed as the product of a number and a unit, and the

number multiplying the unit is the numerical value of the quantity expressed in that unit.

More formally, the value of quantity A can be written as A = {A}[A\, where {A} is the numerical

value of A when the value of A is expressed in the unit [A]. The numerical value can therefore be written as {A} = A I [A], which is a convenient form for use in figures and tables. Thus, to eliminate the possibility of

misunderstanding, an axis of a graph or the heading of a column of a table can be labeled "t/°C" instead of

"t (°C)" or "Temperature (°C)." Similarly, an axis or column heading can be labeled "£/(V/m)" instead of

"£ (V/m)" or "Electric field strength (V/m)."

Examples:

1 . In the SI, the value of the velocity of light in vacuum is c = 299 792 458 m/s exactly. The number

299 792 458 is the numerical value of c when c is expressed in the unit m/s, and equals c/(m/s).

2. The ordinate of a graph is labeled T/(10

3 K), where T is thermodynamic temperature and K is the

unit symbol for kelvin, and has scale marks at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. If the ordinate value of a point on a curve in the graph is estimated to be 3.2, the corresponding temperature is T / (10

3 K) = 3.2 or T = 3200 K. Notice the lack of ambiguity in this form of labeling compared with "Temperature

(10

3 K)."

3. An expression such as ln(p/MPa), where p is the quantity symbol for pressure and MPa is the unit

symbol for megapascal, is perfectly acceptable, because p/MPa is the numerical value of p when p

is expressed in the unit MPa and is simply a number.

Notes:

1. For the conventions concerning the grouping of digits, see Sec. 10.5.3.

15
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

2. An alternative way of writing c/(m/s) is {c} m/s, meaning the numerical value of c when c is expressed in the unit m/s.

7.2 Space between numerical value and unit symbol

In the expression for the value of a quantity, the unit symbol is placed after the numerical value and

a space is left between the numerical value and the unit symbol.

The only exceptions to this rule are for the unit symbols for degree, minute, and second for plane

angle: °,

', and ", respectively (see Table 6), in which case no space is left between the numerical value and

the unit symbol.

Example: a = 30°22'8"

Note: a is a quantity symbol for plane angle.

This rule means that:

(a) The symbol °C for the degree Celsius is preceded by a space when one expresses the values of Celsius

temperatures.

Example: / = 30.2°C but not: / = 30.2°C or t = 30.2° C

(b) Even when the value of a quantity is used as an adjective, a space is left between the numerical value

and the unit symbol. (This rule recognizes that unit symbols are not like ordinary words or

abbreviations but are mathematical entities, and that the value of a quantity should be expressed in a way that is as independent of language as possible—sees Sees. 7.6 and 7.10.3.)

Examples: a 1 m end gauge but not: a 1-m end gauge

a 10 kfi resistor but not: a 10-kQ resistor

However, if there is any ambiguity, the words should be rearranged accordingly. For example, the

statement "the samples were placed in 22 mL vials" should be replaced with the statement "the samples were placed in vials of volume 22 mL."

Note: When unit names are spelled out, the normal rules of English apply. Thus, for example, "a roll of

35-millimeter film" is acceptable (see Sec. 7.6, note 3).

7.3 Number of units per value of a quantity

The value of a quantity is expressed using no more than one unit.

Example: I = 10.234 m but not: 1= 10 m 23 cm 4 mm

Note: Expressing the values of time intervals and of plane angles are exceptions to this rule. However, it

is preferable to divide the degree decimally. Thus one should write 22.20° rather than 22°12',

except in fields such as cartography and astronomy.

7.4 Unacceptability of attaching information to units

When one gives the value of a quantity, it is incorrect to attach letters or other symbols to the unit in order to provide information about the quantity or its conditions of measurement. Instead, the letters or

other symbols should be attached to the quantity.

Example: rmax = 1000 V but not: F= 1000Vmax

16 i
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Note: V is a quantity symbol for potential difference.

7.5 Unacceptability of mixing information with units

When one gives the value of a quantity, any information concerning the quantity or its conditions of

measurement must be presented in such a way as not to be associated with the unit. This means that

quantities must be defined so that they can be expressed solely in acceptable units (including the unit one — see Sec. 7. 1 0).

Examples:

the Pb content is 5 ng/L but not: 5 ng Pb/L or 5 ng of lead/L

the sensitivity for N03 molecules is 5 x 10 7cm but not:

the neutron emission rate is 5 * 10'7s but not:

the number density of 02 atoms is 3 x 10

18/cm3 but not:

the resistance per square is 100 Q. but not:

the sensitivity is 5 x 10

NO3 molecules/cm3

10

the emission rate is 5 x 10

10 n/s

the density is 3 x 10

18 02 atoms/cm3

the resistance is 100 Q/square

7.6 Symbols for numbers and units versus spelled-out names of numbers and units

This Guide takes the position that the key elements of a scientific or technical paper, particularly the

results of measurements and the values of quantities that influence the measurements, should be presented

in a way that is as independent of language as possible. This will allow the paper to be understood by as broad an audience as possible, including readers with limited knowledge of English. Thus, to promote the

comprehension of quantitative information in general and its broad understandability in particular, values

of quantities should be expressed in acceptable units using — the Arabic symbols for numbers, that is, the Arabic numerals, not the spelled-out names of the

Arabic numerals; and — the symbols for the units, not the spelled-out names of the units.

Examples:

the length of the laser is 5 m but not: the length of the laser is five meters

the sample was annealed at a temperature of 955 K for 12 hbut not: the sample was annealed at a temperature

of 955 kelvins for 12 hours

Notes:

1 . If the intended audience for a publication is unlikely to be familiar with a particular unit symbol, it should be defined when first used.

2. Because the use of the spelled-out name of an Arabic numeral with a unit symbol can cause

confusion, such combinations must strictly be avoided. For example, one should never write "the

length of the laser is five m."

3. Occasionally, a value is used in a descriptive or literary manner and it is fitting to use the spelledout name of the unit rather than its symbol. Thus, this Guide considers acceptable statements such

17
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

as "the reading lamp was designed to take two 60-watt light bulbs," or "the rocket journeyed

uneventfully across 380 000 kilometers of space," or "they bought a roll of 35-millimeter film for

their camera."

4. The United States Government Printing Office Style Manual (Ref. [3], pp. 181-189) gives the rule

that symbols for numbers are always to be used when one expresses (a) the value of a quantity in terms of a unit of measurement, (b) time (including dates), and (c) an amount of money. This

publication should be consulted for the rules governing the choice between the use of symbols for

numbers and the spelled-out names of numbers when numbers are dealt with in general.

7.7 Clarity in writing values of quantities

The value of a quantity is expressed as the product of a number and a unit (see Sec. 7.1). Thus, to avoid possible confusion, this Guide takes the position that values of quantities must be written so that it is completely clear to which unit symbols the numerical values of the quantities belong. Also to avoid

possible confusion, this Guide strongly recommends that the word "to" be used to indicate a range of

values for a quantity instead of a range dash (that is, a long hyphen) because the dash could be

misinterpreted as a minus sign. (The first of these recommendations once again recognizes that unit

symbols are not like ordinary words or abbreviations but are mathematical entities—see Sec. 7.2.)

Examples:

51 mm x 51 mm x 25 mm but not: 51 x 51 x 25 mm

225 nm to 2400 nm or (225 to 2400) nm but not: 225 to 2400 nm

0°Cto 100 °C or(0to 100) °C but not: 0°C- 100 °C

0 V to 5 V or (0 to 5) V but not: 0-5 V

(8.2,9.0,9.5,9.8, 10.0) GHz but not: 8.2, 9.0, 9.5,9.8, 10.0 GHz

63.2 m ±0.1 m or (63.2 ± 0.1) m but not: 63.2 ±0.1 m or 63.2 m ±0.1

129 s- 3 s= 126 s or (129- 3) s= 126 s but not: 129- 3 s= 126 s

Note: For the conventions concerning the use of the multiplication sign, see Sec. 10.5.4.

7.8 Unacceptabiiity of stand-alone unit symbols

Symbols for units are never used without numerical values or quantity symbols (they are not

abbreviations).

Examples: there are 10

6 mm in 1 km but not: there are many mm in a km

it is sold by the cubic meter but not: it is sold by the m

3

t/°C, E/(V/m),p/MPa, and the like are perfectly acceptable (see Sec. 7.1).

7.9 Choosing SI prefixes

The selection of the appropriate decimal multiple or submultiple of a unit for expressing the value of

a quantity, and thus the choice of SI prefix, is governed by several factors.

These include: — the need to indicate which digits of a numerical value are significant, — the need to have numerical values that are easily understood, and

18
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

— the practice in a particular field of science or technology.

A digit is significant if it is required to express the numerical value of a quantity. In the expression

/= 1200 m, it is not possible to tell whether the last two zeroes are significant or only indicate the

magnitude of the numerical value of /. However, in the expression / = 1.200 km, which uses the SI prefix

symbol for 10

3 (kilo, symbol k), the two zeroes are assumed to be significant because if they were not, the

value of / would have been written / = 1 .2 km.

It is often recommended that, for ease of understanding, prefix symbols should be chosen in such a way that numerical values are between 0.1 and 1000, and that only prefix symbols that represent the

number 10 raised to a power that is a multiple of 3 should be used.

Examples: 3.3 * 10

7 Hz may be written as 33 * 10

6 Hz = 33 MHz

0.009 52 g may be written as 9.52 x 1 0"3 g = 9.52 mg

2703 W may be written as 2.703 x 10

3 W = 2.703 kW

5.8 x 10"8 m may be written as 58 * 10

9 m = 58 nm

However, the values of quantities do not always allow this recommendation to be followed, nor is it mandatory to try to do so.

In a table of values of the same kind of quantities or in a discussion of such values, it is usually

recommended that only one prefix symbol should be used even if some of the numerical values are not

between 0.1 and 1000. For example, it is often considered preferable to write "the size of the sample is 10 mm x 3 mm x 0.02 mm" rather than "the size of the sample is 1 cm x 3 mm x 20 urn."

In certain kinds of engineering drawings it is customary to express all dimensions in millimeters.

This is an example of selecting a prefix based on the practice in a particular field of science or technology.

7.10 Values of quantities expressed simply as numbers: the unit one, symbol 1

Certain quantities, such as refractive index, relative permeability, and mass fraction, are defined as the ratio of two mutually comparable quantities and thus are of dimension one (see Sec. 7.14). The coherent

SI unit for such a quantity is the ratio of two identical SI units and may be expressed by the number 1. However, the number 1 generally does not appear in the expression for the value of a quantity of dimension

one. For example, the value of the refractive index of a given medium is expressed as « = 1.51 x 1 = 1.51.

On the other hand, certain quantities of dimension one have units with special names and symbols

which can be used or not depending on the circumstances. Plane angle and solid angle, for which the SI

units are the radian (rad) and steradian (sr), respectively, are examples of such quantities (see Sec. 4.2.1).

7.10.1 Decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit one

Because SI prefix symbols cannot be attached to the unit one (see Sec. 6.2.6), powers of 10 are used

to express decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit one.

Example: /j T = 1.2 x 10"6 but not: [iT = 1.2 u

Note: ju T is the quantity symbol for relative permeability.

7.10.2 %, percentage by, fraction

In keeping with Ref. [4: ISO 31-0], this Guide takes the position that it is acceptable to use the

internationally recognized symbol % (percent) for the number 0.01 with the SI and thus to express the

values of quantities of dimension one (see Sec. 7.14) with its aid. When it is used, a space is left between

19
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

the symbol % and the number by which it is multiplied [4: ISO 31-0]. Further, in keeping with Sec. 7.6, the

symbol % should be used, not the name "percent."

Example: xB = 0.0025 = 0.25 % but not: xB = 0.0025 = 0.25% or jc b = 0.25 percent

Note: xB is the quantity symbol for amount-of-substance fraction of B (see Sec. 8.6.2).

Because the symbol % represents simply a number, it is not meaningful to attach information to it (see Sec. 7.4). One must therefore avoid using phrases such as "percentage by weight," "percentage by

mass," "percentage by volume," or "percentage by amount of substance." Similarly, one must avoid

writing, for example, "% (m/m)," "% (by weight)," "% (VI V)" "% (by volume)," or "% (mol/mol)." The

preferred forms are "the mass fraction is 0.10," or "the mass fraction is 10 %," or "wB = 0.10," or "wB =

10 %" (wB is the quantity symbol for mass fraction of B—see Sec. 8.6.10); "the volume fraction is 0.35," or

"the volume fraction is 35 %," or " cp B = 0.35," or "tp B = 35 %" (tpB is the quantity symbol for volume

fraction of B—see Sec. 8.6.6); and "the amount-of-substance fraction is 0.15," or "the amount-of-substance

fraction is 15 %," or "xB = 0.15," or "xB = 15 %." Mass fraction, volume fraction, and amount-of-substance

fraction of B may also be expressed as in the following examples: wB = 3 g/kg; <p B = 6.7 mL/L; xB =

185 mmol/mol. Such forms are highly recommended (see also Sec. 7.10.3).

In the same vein, because the symbol % represents simply the number 0.01, it is incorrect to write,

for example, "where the resistances R] and R2 differ by 0.05 %," or "where the resistance R\ exceeds the

resistance R2 by 0.05 %." Instead, one should write, for example, "where R^ = R2 (1 + 0.05 %)," or define a

quantity A via the relation A = (R\ - R2 ) I R2 and write "where A = 0.05 %." Alternatively, in certain cases, the word "fractional" or "relative" can be used. For example, it would be acceptable to write "the fractional

increase in the resistance of the 10 kfl reference standard in 2006 was 0.002 %."

7.10.3 ppm, ppb, and ppt

In keeping with Ref. [4: ISO 31-0], this Guide takes the position that the language-dependent terms

part per million, part per billion, and part per trillion, and their respective abbreviations "ppm," "ppb," and

"ppt" (and similar terms and abbreviations), are not acceptable for use with the SI to express the values of

quantities. Forms such as those given in the following examples should be used instead.

Examples:

a stability of 0.5 (uA/A)/min but not: a stability of 0.5 ppm/min

a shift of 1.1 nm/m but not: a shift of 1.1 ppb

a frequency change of 0.35 * 10

9/ but not: a frequency change of 0.35 ppb

a sensitivity of 2 ng/kg but not: a sensitivity of 2 ppt

the relative expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is Ur = 3 uQ/fi

or

the expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is U = 3 * 10

6 R

or

the relative expanded uncertainty of the resistance Ris Ur - 3 * 10

but not:

20
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

the relative expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is Ut = 3 ppm

Because the names of numbers 10

9 and larger are not uniform worldwide, it is best that they be

avoided entirely (in many countries, 1 billion =1 x 10

12

, not 1 * 10

9 as in the United States); the preferred

way of expressing large numbers is to use powers of 10. This ambiguity in the names of numbers is one of

the reasons why the use of ppm, ppb, ppt, and the like is deprecated. Another, and a more important one, is

that it is inappropriate to use abbreviations that are language dependent together with internationally

recognized signs and symbols, such as MPa, In, 10

13

, and %, to express the values of quantities and in equations or other mathematical expressions (see also Sec. 7.6).

Note: This Guide recognizes that in certain cases the use of ppm, ppb, and the like may be required by a law or a regulation. Under these circumstances, Sees. 2.1 and 2.1.1 apply.

7.10.4 Roman numerals

It is unacceptable to use Roman numerals to express the values of quantities. In particular, one

should not use C, M, and MM as substitutes for 10

2

, 10

3

, and 10

6

, respectively.

7.1 1 Quantity equations and numerical-value equations

A quantity equation expresses a relation among quantities. An example is / = vt, where / is the

distance a particle in uniform motion with velocity v travels in the time /.

Because a quantity equation such as I = vt is independent of the units used to express the values of

the quantities that compose the equation, and because /, v, and / represent quantities and not numerical

values of quantities, it is incorrect to associate the equation with a statement such as "where / is in meters, v

is in meters per second, and / is in seconds."

On the other hand, a numerical value equation expresses a relation among numerical values of

quantities and therefore does depend on the units used to express the values of the quantities. For example,

{/} m = 3.6" 1 {t»} km/h {t} s expresses the relation among the numerical values of /, v, and t only when the

values of /, v, and t are expressed in the units meter, kilometer per hour, and second, respectively. (Here

{A} x is the numerical value of quantity A when its value is expressed in the unit X—see Sec. 7.1, note 2.)

An alternative way of writing the above numerical value equation, and one that is preferred because

of its simplicity and generality, is llm = 3.6" 1 [y/(km/h)](r / s). NIST authors should consider using this

preferred form instead of the more traditional form "/ = 3.6' 1 vt, where / is in meters, v is in kilometers per

hour, and t is in seconds." In fact, this form is still ambiguous because no clear distinction is made between

a quantity and its numerical value. The correct statement is, for example, "/* = 3.6" 1 d* t *, where /* is the

numerical value of the distance / traveled by a particle in uniform motion when / is expressed in meters, v*

is the numerical value of the velocity v of the particle when v is expressed in kilometers per hour, and t* is the numerical value of the time of travel / of the particle when t is expressed in seconds." Clearly, as is done here, it is important to use different symbols for quantities and their numerical values to avoid

confusion.

It is the strong recommendation of this Guide that because of their universality, quantity equations

should be used in preference to numerical-value equations. Further, if a numerical-value equation is used, it should be written in the preferred form given in the above paragraph, and if at all feasible the quantity

equation from which it was obtained should be given.

Notes:

1. Two other examples of numerical-value equations written in the preferred form are as follows,

where Eeis the gap energy of a compound semiconductor and k is the conductivity of an

electrolytic solution:

21
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

£g/eV= 1.425 - 1.337* + 0.270x 2

, 0<x<0.15,

where x is an appropriately defined amount-of-substance fraction (see Sec. 8.6.2).

k/(S/ cm) = 0.065 135 + 1.7140 x 10"3 (/ / °C) + 6.4141 x 10~6(/ / °C)

2 - 4.5028 x 10~\t/°C)\

0 °C < t< 50 °C, where t is Celsius temperature.

2. Writing numerical-value equations for quantities expressed in inch-pound units in the preferred

form will simplify their conversion to numerical-value equations for the quantities expressed in SI

units.

7.12 Proper names of quotient quantities

Derived quantities formed from other quantities by division are written using the words "divided by" or per

rather than the words "per unit" in order to avoid the appearance of associating a particular unit with the

derived quantity.

Example: pressure is force divided by area but not: pressure is force per unit area

or pressure is force per area

7.13 Distinction between an object and its attribute

To avoid confusion, when discussing quantities or reporting their values, one should distinguish

between a phenomenon, body, or substance, and an attribute ascribed to it. For example, one should

recognize the difference between a body and its mass, a surface and its area, a capacitor and its capacitance,

and a coil and its inductance. This means that although it is acceptable to say "an object of mass 1 kg was

attached to a string to form a pendulum," it is not acceptable to say "a mass of 1 kg was attached to a string

to form a pendulum."

7.14 Dimension of a quantity

Any SI derived quantity Q can be expressed in terms of the SI base quantities length (/ ) , mass (m),

time (t), electric current (/), thermodynamic temperature (T) , amount of substance (n), and luminous

intensity (7V ) by an equation of the form

K Q = r nf f f r rf'vZ ak •

k =1

where the exponents a, /?, y, . . . are numbers and the factors are also numbers. The dimension of Q is defined to be

dim Q = L

0MVlWJ'7

.

where L, M, T, I, 9, N, and J are the dimensions of the SI base quantities length, mass, time, electric

current, thermodynamic temperature, amount of substance, and luminous intensity, respectively. The

exponents a, p\ y, . . . are called "dimensional exponents." The SI derived unit of Q is m

a -kg^ s

y -A

d -K.c

mold ed11 , which is obtained by replacing the dimensions of the SI base quantities in the dimension of Q

with the symbols for the corresponding base units.

Example: Consider a nonrelativistic particle of mass m in uniform motion which travels a distance / in a time t . Its velocity is v = 1 1 t and its kinetic energy is E^ = mv

2

1 2 = I

2 mt~2 1 2. The

dimension of £k is dim £k = L

2 MT~2 and the dimensional exponents are 2, 1, and -2. The SI derived unit of Ek is then m

2 -kg-s

2

, which is given the special name "joule" and special

symbol J.

22
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

A derived quantity of dimension one, which is sometimes called a "dimensionless quantity," is one

for which all of the dimensional exponents are zero: dim Q = 1. It therefore follows that the derived unit for

such a quantity is also the number one, symbol 1, which is sometimes called a "dimensionless derived

unit."

Example: The mass fraction wB of a substance B in a mixture is given by wB = mB I m, where mB is the mass of B and m is the mass of the mixture (see Sec. 8.6.10). The dimension of wB is dim

wB = M'M 1 = 1; all of the dimensional exponents of wB are zero, and its derived unit is kg 1 -kg

-1 = 1 also.

8 Comments on Some Quantities and Their Units

8.1 Time and rotational frequency

The SI unit of time (actually time interval) is the second (s) and should be used in all technical

calculations. When time relates to calendar cycles, the minute (min), hour (h), and day (d) might be

necessary. For example, the kilometer per hour (km/h) is the usual unit for expressing vehicular speeds.

Although there is no universally accepted symbol for the year, Ref. [4: ISO 80000-3] suggests the

symbol a.

The rotational frequency n of a rotating body is defined to be the number of revolutions it makes in a time interval divided by that time interval [4: ISO 80000-3]. The SI unit of this quantity is thus the

reciprocal second (s

-1

). However, as pointed out in Ref. [4: ISO 80000-3], the designations "revolutions per

second" (r/s) and "revolutions per minute" (r/min) are widely used as units for rotational frequency in

specifications on rotating machinery.

8.2 Volume

The SI unit of volume is the cubic meter (m3 ) and may be used to express the volume of any

substance, whether solid, liquid, or gas. The liter (L) is a special name for the cubic decimeter (dm3 ), but

the CGPM recommends that the liter not be used to give the results of high accuracy measurements of

volumes [1,2]. Also, it is not common practice to use the liter to express the volumes of solids nor to use

multiples of the liter such as the kiloliter (kL) [see Sec. 6.2.8, and also Table 6, footnote (b)].

8.3 Weight

In science and technology, the weight of a body in a particular reference frame is defined as the

force that gives the body an acceleration equal to the local acceleration of free fall in that reference frame

[4: ISO 80000-4]. Thus the SI unit of the quantity weight defined in this way is the newton (N). When the

reference frame is a celestial object, Earth for example, the weight of a body is commonly called the local

force of gravity on the body.

Example: The local force of gravity on a copper sphere of mass 10 kg located on the surface of the

Earth, which is its weight at that location, is approximately 98 N.

Note: The local force of gravity on a body, that is, its weight, consists of the resultant of all the

gravitational forces acting on the body and the local centrifugal force due to the rotation of the

celestial object. The effect of atmospheric buoyancy is usually excluded, and thus the weight of a body is generally the local force of gravity on the body in vacuum.

In commercial and everyday use, and especially in common parlance, weight is usually used as a synonym for mass. Thus the SI unit of the quantity weight used in this sense is the kilogram (kg) and the

verb "to weigh" means "to determine the mass of or "to have a mass of."

Examples: the child's weight is 23 kg the briefcase weighs 6 kg Net wt. 227 g

23
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Inasmuch as NIST is a scientific and technical organization, the word "weight" used in the everyday

sense (that is, to mean mass) should appear only occasionally in NIST publications; the word "mass"

should be used instead. In any case, in order to avoid confusion, whenever the word "weight" is used, it should be made clear which meaning is intended.

8.4 Relative atomic mass and relative molecular mass

The terms atomic weight and molecular weight are obsolete and thus should be avoided. They have

been replaced by the equivalent but preferred terms relative atomic mass, symbol Ar , and relative molecular

mass, symbol Mr , respectively [4: ISO 31-8], which better reflect their definitions. Similar to atomic weight

and molecular weight, relative atomic mass and relative molecular mass are quantities of dimension one and are expressed simply as numbers. The definitions of these quantities are as follows [4: ISO 31-8]:

Relative atomic mass (formerly atomic weight): ratio of the average mass per atom of an element to 1/12

of the mass of the atom of the nuclide 12C.

Relative molecular mass (formerly molecular weight): ratio of the average mass per molecule or specified

entity of a substance to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of the nuclide 12C.

Examples: v4 r(Si) = 28.0855 Mr(H2) = 2.0159 AT( n

C) = 12 exactly

Notes:

1 . It follows from these definitions that if X denotes a specified atom or nuclide and B a specified

molecule or entity (or more generally, a specified substance), then Ar{X) = m{X) I [m(12C) / 12]

and Mr(B) = m(B) / [m(12C) / 12], where m(X) is the mass of X, m(B) is the mass of B, and

m(12C) is the mass of an atom of the nuclide 12C. It should also be recognized that m(12C) / 12 =

u, the unified atomic mass unit, which is approximately equal to 1.66 3 10~27 kg [see Table 7,

footnote (d)].

2. It follows from the examples and note 1 that the respective average masses of Si, H2, and 12 C are w(Si) = ^r(Si) u, m(H2 ) = Mr(H2 ) u, and w(12 C) = ^r(

12 C) u.

3. In publications dealing with mass spectrometry, one often encounters statements such as "the

mass-to-charge ratio is 15." What is usually meant in this case is that the ratio of the nucleon

number (that is, mass number—see Sec. 10.4.2) of the ion to its number of charges is 15. Thus

mass-to-charge ratio is a quantity of dimension one, even though it is commonly denoted by the

symbol ml z. For example, the mass-to-charge ratio of the ion UC1

] H1

+ +

is 91/2 = 45.5.

8.5 Temperature interval and temperature difference

As discussed in Sec. 4.2.1.1, Celsius temperature (/) is defined in terms of thermodynamic

temperature (7) by the equation t = T - T0, where T0 = 273.15 K by definition. This implies that the

numerical value of a given temperature interval or temperature difference whose value is expressed in the

unit degree Celsius (°C) is equal to the numerical value of the same interval or difference when its value is expressed in the unit kelvin (K); or in the notation of Sec. 7.1, note 2, {At }°C = {AT} K. Thus temperature

intervals or temperature differences may be expressed in either the degree Celsius or the kelvin using the same numerical value.

Example: The difference in temperature between the freezing point of gallium and the triple point of

water is At = 29.7546 °C = Ar = 29.7546 K.

24
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

8.6 Amount of substance, concentration, molality, and the like

The following section discusses amount of substance, and the subsequent nine sections, which are based on Ref. [6: ISO 31-8] and which are succinctly summarized in Table 12, discuss quantities that are quotients involving amount of substance, volume, or mass. In the table and its associated sections, symbols

for substances are shown as subscripts, for example, xB , nB, bB - However, it is generally preferable to place

symbols for substances and their states in parentheses immediately after the quantity symbol, for example

«(H2 S04 ). (For a detailed discussion of the use of the SI in physical chemistry, see the book cited in Ref.

[6], note 3.)

8.6.1 Amount of substance

Quantity symbol: n (also v). SI unit: mole (mol).

Definition: See Sec. A. 7.

Notes:

1. Amount of substance is one of the seven base quantities upon which the SI is founded (see

Sec. 4.1 and Table 1).

2. In general, «(xB) = «(B) / x, where x is a number. Thus, for example, if the amount of substance of

H2 S04 is 5 mol, the amount of substance of (1/3)H2 S04is 15 mol: rc[(l/3)H 2 S04] = 3«(H2 S04 ).

Example: The relative atomic mass of a fluorine atom is ^r(F) = 18.9984. The relative molecular mass

of a fluorine molecule may therefore be taken as Mr(F2 ) = 2AT(F) = 37.9968. The molar mass

of F2 is then M(F2 ) = 37.9968 x 10"3 kg/mol = 37.9968 g/mol (see Sec. 8.6.4). The amount of

substance of, for example, 100 g of F2 is then n(F2 ) = 100 g / (37.9968 g/mol) = 2.63 mol.

8.6.2 Mole fraction of B; amount-of-substance fraction of B

Quantity symbol: xB (also yB). SI unit: one (1) (amount-of-substance fraction is a quantity of

dimension one).

Definition: ratio of the amount of substance of B to the amount of substance of the mixture: xB = nB/n.

25
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Table 12. Summary description of nine quantities that are quotients involving amount of substance,

volume, or mass

(a>

d

C

S

o

e

e

Quantity in numerator

Amount of Substance Volume Mass

Symbol: n Symbol: V Symbol: m

SI unit: mol SI unit: m

3 SI unit: kg

Amount of Substance

Symbol: n

SI unit: mol

Volume

Symbol: V

SI unit: m

Mass

Symbol: m

SI unit: kg

amount-of-substance

fraction

SI unit: mol/mol = 1

amount-of-substance

concentration

SI unit: mol/mol 3

molality

m

SI unit: mol/kg

molar volume

n

SI unit: mVmol

volume fraction

X B^ m.B

specific volume

V

v =-m

SI unit: m

3 /kg

molar mass

M

SI unit: kg/mol

mass density

m

V

SI unit: kg/m3

mass fraction

m , W B = B m

SI unit: kg/kg = 1

<0) Adapted from Canadian Metric Practice Guide (see Ref. [6], note 2; the book cited in Ref. [6], note 3, may also be consulted).

Notes:

1 . This quantity is commonly called "mole fraction of B" but this Guide prefers the name "amountof-substance fraction of B," because it does not contain the name of the unit mole (compare

kilogram fraction to mass fraction).

2. For a mixture composed of substances A, B, C, . . . , nA + nB + nc + ... =

3. A related quantity is amount-of-substance ratio of B (commonly called "mole ratio of solute B"),

symbol rB . It is the ratio of the amount of substance of B to the amount of substance of the solvent

substance: rB = nB/«s- For a single solute C in a solvent substance (a one-solute solution), rc = xc/(\ - xc). This follows from the relations n = nc + ns , xc = nc l n, and rc = nc l ns , where the

solvent substance S can itself be a mixture.

8.6.3 Molar volume

Quantity symbol: Vm . SI unit: cubic meter per mole (m3 /mol).

Definition: volume of a substance divided by its amount of substance: Vm = Vln.

Notes:

1 . The word "molar" means "divided by amount of substance."

26
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

2. For a mixture, this term is often called "mean molar volume."

3. The amagat should not be used to express molar volumes or reciprocal molar volumes. (One

amagat is the molar volume Vm of a real gas at p = 101 325 Pa and T = 273.15 K and is approximately equal to 22.4 x 10

3 m3 /mol. The name "amagat" is also given to \IVm of a real gas

at p = 101 325 Pa and T= 273.15 K and in this case is approximately equal to 44.6 mol/m3

.)

8.6.4 Molar mass

Quantity symbol: M. SI unit: kilogram per mole (kg/mol).

Definition: mass of a substance divided by its amount of substance: M= mln.

Notes:

1 . For a mixture, this term is often called "mean molar mass."

2. The molar mass of a substance B of definite chemical composition is given by M(B) = Mr(B) x 10

3 kg/mol = Mr(B) kg/kmol = Mr g/mol, where Mr(B) is the relative molecular mass of

B (see Sec. 8.4). The molar mass of an atom or nuclide X is M(X) = Ar(X) x 10~3 kg/mol = AT(X) kg/kmol = AT(X) g/mol, where Ar(X) is the relative atomic mass ofX(see Sec. 8.4).

8.6.5 Concentration of B; amount-of-substance concentration of B

Quantity symbol: cB . SI unit: mole per cubic meter (mol/m3).

Definition: amount of substance of B divided by the volume of the mixture: cB = nQIV.

Notes:

1 . This Guide prefers the name "amount-of-substance concentration of B" for this quantity because it

is unambiguous. However, in practice, it is often shortened to amount concentration of B, or even

simply to concentration of B. Unfortunately, this last form can cause confusion because there are

several different "concentrations," for example, mass concentration of B, = m^lV; and

molecular concentration of B, CB = NB

/V, where /VB is the number of molecules of B.

2. The term normality and the symbol N should no longer be used because they are obsolete. One

should avoid writing, for example, "a 0.5 /V solution of H2 S04" and write instead "a solution

having an amount-of-substance concentration of c [(1/2)H 2 S04 ]) = 0.5 mol/dm3 " (or 0.5 kmol/m3

or 0.5 mol/L since 1 mol/dm3 = 1 kmol/m = 1 mol/L).

3. The term molarity and the symbol M should no longer be used because they, too, are obsolete. One

should use instead amount-of-substance concentration of B and such units as mol/dm3

, kmol/m3

, or mol/L. (A solution of, for example, 0.1 mol/dm3 was often called a 0.1 molar solution, denoted

0. 1 M solution. The molarity of the solution was said to be 0. 1 M.)

8.6.6 Volume fraction of B

Quantity symbol: <Pq. SI unit: one ( 1 ) (volume fraction is a quantity of dimension one).

Definition: for a mixture of substances A, B, C, . . .

,

27
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

X B^m,B

A

y m,A

where xA, xB, xc ,

. . . are the amount-of-substance fractions of A, B, C, . . ., ^ a ,^b>^c> ... are the

molar volumes of the pure substances A, B, C, . . . at the same temperature and pressure, and where the

summation is over all the substances A, B, C, . . . so that /^xA = 1.

1 . This Guide prefers the name "mass density" for this quantity because there are several different

"densities," for example, number density of particles, n = N7 V; and charge density, p = Q / V.

2. Mass density is the reciprocal of specific volume (see Sec. 8.6.9): p = 1 / v.

8.6.8 Molality of solute B

Quantity symbol: bB (also mB ). SI unit: mole per kilogram (mol/kg).

Definition: amount of substance of solute B in a solution divided by the mass of the solvent: bB = nB l mA .

Note: The term molal and the symbol m should no longer be used because they are obsolete. One should

use instead the term molality of solute B and the unit mol/kg or an appropriate decimal multiple or submultiple of this unit. (A solution having, for example, a molality of 1 mol/kg was often called a

1 molal solution, written 1 m solution.)

8.6.9 Specific volume

Quantity symbol: v. SI unit: cubic meter per kilogram (m3/kg).

Definition: volume of a substance divided by its mass: v = VI m.

Note: Specific volume is the reciprocal of mass density (see Sec. 8.6.7): v = 1 / p.

8.6.10 Mass fraction of B

Quantity symbol: wB. SI unit: one (1) (mass fraction is a quantity of dimension one).

Definition: mass of substance B divided by the mass of the mixture: wB = mB I m.

8.7 Logarithmic quantities and units: level, neper, bel

This section briefly introduces logarithmic quantities and units. It is based on Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3],

which should be consulted for further details. Two of the most common logarithmic quantities are level-ofa-field-quantity, symbol LF, and level-of-a-power-quantity, symbol LP; and two of the most common

logarithmic units are the units in which the values of these quantities are expressed: the neper, symbol Np,

or the bel, symbol B, and decimal multiples and submultiples of the neper and bel formed by attaching SI

8.6.7 Mass density; density

Quantity symbol: p. SI unit: kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m ).

Definition: mass of a substance divided by its volume: p= m I V.

Notes

28
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

prefixes to them, such as the millineper, symbol mNp (1 mNp = 0.001 Np), and the decibel, symbol dB

(ldB = 0.1B).

Level-of-a-field-quantity is defined by the relation LF = \n(F/F0), where F/F0 is the ratio of two

amplitudes of the same kind, F0 being a reference amplitude. Level-of-a-power-quantity is defined by the

relation LF = (1/2) ln(£/£oX where P/P0is the ratio of two powers, P0 being a reference power. (Note that if P/P0 = (F/F0)

2

, then LF = Lp.) Similar names, symbols, and definitions apply to levels based on other

quantities which are linear or quadratic functions of the amplitudes, respectively. In practice, the name of

the field quantity forms the name of LF and the symbol F is replaced by the symbol of the field quantity.

For example, if the field quantity in question is electric field strength, symbol E, the name of the quantity is "level-of-electric-field-strength" and it is defined by the relation LF = \n(E/E0 ).

The difference between two levels-of-a-field-quantity (called "field-level difference") having the same reference amplitude F0

is ALF = LF —L^ = \n(Fi/F0) - ln(F2/F0) = \n(F\/F2 ), and is independent of

F0. This is also the case for the difference between two levels-of-a-power-quantity (called "power-level

difference") having the same reference power P0 : ALF = Lp> —Lp^ = ln(P,/.P0) - ln(/V£o) = ^(P^Pj)-

It is clear from their definitions that both LF and L,> are quantities of dimension one and thus have as

their units the unit one, symbol 1. However, in this case, which recalls the case of plane angle and the

radian (and solid angle and the steradian), it is convenient to give the unit one the special name "neper" or "bel" and to define these so-called dimensionless units as follows:

One neper (1 Np) is the level-of-a-field-quantity when F/F0 = e, that is, when ln(F/F0) = 1. Equivalently, 1 Np is the level-of-a-power-quantity when P/P0 = e

2

, that is, when (1/2) \n(P/P0 ) = 1. These

definitions imply that the numerical value of LF when LF is expressed in the unit neper is {LF } Np = \n(F/F0 ), and that the numerical value of LF when Lr is expressed in the unit neper is {LP } Np = (1/2) \n(P/P0 ); that is

Lp = \n(F/F0) Np

£, = (1/2) HPIPq) Np.

One bel (1 B) is the level-of-a-field-quantity when F/F0 =VlO, that is, when 2 lg(£/F0) = 1 (note that

lg x = logiox - see Sec. 10. 1 .2). Equivalently, 1 B is the level- of-a-power-quantity when P/P0 = 1 0, that is, when \g(P/P0) = 1. These definitions imply that the numerical value of LF when LF is expressed in the unit

bel is {LF} B = 2 \g(FIF0) and that the numerical value of Lp when LF is expressed in the unit bel is {£P } B =lg(PAPo);thatis

Lp = 2 lg(F/F0) B = 20 lg(F/F0 ) dB

£P = lg(iyPo)B = 101g(iVPo)dB.

Since the value of LF (or LP) is independent of the unit used to express that value, one may equate LF

in the above expressions to obtain \n(F/F0) Np = 2 \g{F/F0 ) B, which implies

1 B=—^- Np exactly

~ 1.151 293 Np

1 dB = 0.1 15 129 3 Np.

When reporting values of LF and LP, one must always give the reference level. According to Ref. [5:

IEC 60027-3], this may be done in one of two ways: Lx (re xre() or £ x x where x is the quantity symbol for

29
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

the quantity whose level is being reported, for example, electric field strength E or sound pressure p, and xref is the value of the reference quantity, for example, 1 uV/m for E0, and 20 uPa for p0

. Thus

LE (re 1 uV/m) = - 0.58 Np or Lm ^/m) = - 0.58 Np

means that the level of a certain electric field strength is 0.58 Np below the reference electric field strength

E0 = 1 uV/m. Similarly

Lp (re 20 uPa) = 25 dB or Lp/i20 ^= 25 dB

means that the level of a certain sound pressure is 25 dB above the reference pressure p0 = 20 uPa.

Notes:

1 . When such data are presented in a table or in a figure, the following condensed notation may be

used instead: - 0.58 Np ( 1 uV/m); 25 dB (20 uPa).

2. When the same reference level applies repeatedly in a given context, it may be omitted if its value

is clearly stated initially and if its planned omission is pointed out.

3. The rules of Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3] preclude, for example, the use of the symbol dBm to indicate a reference level of power of 1 mW. This restriction is based on the rule of Sec. 7.4, which does not

permit attachments to unit symbols.

8.8 Viscosity

The proper SI units for expressing values of viscosity n (also called dynamic viscosity) and values of

kinematic viscosity v are, respectively, the pascal second (Pa-s) and the meter squared per second (m2/s)

(and their decimal multiples and submultiples as appropriate). The CGS units commonly used to express

values of these quantities, the poise (P) and the stoke (St), respectively [and their decimal submultiples the

centipoise (cP) and the centistoke (cSt)], are not to be used; see Sec. 5.3.1 and Table 10, which gives the

relations 1 P = 0.1 Pa-s and 1 St = 10~4 m

2/s.

8.9 Massic, volumic, areic, lineic

Reference [4: ISO 31-0] has introduced the new adjectives "massic," "volumic," "areic," and

"lineic" into the English language based on their French counterparts: "massique," "volumique,"

"surfacique," and "lineique." They are convenient and NIST authors may wish to use them. They are equivalent, respectively, to "specific," "density," "surface . . . density," and "linear . . . density," as explained below.

(a) The adjective massic, or the adjective specific, is used to modify the name of a quantity to indicate the

quotient of that quantity and its associated mass.

Examples: massic volume or specific volume: v = V/ m

massic entropy or specific entropy: s = S / m

(b) The adjective volumic is used to modify the name of a quantity, or the term density is added to it, to indicate the quotient of that quantity and its associated volume.

Examples: volumic mass or (mass) density: p = m / V

volumic number or number density: n = N I V

30
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Note: Parentheses around a word means that the word is often omitted.

(c) The adjective areic is used to modify the name of a quantity, or the terms surface . . . density are added

to it, to indicate the quotient of that quantity (a scalar) and its associated surface area.

Examples: areic mass or surface (mass) density: pA = m /

A

areic charge or surface charge density: a = Q/A

(d) The adjective lineic is used to modify the name of a quantity, or the terms linear . . . density are added

to it, to indicate the quotient of that quantity and its associated length.

Examples: lineic mass or linear (mass) density: pt = m /

1

lineic electric current or linear electric current density: A = I / b

9 Rules and Style Conventions for Spelling Unit Names

The following eight sections give rules and style conventions related to spelling the names of units.

9.1 Capitalization

When spelled out in full, unit names are treated like ordinary English nouns. Thus the names of all

units start with a lower-case letter, except at the beginning of a sentence or in capitalized material such as a

title.

In keeping with this rule, the correct spelling of the name of the unit °C is "degree Celsius" (the unit

"degree" begins with a lowercase "d" and the modifier "Celsius" begins with an uppercase "C" because it

is the name of a person).

9.2 Plurals

Plural unit names are used when they are required by the rules of English grammar. They are normally formed regularly, for example, "henries" is the plural of henry. According to Ref. [6], the

following plurals are irregular: Singular —lux, hertz, Siemens; Plural —lux, hertz, Siemens. (See also

Sec. 9.7.)

9.3 Spelling unit names with prefixes

When the name of a unit containing a prefix is spelled out, no space or hyphen is used between the

prefix and unit name (see Sec. 6.2.3).

Examples: milligram but not: milli-gram kilopascal but not: kilo-pascal

Reference [6] points out that there are three cases in which the final vowel of an SI prefix is commonly omitted: megohm {not megaohm), kilohm {not kiloohm), and hectare {not hectoare). In all other cases in which the unit name begins with a vowel, both the final vowel of the prefix and the vowel of the

unit name are retained and both are pronounced.

9.4 Spelling unit names obtained by multiplication

When the name of a derived unit formed from other units by multiplication is spelled out, a space,

which is preferred by Ref [6] and this Guide, or a hyphen is used to separate the names of the individual

units.

31
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Example: pascal second or pascal-second

9.5 Spelling unit names obtained by division

When the name of a derived unit formed from other units by division is spelled out, the word "per" is used

and not a solidus. (See also Sees. 6.1.7 and 9.8.)

Example: ampere per meter (A/m) but not: ampere/meter

9.6 Spelling unit names raised to powers

When the names of units raised to powers are spelled out, modifiers such as "squared" or "cubed" are used

and are placed after the unit name.

Example: meter per second squared (m/s2

)

The modifiers "square" or "cubic" may, however, be placed before the unit name in the case of area or volume.

Examples: square centimeter (cm2

) cubic millimeter (mm3 )

ampere per square meter (A/m2

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m3 )

9.7 Other spelling conventions

A derived unit is usually singular in English, for example, the value 3 m

2 K/W is usually spelled out

as "three square meter kelvin per watt," and the value 3 C-m2/V is usually spelled out as "three coulomb

meter squared per volt." However, a "single" unit may be plural; for example, the value 5 kPa is spelled out

as "five kilopascals," although "five kilopascal" is acceptable. If in such a single-unit case the number is

less than one, the unit is always singular when spelled out; for example, 0.5 kPa is spelled out as "fivetenths kilopascal."

Note: These other spelling conventions are given for completeness; as indicated in Sec. 7.6, it is the

position of this Guide that symbols for numbers and units should be used to express the values of

quantities, not the spelled-out names of numbers and units. Reference [3] also requires that a symbol for a number be used whenever the value of a quantity is expressed in terms of a unit of

measurement.

9.8 Unacceptability of applying mathematical operations to unit names

Because it could possibly lead to confusion, mathematical operations are not applied to unit names

but only to unit symbols. (See also Sees. 6.1.7 and 9.5.)

Example: joule per kilogram or J/kg or J kg 1 but not: joule/kilogram or joule-kilogram

-1

10 More on Printing and Using Symbols and Numbers in Scientific and Technical

Documents

By following the guidance given in this chapter, NIST authors can prepare manuscripts that are consistent

with accepted typesetting practice.

i

4 This chapter is adapted in part from Refs. [4: ISO 31-0], and [4: ISO 31-11].

32
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

10.1 Kinds of symbols

Letter symbols are of three principal kinds: (a) symbols for quantities, (b) symbols for units, and (c)

symbols for descriptive terms. Quantity symbols, which are always printed in italic (that is, sloping) type,

are, with few exceptions, single letters of the Latin or Greek alphabets that may have subscripts or

superscripts or other identifying signs. Symbols for units, in particular those for acceptable units, have been

discussed in detail in earlier portions of this Guide. Symbols for descriptive terms include the symbols for

the chemical elements, certain mathematical symbols, and modifying superscripts and subscripts on

quantity symbols.

10.1.1 Standardized quantity symbols

The use of words, acronyms, or other ad hoc groups of letters as quantity symbols should be avoided

by NIST authors. For example, use the quantity symbol Zm for mechanical impedance, not MI. In fact, there

are nationally and internationally accepted symbols for literally hundreds of quantities used in the physical

sciences and technology. Many of these are given in Refs. [4] and [5], and it is likely that symbols for the

quantities used in most NIST publications can be found in these international standards or can readily be

adapted from the symbols and principles given in these standards. Because of their international

acceptance, NIST authors are urged to use the symbols of Refs. [4] and [5] to the fullest extent possible. 5

Examples: Q (solid angle) Zm (mechanical impedance)

hp (level of a power quantity) z) r (relative mass excess)

p (pressure) ot0, (total cross section)

kt (isothermal compressibility) Eu (Euler number)

E (electric field strength) TN (Neel temperature)

10.1.2 Standardized mathematical signs and symbols

As is the case for quantity symbols, most of the mathematical signs and symbols used in the physical

sciences and technology are standardized. They may be found in Ref. [4: ISO 31-11] and should be used by

NIST authors to the fullest possible extent.

5

Examples:

def

arcsin x

logax

lbx

In x lgx

(conjunction sign,/? « q means p and q)

(aj; b,a is not equal to b)

def

( a = b, a is by definition equal to b)

(a~b,a is approximately equal to b)

(a ~ b,a is proportionally equal to b)

(arc sine ofx)

(logarithm to the base a ofx)

(lbx = log2x)

(In x = logex)

(lgx = logiox)

10.2 Typefaces for symbols

Most word processing systems now in use at NIST are capable of producing lightface (that is, regular) or boldface letters of the Latin or Greek alphabets in both roman (upright) and italic (sloping) types. The

5 In addition to Refs. [4] and [5], quantity symbols can also be found in ANSI/IEEE Std 280-1985, IEEE Standard Letter Symbols for Quantities Used in Electrical Science and Electrical Engineering. Similarly, in addition to Ref. [4: ISO 31-11], mathematical signs and

symbols are also given in ANSI/IEEE Std 260.3-1993, Mathematical Signs and Symbols for Use in Physical Sciences and

Technology. Another publication is the book. Symbols, Units, Nomenclature and Fundamental Constants in Physics, 1987 Revision,

by E. R. Cohen and P. Giacomo, International Union of Pure and Applied Physics, SUNAMCO Commission [reprinted from Physica, Vol. 146A, Nos. 1-2, p. 1 (November, 1987)]. See also Ref [6[, Note 3.

33
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

understandability of NIST typed and typeset scientific and technical publications is facilitated if symbols

are in the correct typeface. The typeface in which a symbol appears helps to define what the symbol

represents. For example, irrespective of the typeface used in the surrounding text, "A" would be typed or

typeset in:— italic type for the scalar quantity area: A; — roman type for the unit ampere: A; — italic boldface for the vector quantity vector potential: A.

More specifically, the three major categories of symbols found in scientific and technical publications

should be typed or typeset in either italic or roman type, as follows: — symbols for quantities and variables: italic; — symbols for units: roman; — symbols for descriptive terms: roman.

These rules imply that a subscript or superscript on a quantity symbol is in roman type if it is descriptive

(for example, if it is a number or represents the name of a person or a particle); but it is in italic type if it represents a quantity, or is a variable such as x in Ex or an index such as i in x, that represents a number

(see Sees. 10.2.1, 10.2.3, and 10.2.4). An index that represents a number is also called a "running number"

[4: ISO 3 1-0].

1 . The above rules also imply, for example, that u, the symbol for the SI prefix micro (10-6), that Q,

the symbol for the SI derived unit ohm, and that F, the symbol for the SI derived unit farad, are in roman type; but they are in italic type if they represent quantities (u, Q, and F are the

recommended symbols for the quantities magnetic moment of a particle, solid angle, and force,

respectively).

2. The typeface for numbers is discussed in Sec. 10.5.1. The following four sections give examples

of the proper typefaces for these three major categories.

10.2.1 Quantities and variables — italic

Symbols for quantities are italic, as are symbols for functions in general, for example,/(x):

t = 3 s time, s second T= 22 K T temperature, K kelvin

r = 1 1 cm r radius, cm centimeter X = 633 nm X wavelength, nm nanometer

Constants are usually physical quantities and thus their symbols are italic; however, in general,

symbols used as subscripts and superscripts are roman if descriptive (see Sec. 10.2.3):

iVA Avogadro constant, A Avogadro R molar gas constant

#D Debye temperature, D Debye Z atomic number

e elementary charge me m mass, e electron

Running numbers and symbols for variables in mathematical equations are italic, as are symbols for

parameters such as a and b that may be considered constant in a given context:

Symbols for vectors are boldface italic, symbols for tensors are sans-serif bold italic, and symbols

for matrices are italic:

Notes:

m ay

2 = bzl

34
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

A B = C (vectors) T (tensors) ° u ajx

I (matrices) a 7\ a 22

Symbols used as subscripts and superscripts are italic if they represent quantities or variables:

Cp p pressure qm m mass oQ Q solid angle

10.2.2 Units— roman

The symbols for units and SI prefixes are roman:

CO, z z coordinate

m meter

cm centimeter

10.2.3 Descriptive terms — roman

g gram

ug microgram

L liter mL milliliter

Symbols representing purely descriptive terms (for example, the chemical elements) are roman, as

are symbols representing mathematical constants that never change (for example, ji) and symbols

representing explicitly defined functions or well defined operators (for example, Y{x) or div):

Chemical elements:

Ar argon B boron

Mathematical constants, functions, and operators:

e base of natural logarithms

exp x exp exponential of

dx/dt d 1 st derivative of

carbon

Zx, £ sum of

loga x \oga logarithm to the base a of

sin x sin sine of

Symbols used as subscripts and superscripts are roman if descriptive:

4'r) "m

irrational

molar, 1 liquid phase

k

B

kinetic

Bohr

10.2.4 Sample equations showing correct type

gi 12 F = ma ~ Ea = Rf d{\x\ k) I dT

F-- 4n:e0r

E = mc

2 Pb-^b ^pTM(xbP/ ^b)

pV = nRT

c, =A"5/[exp(c2 /A7)- 1]

= -grad V

10.3 Greek alphabet in roman and italic type

Table 13 shows the proper form, in both roman and italic type, of the upper-case and lower-case letters of

the Greek alphabet.

35
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Table 13. Greek alphabet in roman and italic type

Greek Letter Name Roman Italic

alpha A ct (X

beta B R B B

gamma r Y r y delta A 5 A 5

epsilon E £ E £

zeta Z Z c

eta H H n

theta 0, &

a) e $

(b) 0, 6fa) 6 3(b)

iota I I I i

rv lv, A. K k x

<b>

lambda A X A I

mu M M M ur nu N V N V

xi S

omicron o o o o

Di n 31, W

ib) n n, d

h>

rho p nF p D

sigma i O X a

tau T x T x

upsilon Y u Y V

phi <D (p, ()) 0 <p, <j)

chi X X X X

psi ¥

omega Q a) Q CO

(a) ISO (see Ref. [4: ISO 31-0]) gives only the first of these two letters.

{b) ISO (see Ref [4: ISO 31-0]) gives these two letters in the reverse order.

10.4 Symbols for the elements

The following two sections give the rules and style conventions for the symbols for the elements.

10.4.1 Typeface and punctuation for element symbols

Symbols for the elements are normally printed in roman type without regard to the type used in the

surrounding text (see Sec. 10.2.3). They are not followed by a period unless at the end of a sentence.

10.4.2 Subscripts and superscripts on element symbols

The nucleon number (mass number) of a nuclide is indicated in the left superscript position:

28 Si.

The number of atoms in a molecule of a particular nuclide is shown in the right subscript

position: 'H2.

The proton number (atomic number) is indicated in the left subscript position: 29CU.

The state of ionization or excitation is indicated in the right superscript position, some examples of

which are as follows:

l

36
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

State of ionization: Ba

++ Co(N02)6" or Co(N0 2 )^ or [Co(N02)6]

3 "

Electronic excited state: Ne*, CO*

Nuclear excited state:

,5 N* or

15 Nm

10.5 Printing numbers

The following three sections give rules and style conventions related to the printing of numbers.

10.5.1 Typeface for numbers

Arabic numerals expressing the numerical values of quantities (see Sec. 7.6) are generally printed in lightface (that is, regular) roman type irrespective of the type used for the surrounding text. Arabic

numerals other than numerical values of quantities may be printed in lightface or bold italics, or in bold roman type, but lightface roman type is usually preferred.

10.5.2 Decimal sign or marker

The recommended decimal sign or marker for use in the United States is the dot on the line [3, 6].

For numbers less than one, a zero is written before the decimal marker. For example, 0.25 s is the correct form, not .25 s.

10.5.3 Grouping digits

Because the comma is widely used as the decimal marker outside the United States, it should not be

used to separate digits into groups of three. Instead, digits should be separated into groups of three,

counting from the decimal marker towards the left and right, by the use of a thin, fixed space. However,

this practice is not usually followed for numbers having only four digits on either side of the decimal

marker except when uniformity in a table is desired.

Examples: 76 483 522 but not: 76,483,522

43 279.168 29 but not: 43,279.168 29

8012 or 8 012 but not: 8,012

0.49 1 722 3 is highly preferred to: 0.49 1 7223

0.5947 or 0.594 7 but not: 0.59 47

8012.5947 or 8 012.594 7 but not: 8 012.5947 or 8012.594 7

Note: The practice of using a space to group digits is not usually followed in certain specialized

applications, such as engineering drawings and financial statements.

10.5.4 Multiplying numbers

When the dot is used as the decimal marker as in the United States, the preferred sign for the

multiplication of numbers or values of quantities is a cross (that is, multiplication sign) (x), not a half-high

(that is, centered) dot (•).

Examples: 25 * 60.5 but not: 25-60.5

53 m/sx 10.2 s but not: 53 m/s-10.2 s 15x72 kg but not: 15-72 kg

37
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Notes:

1. When the comma is used as the decimal marker, the preferred sign for the multiplication of

numbers is the half-high dot. However, even when the comma is so used, this Guide prefers the cross for the multiplication of values of quantities.

2. The multiplication of quantity symbols (or numbers in parentheses or values of quantities in parentheses) may be indicated in one of the following ways: ab, a b, ab, a x b.

38
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Appendix A. Definitions of the SI Base Units

A.l Introduction

The following definitions of the SI base units are taken from Refs. [1, 2]; it should be noted that SI

derived units are uniquely defined only in terms of SI base units; for example, 1 V = 1 m

2 -kg-s~

3 -A

_1

.

A.2 Meter (17th CGPM, 1983)

The meter is the length of the path traveled by light in vacuum during a time interval of \ 1299 792

458 ofa second.

A.3 Kilogram (3d CGPM, 1 90 1

)

The kilogram is the unit of mass; it is equal to the mass of the international prototype of the

kilogram.

A.4 Second (13th CGPM, 1967)

The second is the duration of9 192 63 1 770 periods ofthe radiation corresponding to the transition

between the two hyperfine levels ofthe ground state ofthe cesium-] 33 atom.

A.5 Ampere (9th CGPM, 1 948)

The ampere is that constant current which, if maintained in two straight parallel conductors of

infinite length, of negligible circular cross section, and placed 1 meter apart in vacuum, would produce

between these conductors aforce equal to 2 x 10" newton per meter oflength.

A.6 Kelvin ( 1 3th CGPM, 1 967)

The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic

temperature ofthe triple point ofwater.

A.7 Mole (14th CGPM, 1971)

1 . The mole is the amount of substance of a system which contains as many elementary entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram of carbon 12.

2. When the mole is used, the elementary entities must be specified and may be atoms, molecules,

ions, electrons, other particles, or specified groups of such particles.

In the definition of the mole, it is understood that unbound atoms of carbon 12, at rest and in their

ground state, are referred to.

Note: This definition specifies at the same time the nature of the quantity whose unit is the mole.

A.8 Candela ( 1 6th CGPM, 1 979)

The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic

radiation of frequency 540 x 10

12 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of (1/683) watt per

steradian.

39
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Appendix B. Conversion Factors

6

B.l Introduction

Sections B.8 and B.9 give factors for converting values of quantities expressed in various units

predominantly units outside the SI that are unacceptable for use with it—to values expressed either in (a) SI

units, (b) units that are accepted for use with the SI (especially units that better reflect the nature of the

unconverted units), (c) units formed from such accepted units and SI units, or (d) decimal multiples or submultiples of the units of (a) to (c) that yield numerical values of convenient magnitudes.

An example of (d) is the following: the values of quantities expressed in angstroms, such as the

wavelengths of visible laser radiations, are usually converted to values expressed in nanometers, not

meters. More generally, if desired, one can eliminate powers of 10 that appear in converted values as a

result of using the conversion factors (or simply factors for brevity) of Sees. B.8 and B.9 by selecting an

appropriate SI prefix (see Sec. B.3).

B.2 Notation

The factors given in Sees. B.8 and B.9 are written as a number equal to or greater than 1 and less than 10, with 6 or fewer decimal places. The number is followed by the letter E, which stands for exponent,

a plus (+) or minus (-) sign, and two digits that indicate the power of 10 by which the number is multiplied.

Examples: 3.523 907 E-02 means 3.523 907 x 10"2 = 0.035 239 07

3.386 389 E+03 means 3.386 389 x 10

3 = 3386.389

A factor in boldface is exact. All other factors have been rounded to the significant digits given in accordance with accepted practice (see Sees. 7.9, B.7.2, and Refs. [4: ISO 31-0] and [6]). Where less than

six digits after the decimal place are given, the unit does not warrant a greater number of digits in its conversion. However, for the convenience of the user, this practice is not followed for all such units,

including the cord, cup, quad, and teaspoon.

B.3 Use of conversion factors

Each entry in Sees. B.8 and B.9 is to be interpreted as in these two examples:

To convert from to Multiply by

atmosphere, standard (atm) pascal (Pa) 1.01325 E+05

cubic foot per second (ft

3 /s) cubic meter per second (m3/s) 2.83 1 685 E-02

means 1 atm = 101 325 Pa (exactly);

1 ft

3 /s = 0.028 316 85 m

3/s.

Thus to express, for example, the pressure p = 1 1.8 standard atmospheres (atm) in pascals (Pa), write

p = 1 1.8 atm x 101 325 Pa/atm and obtain the converted numerical value 1 1.8 x 101 325 = 1 195 635 and

the converted value p= 1 .20 MPa.

6 This appendix is essentially the same as Appendix B of the 1995 Edition. That appendix was significantly revised version of Appendix C of the 1991 Edition, which was reprinted from ANSI/IEEE Std 268-1982, American National Standard Metric Practice,

©1982 by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, Inc., with the permission of the IEEE. The origin of this material is E. A. Mechtly, The International System of Units — Physical Constants and Conversion Factors, NASA SP-7012, Second Revision, National Aeronautics and Space Administration (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1973).

40
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Notes:

1 . Guidance on rounding converted numerical values of quantities is given in Sec. B.7.2.

2. If the value of a quantity is expressed in a unit of the center column of Sec. B.8 or B.9 and it is necessary to express it in the corresponding unit of the first column, divide by the factor.

The factors for derived units not included in Sees. B.8 and B.9 can readily be found from the

factors given.

Examples: To find the factor for converting values in lb ft/s to values in kgm/s, obtain from Sec. B.8 or B.9

1 lb = 4.535 924 E-01 kg

1 ft = 3.048 E-01 m

and substitute these values into the unit lb-ft/s to obtain

1 lb-ft/s = 0.453 592 4 kg x 0.3048 m/s = 0.138 255 0kg-m/s

and the factor is 1.382 550 E-01.

To find the factor for converting values in (avoirdupois) oz-in

2 to values in kg-m2

, obtain from

Sec. B.8 or B.9

1 oz = 2.834 952 E-02 kg

1 in

2 = 6.4516 E 04 m2

and substitute these values into the unit oz-in

2 to obtain

1 oz-in

2 = 0.028 349 52 kg x 0.000 645 16 m

2 = 0.000 018 289 98 kg-m2

and the factor is 1.828 998 E-05.

B.4 Organization of entries and style

In Sec. B.8 the units for which factors are given are listed alphabetically, while in Sec B.9 the same

units are listed alphabetically within the following alphabetized list of kinds of quantities and fields of

science:

ACCELERATION

ANGLE

AREA AND SECOND MOMENT

OF AREA

CAPACITY (see VOLUME)

DENSITY (that is, MASS DENSITY)

(see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM

ENERGY (includes WORK)

ENERGY DIVIDED BY AREA TIME

FLOW (see MASS DIVIDED BY TIME

or VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME)

FORCE

FORCE DIVIDED BY LENGTH

HEAT

Available Energy

Coefficient of Heat Transfer

Density of Heat

Density of Heat Flow Rate

Fuel Consumption

Heat Capacity and Entropy

Heat Flow Rate

Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Entropy

Thermal Conductivity

Thermal Diffusivity

Thermal Insulance

41
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

FORCE DIVIDED BY AREA

(see PRESSURE)

LENGTH

LIGHT

MASS and MOMENT OF INERTIA

MASS DENSITY (see MASS DIVIDED

BY VOLUME)

MASS DIVIDED BY AREA

MASS DIVIDED BY CAPACITY

(see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

MASS DIVIDED BY LENGTH

MASS DIVIDED BY TIME

(includes FLOW)

MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME

(includes MASS DENSITY and

MASS CONCENTRATION)

MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE

MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE,

DIVIDED BY LENGTH

PERMEABILITY

Thermal Resistance

Thermal Resistivity

POWER

PRESSURE or STRESS (FORCE

DIVIDED BY AREA)

RADIOLOGY

SPEED (see VELOCITY)

STRESS (see PRESSURE)

TEMPERATURE

TEMPERATURE INTERVAL

TIME

TORQUE (see MOMENT OF FORCE)

VELOCITY (includes SPEED)

VISCOSITY, DYNAMIC

VISCOSITY, KINEMATIC

VOLUME (includes CAPACITY)

VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME

(includes FLOW)

WORK (see ENERGY)

In Sees. B.8 and B.9, the units in the left-hand columns are written as they are often used

customarily; the rules and style conventions recommended in this Guide are not necessarily observed.

Further, many are obsolete and some are not consistent with good technical practice. The corresponding

units in the center columns are, however, written in accordance with the rules and style conventions

recommended in this Guide.

B.5 Factor for converting motor vehicle efficiency

The efficiency of motor vehicles in the United States is commonly expressed in miles per U.S.

gallon, while in most other countries it is expressed in liters per one hundred kilometers. To convert fuel economy stated in miles per U.S. gallon to fuel consumption expressed in L/(100 km), divide 235.215 by

the numerical value of the stated fuel economy. Thus 24 miles per gallon corresponds to 9.8 L/(100 km).

B.6 U.S. survey foot and mile

The U.S. Metric Law of 1866 gave the relationship 1 m = 39.37 in (in is the unit symbol for the

inch). From 1893 until 1959, the yard was defined as being exactly equal to (3600/3937) m, and thus the

foot was defined as being exactly equal to (1200/3937) m.

In 1959 the definition of the yard was changed to bring the U.S. yard and the yard used in other

countries into agreement; sec Ref. [7: FR 1959]. Since then the yard has been defined as exactly equal to 0.9144 m, and thus the foot has been defined as exactly equal to 0.3048 m. At the same time it was decided

that any data expressed in feet derived from geodetic surveys within the United States would continue to bear the relationship as defined in 1893, namely, 1 ft = (1200/3937) m (ft is the unit symbol for the foot).

The name of this foot is "U.S. survey foot," while the name of the new foot defined in 1959 is "international £001." The two are related to each other through the expression 1 international

foot = 0.999 998 U.S. survey foot exactly.

In Sees. B.8 and B.9, the factors given are based on the international foot unless otherwise indicated.

Users of this Guide will also find the following summary of exact relationships helpful, where for

convenience in this section, the symbols ft and mi, that is, ft and mi in italic type, indicate that it is the U.S. surveyfoot or U.S. survey mile that is meant rather than the international foot (ft) or international mile (mi),

and where rd is the unit symbol for the rod and fur is the unit symbol for the furlong.

42
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

\ft = (1200/3937) m

1 ft = 0.3048 m

1 ft = 0.999 998//

1 rd, pole, or perch = 16 Vi ft 40 rd = 1 fur = 660//

8 fur = 1 U.S. survey mile (also called "statute mile") = 1 mi = 5280 ft

1 fathom = 6ft

1 international mile = 1 mi = 5280 ft 272 1/4 /r

2 = 1 rd

2

160 rd

2 = 1 acre = 43 560//

2

640 acre = 1 mi2

B.7 Rules for rounding numbers and converted numerical values of quantities

Rules for rounding numbers are discussed in Refs. [4: ISO 31-0] and [6]; the latter reference also

gives rules for rounding the converted numerical values of quantities whose values expressed in units that are not accepted for use with the SI (primarily customary or inch-pound units) are converted to values

expressed in acceptable units. This Guide gives the principal rules for rounding numbers in Sec. B.7.1, and

the basic principle for rounding converted numerical values of quantities in Sec. B.7.2. The cited references

should be consulted for additional details.

B.7.1 Rounding numbers

To replace a number having a given number of digits with a number (called the rounded number)

having a smaller number of digits, one may follow these rules:

1. If the digits to be discarded begin with a digit less than 5, the digit preceding the 5 is not changed.

Example: 6.974 95 1 5 rounded to 3 digits is 6.97

2. If the digits to be discarded begin with a 5 and at least one of the following digits is greater than 0,

the digit preceding the 5 is increased by 1

.

Examples: 6.974 95 1 5 rounded to 2 digits is 7.0

6.974 951 5 rounded to 5 digits is 6.9750

3. If the digits to be discarded begin with a 5 and all of the following digits are 0, the digit preceding

the 5 is unchanged if it is even and increased by 1 if it is odd. (Note that this means that the final

digit is always even.)

Examples: 6.91A 95 1 5 rounded to 7 digits is 6.974 952

6.974 950 5 rounded to 7 digits is 6.974 950

B.7.2 Rounding converted numerical values of quantities

The use of the factors given in Sees. B.8 and B.9 to convert values of quantities was demonstrated in Sec. B.3. In most cases the product of the unconverted numerical value and the factor will be a numerical

value with a number of digits that exceeds the number of significant digits (see Sec. 7.9) of the unconverted

numerical value. Proper conversion procedure requires rounding this converted numerical value to the

number of significant digits that is consistent with the maximum possible rounding error of the unconverted

numerical value.

Example: To express the value / = 36 ft in meters, use the factor 3.048 E-01 from Sec. B.8 or Sec. B.9

and write

/ = 36 ft x 0.3048 m/ft = 10.9728 m= 11.0 m.

43
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

The final result, / = 1 1 .0 m, is based on the following reasoning: The numerical value "36" has two

significant digits, and thus a relative maximum possible rounding error (abbreviated RE in this Guide for

simplicity) of ± 0.5/36 = ± 1.4 %, because it could have resulted from rounding the number 35.5, 36.5, or any number between 35.5 and 36.5. To be consistent with this RE, the converted numerical value

"10.9728" is rounded to 11.0 or three significant digits because the number 11.0 has an RE

of ± 0.05/1 1.0 = ± 0.45 %. Although this ± 0.45 % RE is one-third of the ± 1.4 % RE of the unconverted

numerical value "36," if the converted numerical value "10.9728" had been rounded to 11 or two

significant digits, information contained in the unconverted numerical value "36" would have been lost. This is because the RE of the numerical value "11" is ± 0.5/11 = ± 4.5 %, which is three times the

± 1.4 % RE of the unconverted numerical value "36." This example therefore shows that when selecting the

number of digits to retain in the numerical value of a converted quantity, one must often choose between

discarding information or providing unwarranted information. Consideration of the end use of the

converted value can often help one decide which choice to make.

Note: Consider that one had been told initially that the value / = 36 ft had been rounded to the nearest inch.

Then in this case, since / is known to within ± 1 in, the RE of the numerical value "36" is ± 1 in/(36 ft x 12 in/ft) = ± 0.23 %. Although this is less than the ± 0.45 % RE of the number 1 1.0, it is comparable to it. Therefore, the result / = 1 1 .0 m is still given as the converted value. (Note that the

numerical value "10.97" would give excessive unwarranted information because it has an RE that is one-fifth of ± 0.23 %.)

44
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

B.8 Factors for units listed alphabetically

Caution: The units listed in column 1 are in general not to be used in NIST publications, with the exception

of those few in italic type.

Factors in boldface are exact

To convert from to Multiply by

abampere ampere (A) 1.0 E+01

abcoulomb coulomb (C) 1.0 E+01

abfarad farad (F) 1.0 E+09

abhenry henry (H) 1.0 E-09

abmho Siemens (S) 1.0 E+09

abohm ohm (Q.) 1.0 E-09

abvolt volt (V) 1.0 E-08

acceleration of free fall, standard (gn ) meter per second squared (m / s

2 ) 9.806 65 E+00

acre (based on U.S. survey foot)

7 square meter (m2

) 4.046 873 E+03

acre foot (based on U.S. survey foot)

7 cubic meter (m3 ) 1 .233 489 E+03

ampere hour (A-h) coulomb (C) 3.6 E+03

angstrom (A) meter (m) 1.0 E-10

angstrom (A) nanometer (nm) 1.0 E-01

are (a) square meter (m2

) 1.0 E+02

astronomical unit (ua) meter (m) 1.495 979 E+ll

atmosphere, standard (atm) pascal (Pa) 1.013 25 E+05

atmosphere, standard (arm) kilopascal (kPa) 1.013 25 E+02

atmosphere, technical (at)

8 pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+04

atmosphere, technical (at)

8 kilopascal (kPa) 9.806 65 E+01

bar (bar) pascal (Pa) 1.0 E+05

bar (bar) kilopascal (kPa) 1.0 E+02

barn (b) square meter (m2

) 1.0 E-28

barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S.)](bbl) cubic meter (m3 ) 1.589 873 E-01

barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S.)j(bbl) liter (L) 1.589 873 E+02

biot(Bi) ampere (A) 1.0 E+01

British thermal unitIT (Btu1T )

9 joule (J) 1 .055 056 E+03

British thermal uniU (Btu,T)

9 joule (J) 1 .054 350 E+03

British thermal unit (mean) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .055 87 E+03

British thermal unit (39 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .059 67 E+03

British thermal unit (59 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .054 80 E+03

British thermal unit (60 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .054 68 E+03

British thermal unitu foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuirft/(h-ft

2 -°F)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m • K)] 1 .730 735 E+00

British thermal unitth foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth -ft/(h-ft

2 -°F)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m • K)] 1 .729 577 E+00

British thermal unitu inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtuIT in/(h ft2 -°F)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m • K)] 1 .442 279 E-01

British thermal unitth inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtUth-in/Ovft^T)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m K)] 1 .441 3 14 E-01

British thermal unitu inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtUiT-in/(s-tf -°F)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m K)] 5.192 204 E+02

7 For remarks on U.S. survey foot, see Sec. B.6.

8 One technical atmosphere equals one kilogram-force per square centimeter (1 at = 1 kgf/cm2).

9 The Fifth International Conference on the Properties of Steam (London, July 1956) defined the International Table calorie as 4.1868 J. Therefore, the exact conversion factor for the International Tahle Btu is 1.055 055 852 62 kJ. Note that the notation for

International Table used in this listing is subscript "IT." Similarity, the notation for thermochemical is subscript "th." Further, the thermochemical Btu, Btuth, is based on the thermochemical calorie, calth, where calth = 4.184 J exactly.

45
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

British thermal unit^, inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btu,h -in/(s-ft

2 -°F)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m • K)] 5.188 732 E+02

British thermal unitu per cubic foot

(Btu,T/ft

3

) joule per cubic meter (J / m

3

) 3.725 895 E+04

British thermal unitth per cubic foot

(BhVft3 ) joule per cubic meter (J / m

3

) 3.723 403 E+04

British thermal unitIT per degree Fahrenheit

(BtU|T/°F) joule per kelvin (J / k) 1 .899 1 0 1 E+03

British thermal unit^ per degree Fahrenheit

(Btuth/T) joule per kelvin (J / k) 1.897 830 E+03

British thermal unitu per degree Rankine

(Btu,T / °R) joule per kelvin (J / k) 1 .899 1 0 1 E+03

British thermal unitth per degree Rankine

(Btua,/ °R) joule per kelvin (J / K) 1 .897 830 E+03

British thermal unitIT per hour (BtuIT/h) watt (W) 2.930 71 1 E-01

British thermal unit,h per hour (BtUth/h) watt (W) 2.928 75 1 E-01

British thermal unitIT per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtU|T / (h-ft

2 -°F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[ W / (m2

• K)] 5.678 263 E+00

British thermal unit^ per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth / (h-ft

2 -°F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W / (m2

• K)] 5.674 466 E+00

British thermal unitth per minute (Btuth / min) watt (W) 1.757 250 E+01

British thermal unitu per pound (BtuiT / lb) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 2.326 E+03

British thermal unitth per pound (Btuth / lb) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 2.324 444 E+03

British thermal unitu per pound degree Fahrenheit

[Btu,T / (lb °F)] joule per kilogram kelvin (J / (kg • K)] 4.1868 E+03

British thermal unit^ per pound degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth / (lb-°F)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

British thermal unitIT per pound degree Rankine

[Btu1T / (lb °R)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.1868 E+03

British thermal unitt h per pound degree Rankine

[Btutj,/ (lb °R)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

British thermal unit,T per second (Btu,T / s) watt (W) 1 .055 056 E+03

British thermal uniu per second (Btun, / s) watt (W) 1 .054 350 E+03

British thermal unitu per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtuiT / (s • ft

2 -°F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W/(m2

• K)] 2.044 175 E+04

British thermal unitth per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtUth/ (s fP-T)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W/(m2 K)] 2.042 808 E+04

British thermal unit|T per square foot

(Btunr/ft

2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2 ) 1.135 653 E+04

British thermal unitt h per square foot

(Btuth / ft2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2

) 1 . 1 34 893 E+04

British thermal unit]X per square foot hour

[(Btu,T / (ft

2

• h)] watt per square meter (W / m

2 ) 3. 1 54 59 1 E+00

British thermal unitt h per square foot hour

[Btu^ / (ft

2

• h)] watt per square meter (W / m

2 ) 3. 1 52 48 1 E+00

British thermal unitt h per square foot minute

[Btuth / (ft

2

• min)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 .89 1 489 E+02

British thermal unitu per square foot second

[(Btu,T / (ft

2 s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1.135 653 E+04

46
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

British thermal unitth per square foot second

[BtUfl, / (ft

2

• s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 . 1 34 893 E+04

British thermal unitth per square inch second

[Btu,h /(in

2 s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 .634 246 E+06

bushel (U.S.) (bu) cubic meter (m3 ) 3.523 907 E-02

bushel (U.S.) (bu) liter (L) 3.523 907 E+01

calorie,T (calu)

10 joule (J) 4.1868 E+00

calorieth (calth)

10 joule (J) 4.184 E+00

calorie (cal) (mean) joule (J) 4. 1 90 02 E+00

calorie ( 1 5 °C) (cal I5 ) joule (J) 4.185 80 E+00

calorie (20 °C) (cal20) joule (J) 4. 1 8 1 90 E+00

calorieu, kilogram (nutrition)" joule (J) 4.1868 E+03

calorieth, kilogram (nutrition)

11 joule (J) 4.184 E+03

calorie (mean), kilogram (nutrition)

11 joule (J) 4.190 02 E+03

calorieth per centimeter second degree Celsius

[calth / (cm • s • °C)] watt per meter kelvin [W / (m • K)] 4.184 E+02

calorieiT per gram (caliT / g) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 4.1868 E+03

calorie^ per gram (calth / g) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 4.184 E+03

calorieiT per gram degree Celsius

[cal,T / (g °C)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.1868 E+03

calorieth per gram degree Celsius

[caU / (g-°C)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

calorieIT per gram kelvin [calu / (g-K)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg - K)] 4.1868 E+03

calorieth per gram kelvin [cal^ / (g-K)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

calorieth per minute (calth / min) watt ( W) 6.973 333 E-02

calorieth per second (calth / s) watt (W) 4.184 E+00

calorieth per square centimeter (calth/ cm

2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2

) 4.184 E+04

calorieth per square centimeter minute

[calth / (cm2

• min)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 6.973 333 E+02

calorie^ per square centimeter second

cal,h/ (cm2 s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2 ) 4.184 E+04

candela per square inch (cd / in

2

) candela per square meter (cd / m

2

) 1 .550 003 E+03

carat, metric kilogram (kg) 2.0 E-04

carat, metric gram (g) 2.0 E-01

centimeter of mercury (0 °C)

12 pascal (Pa) 1.333 22 E+03

centimeter of mercury (0 °C)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 1.333 22 E+00

centimeter of mercury, conventional (cmHg) 12... pascal (Pa) 1.333 224 E+03

centimeter of mercury, conventional (cmHg) 12... kilopascal (kPa) 1.333 224 E+00

centimeter of water (4 °C)

12 pascal (Pa) 9.806 38 E+01

centimeter of water, conventional (cmH20)

12 pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+01

centipoise (cP) pascal second (Pa s) 1.0 E-03

centistokes (cSt) meter squared per second (m7s) 1.0 E-06

chain (based on U.S. survey foot) (ch)

7 meter (m) 2.01 1 684 E+01

circular mil square meter (m2 ) 5.067 075 E-10

10 The small calorie or gram calorie approximates the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 °C. Subscripts rr and -u,- refer to International Table and thermochemical calories, respectively; see footnote 9. " The kilogram calorie or "large calorie" is an obsolete term used for the kilocalorie, which is the calorie used to express the energy

content of foods. However, in practice, the prefix "kilo" is usually omitted.

12 Conversion factors for mercury manometer pressure units are calculated using the standard value for the acceleration of gravity and

the density of mercury at the stated temperature. Additional digits are not justified because the definitions of the units do not take into account the compressibility of mercury or the change in density caused by the revised practical temperature scale, ITS-90. Similar comments also apply to water manometer pressure units. Conversion factors for conventional mercury and water manometer pressure

units are based on Ref. [4: ISO 31-3].

47
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

circular mil square millimeter (mm2

) 5.067 075 E-04

clo square meter kelvin per watt (m2 -K / W) 1.55 E-01

cord (128 ft

3

) cubic meter (m3 )

3.624

556 E+00

cubic foot (ft

3 ) cubic meter (m3 )

2.83

1 685 E-02

cubic foot per minute (ft

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 4.719 474 E-04

cubic foot per minute (ft

3 / min) liter per second (L/s) 4.719 474 E-01

cubic foot per second (ft

3 / s) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 2.83 1 685 E-02

cubic inch (in

3 )13 cubic meter (m3) 1.638 706 E-05

cubic inch per minute (in

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 2.73 1 177 E-07

cubic mile (mi3 ) cubic meter (m3 )

4.168

182 E+09

cubic yard (yd

3 ) cubic meter (m3 )

7.645

549 E-01

cubic yard per minute (yd

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 1.274 258 E-02

cup (U.S.) cubic meter (m3 )

2.365

882 E-04

cup (U.S.) liter (L)

2.365

882 E-01

cup (U.S.) milliliter (mL)

2.365

882 E+02

curie (Ci) becquerel (Bq) 3.7 E+10

darcy

14 meter squared (m2 )

9.869

233 E-13

day (d) second (s) 8.64 E+04

day (sidereal) second (s)

8.616

409 E+04

debye (D) coulomb meter (C • m) 3.335 641 E-30

degree (angle) ( 0

) radian (rad)

1

.745 329 E-02

degree Celsius (temperature) (°C) kelvin (K) 77 K = t/°C + 273.15

degree Celsius (temperature interval) (°C) kelvin (K)

1.0

E+00

degree centigrade (temperature)

15 degree Celsius (°C) t/°C ~ r/deg. cent. degree centigrade (temperature interval)

15 degree Celsius (°C)

1.0

E+00

degree Fahrenheit (temperature) (°F) degree Celsius (°C) t/°C = (t/°F - 32)/1.8

degree Fahrenheit (temperature) (°F) kelvin (K) 7V K = (t/°F + 459.67)/1.8

degree Fahrenheit (temperature interval)(°F) degree Celsius (°C) 5.555 556 E-01

degree Fahrenheit (temperature interval) (°F) kelvin (K)

5.555

556 E-01

degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unitu

(°F • h/BtuIT ) kelvin per watt (K/W) 1.895 634 E+00

degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unit^

(°F h / Btuth ) kelvin per watt (K / W) 1 .896 903 E+00

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unitIT (°F • h • ft

2

/ BtU]T) square meter kelvin per watt

(m2

- K/W)

1.761

102 E-01

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unitth (°F • h • ft

2

/ BtUth) square meter kelvin per watt

(m2

• K/W)

1.762

280 E-01

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unit,T inch [°F • h • ft2

/ (BtuIT

• in)] . meter kelvin per watt (m • K/W) 6.933 472 E+00

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unit,* inch [°F • h • ft

2

/ (BUi* • in)] .. meter kelvin per watt (m K/W) 6.938 1 12 E+00

degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unitu

(°F • s / BtuIT) kelvin per watt (K/W) 5.265 65 1 E-04

degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unitth (°F • s / Btu,h) kelvin per watt (K / W) 5.269 1 75 E-04

degree Rankine (°R) kelvin (K) 7YK = (77 °R) / 1.8

13 The exact conversion factor is 1 .638 706 4 E-05.

14 The darcy is a unit for expressing the permeability of porous solids, not area.

15 The centigrade temperature scale is obsolete; the degree centigrade is only approximately equal to the degree Celsius.

48
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

degree Rankine (temperature interval) (°R) kelvin (K) 5.555 556 E-01

denier kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1.111 111 E-07

denier gram per meter (g / m) 1.111 111 E-04

dyne(dyn) newton (N) 1.0 E-05

dyne centimeter (dyn-cm) newton meter (N • m) 1.0 E-07

dyne per square centimeter (dyn / cm

2

) pascal (Pa) 1.0 E-01

electronvolt (eV) joule (J) 1 .602 1 76 E- 1

9

EMU of capacitance (abfarad) farad (F) 1.0 E+09

EMU of current (abampere) ampere (A) 1.0 E+01

EMU of Electric potential (abvolt) volt (V) 1.0 E-08

EMU of inductance (abhenry) henry (H) 1.0 E-09

EMU of resistance (abohm) ohm (Q.) 1.0 E-09

erg (erg) joule (J) 1.0 E-07

erg per second (erg / s) watt (W) 1.0 E-07

erg per square centimeter second

[erg / (cm2

• s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1.0 E-03

ESU of capacitance (statfarad) farad (F) 1.112 650 E-12

ESU of current (statampere) ampere (A) 3.335 641 E-10

ESU of Electric potential (statvolt) volt (V) 2.997 925 E+02

ESU of inductance (stathenry) henry (H) 8.987 552 E+l 1 ESU of resistance (statohm) ohm (Q) 8.987 552 E+l 1

faraday (based on carbon 12) coulomb (C) 9.648 534 E+04

fathom (based on U.S. survey foot)

7 meter (m) 1.828 804 E+00

fermi meter (m) 1.0 E-15

fermi femtometer (fm) 1.0 E+00

fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) cubic meter (m3 ) 2.957 353 E-05

fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) milliliter (mL) 2.957 353 E+01

foot (ft) meter (m) 3.048 E-01

foot (U.S. survey) (ft)

7 meter (m) 3.048 006 E-01

footcandle lux (lx) 1.076 391 E+01

footlambert candela per square meter (cd / m") 3.426 259 E+00

foot of mercury, conventional (ftHg)

12 pascal (Pa) 4.063 666 E+04

foot of mercury, conventional (ftHg)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 4.063 666 E+01

foot of water (39.2 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.988 98 E+03

foot of water (39.2 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 2.988 98 E+00

foot of water, conventional (ftH2 0)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.989 067 E+03

foot of water, conventional (ftH2 0)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 2.989 067 E+00

foot per hour (ft / h) meter per second (m / s) 8.466 667 E-05

foot per minute (ft / min) meter per second (m / s) 5.08 E-03

foot per second (ft / s) meter per second (m / s) 3.048 E-01

foot per second squared (ft / s

2

) meter per second squared (m / s

2

) 3.048 E-01

foot poundal joule (J) 4.214 01 1 E-02

foot pound-force (ft • lbf) joule (J) 1.355 818 E+00

foot pound-force per hour (ft • lbf / h) watt (W) 3.766 161 E-04

foot pound-force per minute (ft • lbf / min) watt (W) 2.259 697 E-02

foot pound-force per second (ft lbf / s) watt (W) 1 .355 8 1 8 E+00

foot to the fourth power (ft

4

)

16 meter to the fourth power (m4

) 8.630 975 E-03

franklin (Fr) coulomb (C) 3.335 641 E-10

16 This is a unit for the quantity second moment of area, which is sometimes called the "moment of section" or "area moment of

inertia" of a plane section about a specified axis.

49
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

gal (Gal) meter per second squared (m / s

2 ) 1.0 E-02

gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gal) cubic meter (m3

)

4.546

09 E-03

gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gal) liter (L)

4.546

09 E+00

gallon (U.S.) (gal) cubic meter (m3 )

3.785

412 E-03

gallon (U.S.) (gal) liter (L)

3.785

412 E+00

gallon (U.S.) per day (gal / d) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 4.381 264 E-08

gallon (U.S.) per day (gal / d) liter per second (L / s) 4.38 1 264 E-05

gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour

[gal / (hp • h)] cubic meter per joule (m3 / J) 1 .410 089 E-09

gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour

[gal / (hp h)] liter per joule (L / J) 1.410 089 E-06

gallon (U.S.) per minute (gpm)(gal / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 6.309 020 E-05

gallon (U.S.) per minute (gpm)(gal / min) liter per second (L / s) 6.309 020 E-02

gamma (y) tesla (T)

1.0

E-09

gauss (Gs, G) tesla (T)

1.0

E-04

gilbert (Gi) ampere (A)

7.957

747 E-01

gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) cubic meter (m3 ) 1.420 653 E-04

gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) liter (L)

1.420

653 E-01

gill (U.S.) (gi) cubic meter (m3 ) 1.182 941 E-04

gill (U.S.) (gi) liter (L)

1

. 1 82 94 1 E-01

gon (also called grade) (gon) radian (rad)

1.570

796 E-02

gon (also called grade) (gon) degree (angle) ( °

) 9.0 E-01

grain (gr) kilogram (kg)

6.479

891 E-05

grain (gr) milligram (mg)

6.479

891 E+01

grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1.71 1 806 E-02

grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr / gal) milligram per liter (mg / L) 1.711 806 E+01

gram-force per square centimeter (gf / cm

2

) pascal (Pa)

9.806

65 E+01

gram per cubic centimeter (g / cm

3

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1.0 E+03

hectare (ha) square meter (m2

)

1.0

E+04

horsepower (550 ft • lbf / s) (hp) watt (W)

7.456

999 E+02

horsepower (boiler) watt (W)

9.809

50 E+03

horsepower (electric) watt (W) 7.46 E+02

horsepower (metric) watt (W)

7.354

988 E+02

horsepower (U.K.) watt (W)

7.4570

E+02

horsepower (water) watt (W)

7.460

43 E+02

hour (h) second (s) 3.6 E+03

hour (sidereal) second (s)

3.590

170 E+03

hundredweight (long, 1 12 lb) kilogram (kg)

5.080

235 E+01

hundredweight (short, 100 lb) kilogram (kg)

4.535

924 E+01

nch (in) meter (m) 2.54 E-02

nch (in) centimeter (cm) 2.54 E+00

nch of mercury (32 °F)

12 pascal (Pa)

3.386

38 E+03

nch of mercury (32 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa)

3.386

38 E+00

nch of mercury (60 °F)

12 pascal (Pa)

3.376

85 E+03

nch of mercury (60 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa)

3.376

85 E+00

nch of mercury, conventional (inHg) 12 pascal (Pa)

3.386

389 E+03

nch of mercury, conventional (inHg) 12 kilopascal (kPa)

3.386

389 E+00

nch of water (39.2 °F)

12 pascal (Pa)

2.490

82 E+02

nch of water (60 °F)

12 pascal (Pa)

2.4884

E+02

nch of water, conventional (inH20)

12 pascal (Pa)

2.490

889 E+02

nch per second (in / s) meter per second (m / s) 2.54 E-02

50
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

inch per second squared (in / s

2

) meter per second squared (m / s

2

) 2.54 E-02

inch to the fourth power (in

4

)

16 meter to the fourth power (m4

) 4. 162 3 14 E-07

kayser (K) reciprocal meter (m~')

1.0

E+02

kelvin (K) degree Celsius (°C) t/°C = 77K- 273.15

kilocalorieIT (kcal,T) joule (J)

4.1868

E+03

kilocalorieth (kcalth) joule (J) 4.184 E+03

kilocalorie (mean) (kcal) joule (J)

4.190

02 E+03

kilocalorieth per minute (kcal,h / min) watt (W

6.973

333 E+01

kilocalorieth per second (kcal,h

/ s) watt (W 4.184 E+03

kilogram-force (kgf) newton (N)

9.806

65 E+00

kilogram-force meter (kgf • m) newton meter (N - m)

9.806

65 E+00

kilogram-force per square centimeter

(kgf / cm

2

) pascal (Pa)

9.806

65 E+04

kilogram-force per square centimeter

(kgf / cm

2

) kilopascal (kPa)

9.806

65 E+01

kilogram-force per square meter (kgf / m

2

) pascal (Pa)

9.806

65 E+00

kilogram-force per square millimeter

(kgf / mm2

) pascal (Pa)

9.806

65 E+06

kilogram-force per square millimeter

(kgf / mm2

) megapascal (MPa)

9.806

65 E+00

kilogram-force second squared per meter

(kgf - s

2

/ m) kilogram (kg)

9.806

65 E+00

kilometer per hour (km / h) meter per second (m / s) 2.777 778 E-01

kilopond (kilogram-force) (kp) newton (N)

9.806

65 E+00

kilowatt hour (kW h) joule (J) 3.6 E+06

kilowatt hour (kW • h) megajoule (MJ) 3.6 E+00

kip (1 kip =1 000 lbf) newton (N)

4.448

222 E+03

kip (1 kip = 1000 Ibf) kilonewton (kN)

4.448

222 E+00

kip per square inch (ksi) (kip / in

2

) pascal (Pa)

6.894

757 E+06

kip per square inch (ksi) (kip / in

2 ) kilopascal (kPa)

6.894

757 E+03

knot (nautical mile per hour) meter per second (m / s) 5. 144 444 E-0

1

lambert

17 candela per square meter (cd / m

2 ) 3.183 099 E+03

langley (calth / cm

2) joule per square meter (J / m

2) 4.184 E+04

light year (l.y.)

18 meter (m)

9.460

73 E+15

liter (L)

19 cubic meter (m3 )

1.0

E-03

lumen per square foot (lm / ft2

) lux (lx)

1

.076 391 E+01

maxwell (Mx) weber (Wb)

1.0

E-08

mho Siemens (S)

1.0

E+00

microinch meter (m) 2.54 E-08

microinch micrometer (/mi) 2.54 E-02

micron (//) meter (m)

1.0

E-06

micron (p) micrometer (//m)

1.0

E+00

mil (0.001 in) meter (m) 2.54 E-05

mil (0.001 in) millimeter (mm) 2.54 E-02

17 The exact conversion factor is 104

/7t. 18 This conversion factor is based on 1 d = 86 400 s; and 1 Julian century = 36 525 d. (See The Astronomical Almanac for the Year

1995, page K6, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 1994).

19 In 1964 the General Conference on Weights and Measures reestablished the name "liter" as a special name for the cubic decimeter. Between 1901 and 1964 the liter was slightly larger (1.000 028 dm,); when one uses high-accuracy volume data of that time, this fact must be kept in mind.

51
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

mil (angle) radian (rad)

9.817

477 E-04

mil (angle) degree ( °

)

5.625

E-02

mile (mi) meter (m)

1.609

344 E+03

mile (mi) kilometer (km)

1.609

344 E+00

mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi)

7 meter (m)

1.609

347 E+03

mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi)

7 kilometer (km) 1.609 347 E+00

mile, nautical20 meter (m)

1.852

E+03

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal) meter per cubic meter (m / m

3 ) 4.25 1 437 E+05

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal) kilometer per liter (km / L) 4.25 1 437 E-01

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal)

21 liter per 100 kilometer (L / 100 km) .... divide 235.215 by

number of miles

per gallon

mile per hour (mi / h) meter per second (m / s) 4.4704 E-01

mile per hour (mi / h) kilometer per hour (km / h) 1.609 344 E+00

mile per minute (mi / min) meter per second (m / s) 2.682 24 E+01

mile per second (mi / s) meter per second (m / s) 1.609 344 E+03

millibar (mbar) pascal (Pa)

1.0

E+02

millibar (mbar) kilopascal (kPa)

1.0

E-01

millimeter ofmercury, conventional (mmHg)12

.. pascal (Pa)

1.333

224 E+02

millimeter of water, conventional (mmH2 0)

12

.... pascal (Pa)

9.806

65 E+00

minute (angle) (') radian (rad)

2.908

882 E-04

minute (min) second (s) 6.0 E+01

minute (sidereal) second (s)

5.983

617 E+01

oersted (Oe) ampere per meter (A / m) 7.957 747 E+01

ohm centimeter (Q. cm) ohm meter (Q-m)

1.0

E-02

ohm circular-mil per foot ohm meter (Q.-m) 1.662 426 E-09

ohm circular-mil per foot ohm square millimeter per meter

(Q-mm2 /m) 1.662 426 E-03

ounce (avoirdupois) (oz) kilogram (kg)

2.834

952 E-02

ounce (avoirdupois) (oz) gram (g)

2.834

952 E+01

ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) kilogram (kg)

3.110

348 E-02

ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) gram (g)

3.110

348 E+01

ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)]

(floz) cubic meter (m3 )

2.841

306 E-05

ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)]

(floz) milliliter (mL)

2.841

306 E+01

ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) cubic meter (m3 )

2.957

353 E-05

ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) milliliter (mL)

2.957

353 E+01

ounce (avoirdupois)-force (ozf) newton (N)

2.780

139 E-01

ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (ozf - in) newton meter (N-m) 7.061 552 E-03

ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (ozf in) millinewton meter (mN-m) 7.061 552 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per cubic inch (oz / in

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3

) 1 .729 994 E+03

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (oz / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 6.236 023 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (oz / gal) gram per liter (g / L) 6.236 023 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon(U.S.)(oz / gal) .... kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 7.489 152 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon(U.S.)(oz / gal) .... gram per liter (g / L) 7.489 152 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per square foot (oz / ft

2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) .... 3.051 517 E-01

20 The value of this unit, 1 nautical mile = 1852 m, was adopted by the First International Extraordinary Hydrographic Conference,

Monaco, 1929, under the name "International nautical mile."

21 See Sec. B.5.

52
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

ounce (avoirdupois) per square inch (oz / in

2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m2 ) .... 4.394 185 E+01

ounce (avoirdupois) per square yard(oz / yd2

) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) .... 3.390 575 E-02

parsec(pc) meter (m)

3.085

678 E+16

peck (U.S.) (pk) cubic meter (m3 )

8.809

768 E-03

peck (U.S.) (pk) liter (L)

8.809

768 E+00

pennyweight (dwt) kilogram (kg)

1.555

174 E-03

pennyweight (dwt) gram (g)

1.555

174 E+00

perm (0 °C) kilogram per pascal second square meter

[kg / (Pa-s-m2 )]

5.721

35 E-ll

perm (23 °C) kilogram per pascal second square meter

[kg / (Pa-s-m

2 )]

5.745

25 E-ll

perm inch (0 °C) kilogram per pascal second meter

[kg / (Pa-s-m)] 1.453 22 E-12

perm inch (23 °C) kilogram per pascal second meter

[kg / (Pa s-m)] 1.459 29 E-12

phot(ph) lux(lx)

1.0

E+04

pica (computer) (1/6 in) meter (m)

4.233

333 E-03

pica (computer) (1/6 in) millimeter (mm)

4.233

333 E+00

pica (printer's) meter (m)

4.217

518 E-03

pica (printer's) millimeter (mm)

4.217

518 E+00

pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt) cubic meter (m3 )

5.506

105 E-04

pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt) liter (L)

5.506

105 E-01

pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) cubic meter (m3 )

4.73

1 765 E-04

pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) liter (L)

4.731

765 E-01

point (computer) (1/72 in) meter (m)

3.527

778 E-04

point (computer) (1/72 in) millimeter (mm)

3.527

778 E-01

point (printer's) meter (m)

3.514

598 E-04

point (printer's) millimeter (mm)

3.514

598 E-01

poise (P) pascal second (Pa s)

1.0

E-01

pound (avoirdupois) (lb)

22 kilogram (kg)

4.535

924 E-01

pound (troy or apothecary) (lb) kilogram (kg)

3.732

417 E-01

poundal newton(N)

1.382

550 E-01

poundal per square foot pascal (Pa)

1.488

164 E+00

poundal second per square foot pascal second (Pa-s) 1.488 164 E+00

pound foot squared (lb ft

2

) kilogram meter squared (kg -m") 4.214 01 1 E-02

pound-force (lbf)

23 newton (N)

4.448

222 E+00

pound-force foot (lbf • ft) newton meter (N • m) 1 .355 8 1 8 E+00

pound-force foot per inch (lbf ft / in) newton meter per meter (N - m / m) 5.337 866 E+01

pound-force inch (lbf - in) newton meter (N • m) 1.129 848 E-01

pound-force inch per inch (lbf - in / in) newton meter per meter (N m / m) 4.448 222 E+00

pound- force per foot (lbf / ft) newton per meter (N / m) 1 .459 390 E+01

pound-force per inch (lbf/ in) newton per meter (N / m) 1 .75 1 268 E+02

pound-force per pound

(lbf/lb) (thrust to mass ratio) newton per kilogram (N / kg) 9.806 65 E+00

pound-force per square foot (lbf/ft

2

) pascal (Pa)

4.788

026 E+01

pound-force per square inch (psi) (lbf/in

2

) pascal (Pa)

6.894

757 E+03

pound-force per square inch (psi) (lbf/in

2

) kilopascal (kPa)

6.894

757 E+00

22 The exact conversion factor is 4.535 923 7 E-01. All units in Sees. B.8 and B.9 that contain the pound refer to the avoirdupois

pound.

23 If the local value of the acceleration of free fall is taken as g„=9.806 65 m/s2 (the standard value), the exact conversion factor is 4.448 221 615 260 5 E+00.

53
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

pound-force second per square foot

(lbf s/ft

2

) pascal second (Pa • s) 4.788 026 E+01

pound-force second per square inch

(lbf - s/in

2

) pascal second (Pa • s) 6.894 757 E+03

pound inch squared (lb in

2

) kilogram meter squared (kg-m2

) 2.926 397 E-04

pound per cubic foot (lb / ft

3

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1 .601 846 E+01

pound per cubic inch (lb / in

3

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 2.767 990 E+04

pound per cubic yard (lb /yd

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 5.932 764 E-01

pound per foot (lb / ft) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1 .488 164 E+00

pound per foot hour [lb/(ft h)] pascal second (Pa • s) 4.133 789 E-04

pound per foot second [lb / (ft • s)] pascal second (Pa • s) 1.488 164 E+00

pound per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (lb / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 9.977 637 E+01

pound per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (lb / gal) kilogram per liter (kg / L) 9.977 637 E-02

pound per gallon (U.S.) (lb / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1.198 264 E+02

pound per gallon (U.S.) (lb / gal) kilogram per liter (kg / L) 1.198 264 E-01

pound per horsepower hour [lb / (hp • h)] kilogram per joule (kg / J) 1 .689 659 E-07

pound per hour (lb / h) kilogram per second (kg / s) 1 .259 979 E-04

pound per inch (lb / in) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1.785 797 E+01

pound per minute (lb / min) kilogram per second (kg / s) 7.559 873 E-03

pound per second (lb / s) kilogram per second (kg / s) 4.535 924 E-01

pound per square foot (lb / ft

2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2 ) .... 4.882 428 E+00

pound per square inch (not pound-force)

(lb / in") kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) .... 7.030 696 E+02

pound per yard (lb / yd) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 4.960 546 E-01

psi (pound-force per square inch) (lbf / in

2

) pascal (Pa)

6.894

757 E+03

psi (pound-force per square inch) (lbf / in

2) kilopascal (kPa)

6.894

757 E+00

quad(10I5 BtU|T) njoule (J)

1.055

056 E+18

quart (U . S . dry) (dry qt) cubic meter (m3

) 1 . 1 0 1 22 1 E-03

quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) liter (L)

1.101

221 E+00

quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) cubic meter (m3 )

9.463

529 E-04

quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) liter (L)

9.463

529 E-01

rad (absorbed dose) (rad) gray (Gy) 1.0 E-02

rem (rem) sievert (Sv) 1.0 E-02

revolution (r) radian (rad)

6.283

185 E+00

revolution per minute (rpm) (r / min) radian per second (rad / s) 1 .047 198 E-01

rhe reciprocal pascal second (Pa-s)

1 1.0 E+01

rod (based on U.S. survey foot) (rd)

7 meter (m)

5.029

210 E+00

roentgen (R) coulomb per kilogram (C / kg) 2.58 E-04

rpm (revolution per minute) (r / min) radian per second (rad / s) 1 .047 198 E-01

second (angle) (") radian (rad)

4.848

137 E-06

second (sidereal) second (s)

9.972

696 E-01

shake second (s)

1.0

E-08

shake nanosecond (ns)

1.0

E+01

slug (slug) kilogram (kg)

1.459

390 E+01

slug per cubic foot (slug / ft

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 5.153 788 E+02

slug per foot second [slug / (ft • s)] pascal second (Pa-s)

4.788

026 E+01

square foot (ft

2

) square meter (m 2

)

9.290

304 E-02

square foot per hour (ft

2

/ h) square meter per second (m2

/ s) 2.580 64 E-05

54
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

square foot per second (ft

2

/ s) square meter per second (m2

/ s) 9.290 304 E-02

square inch (in

2 ) square meter (m2

)

6.4516

E-04

square inch (in") square centimeter (cm2

) 6.4516 E+00

square mile (mi2

) square meter (m2

) 2.589

988 E+06

square mile (mi2 ) square kilometer (km2 ) 2.589 988 E+00

square mile

(based on U.S. survey foot) (mi2

)

7 square meter (m2

)

2.589

998 E+06

square mile

(based on U.S. survey foot) (mi2

)

7 square kilometer (km2

) 2.589 998 E+00

square yard (yd

2 ) square meter (m2

) 8.361

274 E-01

statampere ampere (A)

3.335

641 E-10

statcoulomb coulomb (C)

3.335

641 E-10

statfarad farad (F)

1.112

650 E-12

stathenry henry (H)

8.987

552 E+l 1 statmho Siemens (S)

1.112

650 E-12

statohm ohm (CI) 8.987 552 E+l 1

statvolt volt (V)

2.997

925 E+02

stere (st) cubic meter (m3 )

1.0

E+00

stilb (sb) candela per square meter (cd / m

2 ) 1.0 E+04

stokes (St) meter squared per second (m2 / s) 1.0 E-04

tablespoon cubic meter (m3 )

1

.478 676 E-05

tablespoon milliliter (mL) 1.478 676 E+01

teaspoon cubic meter (m3 )

4.928

922 E-06

teaspoon milliliter (mL)

4.928

922 E+00

tex kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1.0 E-06

therm (EC)24 joule (J)

1.055

06 E+08

therm (U.S.)

24 joule (J)

1.054

804 E+08

ton, assay (AT) kilogram (kg)

2.916

667 E-02

ton, assay (AT) gram (g)

2.916

667 E+01

ton-force (2000 lbf) newton (N)

8.896

443 E+03

ton-force (2000 lbf) kilonewton (kN)

8.896

443 E+00

ton, long (2240 lb) kilogram (kg)

1.016

047 E+03

ton, long, per cubic yard kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1 .328 939 E+03

ton, metric (t) kilogram (kg)

1.0

E+03

tonne (called "metric ton" in U.S.) (t) kilogram (kg)

1.0

E+03

ton of refrigeration ( 12 000 Btu,T / h) watt (W)

3.5

16 853 E+03

ton of TNT (energy equivalent)25 joule (J) 4.184 E+09

ton, register cubic meter (m3 )

2.831

685 E+00

ton, short (2000 lb) kilogram (kg)

9.071

847 E+02

ton, short, per cubic yard kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1 . 1 86 553 E+03

ton, short, per hour kilogram per second (kg / s) 2.519 958 E-01

torr (Torr) pascal (Pa)

1.333

224 E+02

unit pole weber(Wb)

1.256

637 E-07

watt hour (W • h) joule (J) 3.6 E+03

watt per square centimeter (W / cm

2

) watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1.0 E+04

24 The therm (EC) is legally defined in the Council Directive of 20 December 1979, Council of the European Communities (now the European Union, EU). The therm (U.S.) is legally defined in the Federal Register of July 27, 1968. Although the therm (EC), which is based on the International Table Btu, is frequently used by engineers in the United Slates, the therm (U.S.) is the legal unit used by the U.S. natural gas industry.

25 Defined (not measured) value.

55
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

watt per square inch (W / in

2

) watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1.550 003 E+03

watt second (W • s) joule (J)

1.0

E+00

yard (yd) meter (m) 9.144 E-01

year (365 days) second (s)

3.1536

E+07

year (sidereal) second (s)

3.155

815 E+07

year (tropical) second (s)

3.155

693 E+07

56
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

B.9 Factors for units listed by kind of quantity or field of science

Caution: The units listed in column 1 are in general not to be used in NIST publications, with the exception

of those few in italic type.

Factors in boldface are exact

To convert from to Multiply by

ACCELERATION

acceleration of free fall, standard (gn ) meter per second squared (m / s

2

) 9.806 65 E+00

foot per second squared (ft / s

2

) meter per second squared (m / s

2 ) 3.048 E-01

gal (Gal) meter per second squared (m / s

2 ) 1.0 E-02

inch per second squared (in / s

2

) meter per second squared (m / s

2 ) 2.54 E-02

ANGLE

degree ( °

) radian (rad)

1

.745 329 E-02

gon (also called grade) (gon) radian (rad)

1.570

796 E-02

gon (also called grade) (gon) degree ( °

) 9.0 E-01

mil radian (rad)

9.817

477 E-04

mil degree ( °

)

5.625

E-02

minute (') radian (rad)

2.908

882 E-04

revolution (r) radian (rad)

6.283

185 E+00

second (?) radian (rad)

4.848

137 E-06

AREA AND SECOND MOMENT OF AREA

acre (based on U.S. survey foot) square meter (m2

)

4.046

873 E+03

are (a) square meter (m2

)

1.0

E+02

barn (b) square meter (m2

)

1.0

E-28

circular mil square meter (nr)

5.067

075 E-10

circular mil square millimeter (mm2

) 5.067 075 E-04

foot to the fourth power (ft

4

)

16 meter to the fourth power (m4

) 8.630 975 E-03

hectare (ha) square meter (m2

)

1.0

E+04

inch to the fourth power (in

4

)

16 meter to the fourth power (m4

) 4. 162 3 14 E-07

square foot (ft

2

) square meter (m2

)

9.290

304 E-02

square inch (in

2 ) square meter (m2

)

6.4516

E-04

square inch (in

2 ) square centimeter (cm2 ) 6.4516 E+00

square mile (mi2

) square meter (m2 )

2.589

988 E+06

square mile (mi2

) square kilometer (km ) 2.589 988 E+00

square mile

(based on U.S. survey foot) (mi2 )

7 square meter (m2

)

2.589

998 E+06

square mile

(based on U.S. survey foot) (mi2

)

7 square kilometer (km2

) 2.589 998 E+00

square yard (yd

2

) square meter (m2

)

8.361

274 E-01

CAPACITY (see VOLUME)

DENSITY (that is, MASS DENSITY— see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM

abampere ampere (A) 1.0 E+01

abcoulomb coulomb (C) 1.0 E+01

abfarad farad (F)

1.0

E+09

abhenry henry (H)

1.0

E-09

abmho Siemens (S)

1.0

E+09

57
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

abohm ohm (Q)

abvolt volt (V) volt (V)

ampere hour (A • h) coulomb (C)

biot (Bi) ampere (A)

EMU of capacitance (abfarad) farad (F)

EMU of current (abampere) ampere (A)

EMU of electric potential (abvolt) volt (V)

EMU of inductance (abhenry) henry (H

EMU of resistance (abohm) ohm (O)

ESU of capacitance (statfarad) farad (F) 1.112

ESU of current (statampere) ampere (A) 3.335

ESU of electric potential (statvolt) volt (V) 2.997

ESU of inductance (stathenry) henry (H) 8.987

ESU of resistance (statohm) ohm (Q.) 8.987

faraday (based on carbon 12) coulomb (C) 9.648

franklin (Fr) coulomb (C) 3.335

gamma (f) tesla (T)

gauss (Gs, G) tesla (T)

gilbert (Gi) ampere (A) 7.957

maxwell (Mx) weber(Wb)

mho Siemens (S)

oersted (Oe) ampere per meter (A / m) 7.957

ohm centimeter (fi • cm) ohm meter (fi • m)

ohm circular-mil per foot ohm meter (Q m) 1 .662

ohm circular-mil per foot ohm square millimeter per meter

(fi-mm2 /m) 1.662

statampere ampere (A) 3.335

statcoulomb coulomb (C)

statfarad farad (F)

stathenry henry (H)

statmho Siemens (S)... statohm ohm (Q)

statvolt volt (V)

unit pole weber (Wb) ..

3.335

1.112

8.987

1.112

8.987

2.997

1.256

1.0

1.0

3.6

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0

1.0 650

641

925

552

552

534

641

1.0

1.0

747

1.0

1.0

747

1.0

426

426

641

641

650

552

650

552

925

637

E-09

E-08

E+03

E+01

E+09

E+01

E-08

E-09

E-09

E-12

E-10

E+02

E+ll

E+ll

E+04

E-10

E-09

E-04

E-01

E-08

E+00

E+01

E-02

E-09

E-03

E-10

E-10

E-12

E+ll

E-12

E+ll

E+02

E-07

ENERGY (includes WORK)

British thermal unitIT (BtuIT )

9 joule (J) 1 .055 056

British thermal uniU (Btuth )

9 joule (J) 1.054 350

British thermal unit (mean) (Btu) joule (J) 1.055 87

British thermal unit (39 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .059 67

British thermal unit (59 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .054 80

British thermal unit (60 °F) (Btu) joule (J) 1 .054 68

calorie,T (cal IT )

10 joule (J) 4.1868

calorieth (calth )

10 joule (J) 4.184

calorie (mean) (cal) joule (J) 4.190 02

calorie ( 1 5 °C) (cal, 5 ) joule (J) 4. 1 85 80

calorie (20 °C) (cal20) joule (J) 4.181 90

calorieix, kilogram (nutrition)" joule (J) 4.1868

calorie^, kilogram (nutrition)" joule (J) 4.184

calorie (mean), kilogram (nutrition)" joule (J) 4.190 02

electronvolt (eV) joule (J) 1.602 176

erg (erg) joule (J) 1.0 footpoundal joule (J) 4.214 011

E+03

E+03

E+03

E+03

E+03

E+03

E+00

E+00

E+00

E+00

E+00

E+03

E+03

E+03

E-19

E-07

E-02

58
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

foot pound-force (ft • lbf) joule (J) 1 .355 8 1 8 E+00

kilocalorie,T (kcal,T) joule (J) 4.1868 E+03

kilocalorieth (kcaU) joule (J) 4.184 E+03

kilocalorie (mean) (kcal) joule (J) 4. 1 90 02 E+03

kilowatt hour (kW • h) joule (J) 3.6 E+06

kilowatt hour (kW • h) megajoule (MJ) 3.6 E+00

quad (1015 Btu1T )

9 joule (J) 1.055 056 E+18

therm (EC)24 joule (J) 1.055 06 E+08

therm (U.S.)

24 joule (J) 1.054 804 E+08

ton of TNT (energy equivalent)25 joule (J) 4.184 E+09

watt hour (W • h) joule (J) 3.6 E+03

watt second ( W • s) joule (J) 1.0 E+00

ENERGY DIVIDED BY AREA TIME

erg per square centimeter second

[erg / (cm2 s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1.0 E-03

watt per square centimeter ( W / cm") watt per square meter ( W / m

2

) 1.0 E+04

watt per square inch (W / in") watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 .550 003 E+03

FLOW (see MASS DIVLDED BY TIME or VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME)

FORCE

dyne (dyn) newton (N) 1.0 E-05

kilogram-force (kgf) newton (N) 9.806 65 E+00

kilopond (kilogram-force) (kp) newton (N) 9.806 65 E+00

kip (1 kip = 1000 lbf) newton (N) 4.448 222 E+03

kip (1 kip = 1000 lbf) kilonewton (kN) 4.448 222 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois)-force (ozf) newton (N) 2.780 139 E-01

poundal newton (N) 1.382 550 E-01

pound-force (lbf)

23 newton (N) 4.448 222 E+00

pound-force per pound

(lbf / lb) (thrust to mass ratio) newton per kilogram (N / kg) 9.806 65 E+00

ton-force (2000 lbf) newton (N) 8.896 443 E+03

ton-force (2000 lbf) kilonewton (kN) 8.896 443 E+00

FORCE DrVTDED BY AREA (see PRESSURE)

FORCE DIVIDED BY LENGTH

pound-force per foot (lbf / ft) newton per meter (N / m) 1 .459 390 E+0

1

pound-force per inch (lbf / in) newton per meter (N / m) 1 .75 1 268 E+02

HEAT

Available Energy

British thermal unitIT per cubic foot (Btu,T / ft

3

) .. joule per cubic meter (J / m

3 ) 3.725 895 E+04

British thermal unitth per cubic foot (Btuth / ft

3 ) ... joule per cubic meter (J / m

3 ) 3.723 403 E+04

British thermal unit,T per pound (Btu1T / lb) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 2.326 E+03

British thermal unitth per pound (Btuth / lb) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 2.324 444 E+03

calorie,T per gram (cal|T / g) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 4.1868 E+03

calorie^ per gram (calth / g) joule per kilogram (J / kg) 4.184 E+03

59
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

Coefficient of Heat Transfer

British thermal unitu per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtUu / (h • ft

2

• °F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W / (m2

• K)]

5.678

263 E+00

British thermal unitth per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth / (h ft

2

• °F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W/(m2

• K)]

5.674

466 E+00

British thermal unit1T per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtuIT / (s • ft2 °F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W/(m2

• K)]

2.044

175 E+04

British thermal unitth per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtUth / (s • ft

2

• °F)] watt per square meter kelvin

[W / (m2

• K)]

2.042

808 E+04

Density of Heat

British thermal unitIT per square foot

(Btu1T / ft

2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2

) 1.135 653 E+04

British thermal unitth per square foot

(BtUth/ft

2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2

) 1.134 893 E+04

calorieth per square centimeter (cal^ / cm

2

) joule per square meter (J / m

2

) 4.184 E+04

langley (calth / cm ) joule per square meter (J / m

2 ) 4.184 E+04

Density of Heat Flow Rate

British thermal unituper square foot hour

[Btu,T / (ft

2

• h)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 3. 154 591 E+00

British thermal unitth per square foot hour

[Btuth / (ft

2 h)] watt per square meter (W / m2

) 3. 1 52 48 1 E+00

British thermal unit^ per square foot minute

[Btuth / (ft

2 min)] watt per square meter (W / m2 ) 1 .89 1 489 E+02

British thermal unitIT per square foot second

[Btuix / (ft

2

• s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 . 1 35 653 E+04

British thermal unitth per square foot second

[Btuth / (ft

2

• s)] watt per square meter ( W / m

2

) 1 . 1 34 893 E+04

British thermal unit,), per square inch second

[Btu,h / (in

2

• s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 1 .634 246 E+06

calorieth per square centimeter minute

[calth / (cm2

• min)] watt per square meter (W / m

2) 6.973 333 E+02

calorieth per square centimeter second

[caU / (cm2

• s)] watt per square meter (W / m

2

) 4.184 E+04

Fuel Consumption

gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour

[gal / (hp • h)] cubic meter per joule (m3 / J) 1.410 089 E-09

gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour

[gal / (hp • h)] liter per joule (L / J) 1.410 089 E-06

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal) meter per cubic meter (m / m

3 ) 4.25 1 437 E+05

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal) kilometer per liter (km / L) 4.251 437 E-01

mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal)

21 liter per 100 kilometer (L / 100 km) .... divide 235.215 by

number of miles

per gallon

pound per horsepower hour [lb / (hp • h)] kilogram per joule (kg / J) 1 .689 659 E-07

60
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

Heat Capacity and Entropy

British thermal unitu per degree Fahrenheit

(BtUiT / °F) joule per kelvin (J / k)

British thermal unitth per degree Fahrenheit

(Btuth / °F) joule per kelvin (J / k)

British thermal unit1T per degree Rankine

(BtuIT / °R) joule per kelvin (J / k)

British thermal unitt h per degree Rankine

1.899 101 E+03

1.897 830 E+03

1.899 101 E+03

1.897 830 E+03

Heat Flow Rate

British thermal unitIT per hour (Btu,T / h) watt (W)

2.930

7 1 1 E-0

1

British thermal unit^ per hour (Btuth / h) watt (W)

2.928

75 1 E-0

1

British thermal unitth per minute (Btut h / min) watt (W)

1.757

250 E+01

British thermal unitIT per second (Btu,T / s) watt (W)

1

.055 056 E+03

British thermal unitu, per second (Btuth / s) watt (W)

1.054

350 E+03

calorieth per minute (calth / min) watt (W)

6.973

333 E-02

calorieth per second (calth / s) watt (W) 4.184 E+00

kilocalorieth per minute (kcalth / min) watt (W)

6.973

333 E+01

kilocalorieth per second (kcalth / s) watt (W) 4.184 E+03

ton of refrigeration (12 000 Btu1T / h) watt (W)

3.5

16 853 E+03

Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Entropy

British thermal unit|T per pound degree Fahrenheit

[BtUiT / (lb • °F)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg K)] 4.1868 E+03

British thermal unit^ per pound degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth / (lb • °F)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

British thermal unitu per pound degree Rankine

[BtuIT / (lb °R)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.1868 E+03

British thermal unitth per pound degree Rankine

[Btuth / (lb • °R)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

calorieix per gram degree Celsius

[cal,T / (g °C)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg K)] 4.1868 E+03

calorieth per gram degree Celsius

[caU / (g • °C)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

calorieIT per gram kelvin [cal1T / (g • K)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.1868 E+03

calorieth per gram kelvin [caU / (g K)] joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg • K)] 4.184 E+03

Thermal Conductivity

British thermal unitIT foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtuIT -ft / (h • ft

2

• °F)] watt per meter kel

British thermal unitth foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth . ft / (h • ft

2 °F)] watt per meter keb

British thermal unitu inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[BtuIT

• in / (h ft

2

• °F)] watt per meter kel'

British thermal unit,h inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btu,h • in / (h ft2

• °F)] watt per meter keb

British thermal unitIT inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuu • in / (s ft

2 °F)] watt per meter kel 1

British thermal uniU inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit

[Btuth

• in / (s • ft

2

• °F)] watt per meter kel<

calorieth per centimeter second degree Celsius

[W /(m K)] .. 1.730 735 E+00

[W /(m K)] .. 1.729 577 E+00

[W /(m K)] .. 1.442 279 E-01

[W /(m K)] .. 1.441 314 E-01

[W /(m K)] .. 5.192 204 E+02

[W /(m K)] - 5.188 732 E+02

[W /(m-K)] .... 4.184 E+02

61
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

Thermal Diffusivity

square foot per hour (ft

2

/ h) square meter per second (m2

/ s) 2.580 64 E-05

Thermal Insulance

clo square meter kelvin per watt (m2

- K / W) .... 1.55 E-01

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unit1T (°F h • ft

2

/ BtuiT) square meter kelvin per watt

(m2 K/W)

1.761

102 E-01

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British

thermal unitth (°F • h • ft

2

/ Btuth ) square meter kelvin per watt

(m2 -K/W)

1.762

280 E-01

Thermal Resistance

degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unitiT (°F • h / Btu, T) kelvin per watt (K / W) 1 .895 634 E+00

degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unitu,

(°F • h / Btu,h) kelvin per watt (K / W) 1 .896 903 E+00

degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unit,T (°F • s / Btu, T) kelvin per watt (K / W) 5.265 65 1 E-04

degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unitth (°F • s / Btu,h) kelvin per watt (K / W) 5.269 175 E-04

Thermal Resistivity

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British thermal unit|T inch

[°F • h • ft

2

/ (BtuIT • in)] meter kelvin per watt (m • K / W) 6.933 472 E+00

degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British thermal unitth inch

[°F • h ft

2 / (Btu,h • in)] meter kelvin per watt (m • K / W) 6.938 1 12 E+04

LENGTH

angstrom (A) meter (m)

1.0

E-10

angstrom (A) nanometer (nm)

1.0

E-01

astronomical unit (ua) meter (m)

1.495

979 E+ll

chain (based on U.S. survey foot) (ch)

7 meter (m)

2.01

1 684 E+01

fathom (based on U.S. survey foot)

7 meter (m)

1.828

804 E+00

fermi meter (m)

1.0

E-15

fermi femtometer (fm)

1.0

E+00

foot (ft) meter (m)

3.048

E-01

foot (U.S. survey) (ft)

7 meter (m)

3.048

006 E-01

inch (in) meter (m) 2.54 E-02

inch (in) centimeter (cm) 2.54 E+00

kayser (K) reciprocal meter (m ')

1

E+02

light year (l.y.)

18 meter (m)

9.460

73 E+15

microinch meter (m) 2.54 E-08

microinch micrometer (um) 2.54 E-02

micron (|i) meter (m)

1.0

E-06

micron (u) micrometer (um)

1.0

E+00

mil (0.001 in) meter (m) 2.54 E-05

mil (0.001 in) millimeter (mm) 2.54 E-02

mile (mi) meter (m) 1.609 344 E+03

mile (mi) kilometer (km) 1.609 344 E+00

mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi)

7 meter (m)

1.609

347 E+03

mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi)

7 kilometer (km) 1.609 347 E+00

62
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

mile, nautical

20 meter (m)

1.852

E+03

parsec(pc) meter (m)

3.085

678 E+16

pica (computer) (1/6 in) meter (m)

4.233

333 E-03

pica (computer) (1/6 in) millimeter (mm)

4.233

333 E+00

pica (printer's) meter (m)

4.217

518 E-03

pica (printer's) millimeter (mm)

4.217

518 E+00

point (computer) (1/72 in) meter (m)

3.527

778 E-04

point (computer) (1/72 in) millimeter (mm)

3.527

778 E-01

point (printer's) meter (m)

3.514

598 E-04

point (printer's) millimeter (mm) 3.514 598 E-01

rod (based on U.S. survey foot) (rd)

7 meter (m)

5.029

210 E+00

yard (yd) meter (m) 9.144 E-01

LIGHT

candela per square inch (cd / in

2

) candela per square meter (cd / m

2 ) 1 .550 003 E+03

footcandle lux (lx)

1.076

391 E+01

footlambert candela per square meter (cd / m") 3.426 259 E+00

lambert

17 candela per square meter (cd / m

2

) 3.183 099 E+03

lumen per square foot (lm / ft2

) lux (lx)

1

.076 391 E+01

phot(ph) lux(lx)

1.0

E+04

stilb (sb) candela per square meter (cd / m

2

) 1.0 E+04

MASS and MOMENT OF INERTIA

carat, metric kilogram (kg) 2.0 E-04

carat, metric gram (g) 2.0 E-01

grain (gr) kilogram (kg)

6.479

891 E-05

grain (gr) milligram (mg)

6.479

891 E+01

hundredweight (long, 1 12 lb) kilogram (kg)

5.080

235 E+01

hundredweight (short, 100 lb) kilogram (kg)

4.535

924 E+01

kilogram-force second squared per meter

(kgf • s

2 / m) kilogram (kg)

9.806

65 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) (oz) kilogram (kg)

2.834

952 E-02

ounce (avoirdupois) (oz) gram (g)

2.834

952 E+01

ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) kilogram (kg)

3.1

10 348 E-02

ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) gram (g)

3.1

10 348 E+01

pennyweight (dwt) kilogram (kg)

1.555

174 E-03

pennyweight (dwt) gram (g)

1.555

174 E+00

pound (avoirdupois) (lb)

22 kilogram (kg)

4.535

924 E-01

pound (troy or apothecary) (lb) kilogram (kg)

3.732

417 E-01

pound foot squared (lb ft

2

) kilogram meter squared (kg • m

2) 4.214 011 E-02

pound inch squared (lb • in

2) kilogram meter squared (kg • m

2) 2.926 397 E-04

slug (slug) kilogram (kg)

1.459

390 E+01

ton, assay (AT) kilogram (kg)

2.916

667 E-02

ton, assay (AT) gram (g)

2.916

667 E+01

ton, long (2240 lb) kilogram (kg)

1.016

047 E+03

ton, metric (t) kilogram (kg)

1.0

E+03

tonne (called "metric ton" in U.S.) (t) kilogram (kg)

1.0

E+03

ton, short (2000 lb) kilogram (kg)

9.071

847 E+02

63
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

.. 3.051 517 E-01

.. 4.394 185 E+01

.. 3.390 575 E-02

.. 4.882 428 E+00

.. 7.030 696 E+02

To convert from to Multiply by

MASS DENSITY (see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

MASS DIVIDED BY AREA

ounce (avoirdupois) per square foot (oz / ft

2

) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) ounce (avoirdupois) per square inch (oz / in

2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) ounce (avoirdupois) per square yard (oz / yd2

) .... kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2 ) pound per square foot (lb / ft

2

) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2

) pound per square inch (not pound force) (lb / in

2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m

2 ) .

MASS DIVIDED BY CAPACITY (see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

MASS DFVTDED BY LENGTH

denier kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1.111 111 E-07

denier gram per meter (g / m) 1.111 111 E-04

pound per foot (lb / ft) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1 .488 164 E+00

pound per inch (lb / in) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1 .785 797 E+01

pound per yard (lb / yd) kilogram per meter (kg / m) 4.960 546 E-01

tex kilogram per meter (kg / m) 1.0 E-06

MASS DIVIDED BY TIME (includes FLOW)

pound per hour (lb / h) kilogram per second (kg / s) 1.259 979 E-04

pound per minute (lb / min) kilogram per second (kg / s) 7.559 873 E-03

pound per second (lb / s) kilogram per second (kg / s) 4.535 924 E-01

ton, short, per hour kilogram per second (kg / s) 2.519 958 E-01

MASS DrVTDED BY VOLUME (includes MASS DENSITY and MASS

CONCENTRATION)

grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1.71 1 806 E-02

grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr/ gal) milligram per liter (mg / L) 1.711 806 E+01

gram per cubic centimeter (g / cm

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m3 ) 1.0 E+03

ounce (avoirdupois) per cubic inch (oz / in

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m3 ) 1 .729 994 E+03

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (oz / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 6.236 023 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (oz / gal) gram per liter (g / L) 6.236 023 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon (U.S.) (oz / gal) .. kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 7.489 152 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois) per gallon (U.S.) (oz / gal) .. gram per liter (g / L) 7.489 152 E+00

pound per cubic foot (lb / ft

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m3 ) 1 .601 846 E+01

pound per cubic inch (lb / in

3 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m3 ) 2.767 990 E+04

pound per cubic yard (lb / yd3

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3

) 5.932 764 E-01

pound per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (lb / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 9.977 637 E+01

pound per gallon [Canadian and

U.K. (Imperial)] (lb / gal) kilogram per liter (kg / L) 9.977 637 E-02

pound per gallon (U.S.) (lb / gal) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 1 . 1 98 264 E+02

pound per gallon (U.S.) (lb / gal) kilogram per liter (kg / L) 1.198 264 E-01

slug per cubic foot (slug / ft

3

) kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

3 ) 5.153 788 E+02

ton, long, per cubic yard kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

J ) 1 .328 939 E+03

ton, short, per cubic yard kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m

J ) 1 . 1 86 553 E+03

MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE

dyne centimeter (dyn • cm) newton meter (N m)

1.0

E-07

64
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

kilogram-force meter (kgf m) newton meter (N • m) 9.806 65 E+00

ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (ozf • in) newton meter (N-m) 7.061 552 E-03

ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (ozf - in) millinewton meter (mN • m) 7.061 552 E+00

pound-force foot (lbf • ft) newton meter (N m) 1.355 818 E+00

pound-force inch (lbf - in) newton meter (N-m) 1.129 848 E—0

1

MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE, DIVIDED BY LENGTH

pound-force foot per inch (lbf - ft / in) newton meter per meter (N • m / m) 5.337 866 E+01

pound-force inch per inch (lbf - in / in) newton meter per meter (N m / m) 4.448 222 E+00

PERMEABILITY

darcy

14 meter squared (m2

) 9.869 233 E-13

perm (0 °C) kilogram per pascal second square meter

[kg / (Pa • s m

2 )] 5.721 35 E-ll

perm (23 °C) kilogram per pascal second square meter

[kg / (Pa • s • m

2 )] 5.745 25 E-ll

perm inch (0 °C) kilogram per pascal second meter

[kg / (Pa s • m)] 1.453 22 E-12

perm inch (23 °C) kilogram per pascal second meter

[kg / (Pa • s • m)] 1.459 29 E-12

POWER

erg per second (erg / s) watt (W) 1.0 E-07

foot pound-force per hour (ft - lbf/ h) watt (W) 3.766 161 E-04

foot pound-force per minute (ft • lbf / min) watt (W) 2.259 697 E-02

foot pound-force per second (ft lbf / s) watt (W) 1.355 818 E+00

horsepower (550 ft • lbf / s) watt (W) 7.456 999 E+02

horsepower (boiler) watt (W) 9.809 50 E+03

horsepower (electric) watt (W) 7.46 E+02

horsepower (metric) watt (W) 7.354 988 E+02

horsepower (U.K.) watt (W) 7.4570 E+02

horsepower (water) watt (W) 7.460 43 E+02

PRESSURE or STRESS (FORCE DIVIDED BY AREA)

atmosphere, standard (atm) pascal (Pa) 1.013 25 E+05

atmosphere, standard (atm) kilopascal (kPa) 1.013 25 E+02

atmosphere, technical (at)

8 pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+04

atmosphere, technical (at)

8 kilopascal (kPa) 9.806 65 E+01

bar (bar) pascal (Pa) 1.0 E+05

bar (bar) kilopascal (kPa) 1.0 E+02

centimeter of mercury (0 °C)

12 pascal (Pa) 1.333 22 E+03

centimeter of mercury (0 °C)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 1.333 22 E+00

centimeter of mercury, conventional (crnHg)

1 "

... pascal (Pa) 1.333 224 E+03

centimeter of mercury, conventional (cmHg) 12

... kilopascal (kPa) 1.333 224 E+00

centimeter of water (4 °C)

12 pascal (Pa) 9.806 38 E+01

centimeter of water, conventional (cmH2 0)

12

.... pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+01

dyne per square centimeter (dyn / cm

2 ) pascal (Pa) 1.0 E-01

foot of mercury, conventional (ftHg)

12 pascal (Pa) 4.063 666 E+04

foot of mercury, conventional (ftHg)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 4.063 666 E+01

foot of water (39.2 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.988 98 E+03

foot of water (39.2 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 2.988 98 E+00

foot of water, conventional (ftH2 0)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.989 067 E+03

foot of water, conventional (ftH2 0)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 2.989 067 E+00

gram-force per square centimeter (gf / cm

2 ) pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+01

65
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

inch of mercury (32 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 3.386 38 E+03

inch of mercury (32 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 3.386 38 E+00

inch of mercury (60 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 3.376 85 E+03

inch of mercury (60 °F)

12 kilopascal (kPa) 3.376 85 E+00

inch of mercury, conventional (inHg) 12 pascal (Pa) 3.386 389 E+03

inch of mercury, conventional (inHg) 12 kilopascal (kPa) 3.386 389 E+00

inch of water (39.2 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.490 82 E+02

inch of water (60 °F)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.4884 E+02

inch of water, conventional (inH20)

12 pascal (Pa) 2.490 889 E+02

kilogram-force per square

centimeter (kgf / cm

2

) pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+04

kilogram-force per square

centimeter (kgf / cm

2

) kilopascal (kPa) 9.806 65 E+01

kilogram-force per square meter (kgf / m

2

) pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+00

kilogram-force per square

millimeter (kgf / mm2

) pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+06

kilogram-force per square

millimeter (kgf / mm2

) megapascal (MPa) 9.806 65 E+00

kip per square inch (ksi) (kip / in

2 ) pascal (Pa) 6.894 757 E+06

kip per square inch (ksi) (kip / in

2 ) kilopascal (kPa) 6.894 757 E+03

millibar (mbar) pascal (Pa) 1.0 E+02

millibar (mbar) kilopascal (kPa) 1.0 E-01

millimeter of mercury, conventional (mmHg)12

.. pascal (Pa) 1.333 224 E+02

millimeter of water, conventional (mmH2 0)

12

.... pascal (Pa) 9.806 65 E+00

poundal per square foot pascal (Pa) 1.488 164 E+00

pound-force per square foot (lbf / ft

2

) pascal (Pa) 4.788 026 E+01

pound-force per square inch (psi) (lbf / in

2

) pascal (Pa) 6.894 757 E+03

pound-force per square inch (psi) (lbf / in

2

) kilopascal (kPa) 6.894 757 E+00

psi (pound-force per square inch) (lbf / in

2

) pascal (Pa) 6.894 757 E+03

psi (pound-force per square inch) (lbf / in

2

) kilopascal (kPa) 6.894 757 E+00

torr (Torr) pascal (Pa) 1.333 224 E+02

RADIOLOGY

curie (Ci) becquerel (Bq) 3.7 E+10

rad (absorbed dose) (rad) gray (Gy) 1.0 E-02

rem (rem) sievert (Sv) 1.0 E-02

roentgen (R) coulomb per kilogram (C / kg) 2.58 E-04

SPEED (see VELOCITY)

STRESS (see PRESSURE)

TEMPERATURE

degree Celsius (°C) kelvin (K) 77 K = t /°C + 273.15

degree centigrade

15 degree Celsius (°C) t/°C = t/deg. cent. degree Fahrenheit (°F) degree Celsius (°C) t/°C = (t/°F - 32) / 1.8 degree Fahrenheit (°F) kelvin (K) 77 K = (r/°F + 459.67) / 1.8 degree Rankine (°R) kelvin (K) 77 K = (77 °R) / 1.8 kelvin (K) degree Celsius (°C) t /°C = 77 K - 273.15

66
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

TEMPERATURE INTERVAL

degree Celsius (°C) kelvin (K)

1.0

E+00

degree centigrade

15 degree Celsius (°C)

1

.0 E+00

degree Fahrenheit (°F) degree Celsius (°C) 5.555 556 E-01

degree Fahrenheit (°F) kelvin (K)

5.555

556 E-01

degree Rankine (°R) kelvin (K)

5.555

556 E-01

TIME

day (d) second (s) 8.64 E+04

day (sidereal) second (s)

8.616

409 E+04

hour (h) second (s) 3.6 E+03

hour (sidereal) second (s)

3.590

170 E+03

minute (min) second (s) 6.0 E+01

minute (sidereal) second (s)

5.983

617 E+01

second (sidereal) second (s)

9.972

696 E-01

shake second (s)

1.0

E-08

shake nanosecond (ns)

1.0

E+01

year (365 days) second (s)

3.1536

E+07

year (sidereal) second (s)

3.155

815 E+07

year (tropical) second (s)

3.155

693 E+07

TORQUE (see MOMENT OF FORCE)

VELOCITY (includes SPEED)

foot per hour (ft / h) meter per second (m / s) 8.466 667 E-05

foot per minute (ft / min) meter per second (m / s) 5.08 E-03

foot per second (ft / s) meter per second (m / s)

3.048

E-01

inch per second (in / s) meter per second (m / s) 2.54 E-02

kilometer per hour (km / h) meter per second (m / s) 2.777 778 E-01

knot (nautical mile per hour) meter per second (m / s) 5. 144 444 E-01

mile per hour (mi / h) meter per second (m / s)

4.4704

E-01

mile per hour (mi / h) kilometer per hour (km / h) 1.609 344 E+00

mile per minute (mi / min) meter per second (m / s) 2.682 24 E+01

mile per second (mi / s) meter per second (m / s) 1.609 344 E+03

revolution per minute (rpm) (r / min) radian per second (rad / s) 1 .047 198 E-01

rpm (revolution per minute) (r / min) radian per second (rad / s) 1.047 198 E-01

VISCOSITY, DYNAMIC

E-03

E-01

E+00

pound-force second per square foot

(lbf • s / ft2

) pascal second (Pa • s) 4.788 026 E+01

pound-force second per square inch

(lbf - s / in

2

) pascal second (Pa • s) 6.894 757 E+03

pound per foot hour [lb / (ft h)] pascal second (Pa • s) 4.133 789 E-04

E+00

rhe reciprocal pascal second (Pa • s)~' 1.0 E+01

slug per foot second [slug / (ft • s)] pascal second (Pa • s) 4.788 026 E+01

pascal second (Pa s) 1.0

pascal second (Pa s) 1.0

pascal second (Pa s) 1.488 164

pascal second (Pa s) 4.788 026

pascal second (Pa s) 6.894 757

pascal second (Pa s) 4.133 789

pascal second (Pa s) 1.488 164

67
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

VISCOSITY, KINEMATIC

centistokes (cSt) meter squared per second (m2

/ s) 1.0 E-06

square foot per second (ft

2

/ s) meter squared per second (m2

/ s) 9.290 304 E-02

stokes (St) meter squared per second (m2 / s) 1.0 E-04

VOLUME (includes CAPACITY)

acre-foot (based on U.S. survey foot)

7 cubic meter

barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S.)](bbl) cubic meter

barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S.)](bbl) liter (L)

bushel (U.S.) (bu) cubic meter

bushel (U.S.) (bu) liter (L)

cord (128 ft

J

) cubic meter

cubic foot (ft

3 ) cubic meter

cubic inch (in

3 )13 cubic meter

cubic mile (mi3

) cubic meter

cubic yard (yd

J ) cubic meter

cup (U.S.) cubic meter

cup (U.S.) liter (L)

cup (U.S.) milliliter (m

fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) cubic meter

fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) milliliter (m

gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gal) cubic meter

gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gal) liter (L)

gallon (U.S.) (gal) cubic meter

gallon (U.S.) (gal) liter (L)

gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) cubic meter

gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) liter (L)

gill (U.S.) (gi) cubic meter

gill (U.S.) (gi) liter (L)

liter (L)

19 cubic meter ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)]

(fl oz) cubic meter ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)]

(fl oz) milliliter (m

ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) cubic meter ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) milliliter (m

peck (U.S.) (pk) cubic meter

peck (U.S.) (pk) liter (L)

pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt) cubic meter

pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt) liter (L)

pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) cubic meter

pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) liter (L)

quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) cubic meter

quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) liter (L)

quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) cubic meter

quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) liter (L)

stere (st) cubic meter

tablespoon cubic meter

tablespoon milliliter (m

teaspoon cubic meter

teaspoon milliliter (m

ton, register cubic meter

m

3

) 1.233 489 E+03

m

3 ) 1.589 873 E-01

1.589 873 E+02

m

3 ) 3.523 907 E-02

3.523 907 E+01

m

3) 3.624 556 E+00

m

3 ) 2.831 685 E-02

m

3 ) 1.638 706 E-05

m

3 ) 4.168 182 E+09

m

3 ) 7.645 549 E-01

m

3 ) 2.365 882 E-04

2.365 882 E-01

L) 2.365 882 E+02

m

3 ) 2.957 353 E-05

L) 2.957 353 E+01

m

3 ) 4.546 09 E-03

4.546 09 E+00

m

3 ) 3.785 412 E-03

3.785 412 E+00

m

3 ) 1.420 653 E-04

1.420 653 E-01

1.182 941 E-04

1.182 941 E-01

1.0 E-03

m

3 ).

m

3 ).

m

3

) 2.841 306 E-05

L)

2.841

306 E+01

m

3)

2.957

353 E-05

L)

2.957

353 E+01

m

3)

8.809

768 E-03

8.809 768 E+00

5.506 105 E-04

5.506 105 E-01

m

3 )

4.731

765 E-04

4.731 765 E-01

m

3 ) 1.101 221 E-03

1.101 221 E+00

m

3 )

9.463

529 E-04

9.463 529 E-01

1.0 E+00

m

3 ) 1.478 676 E-05

L)

1.478

676 E+01

m

3 )

4.928

922 E-06

L) 4.928 922 E+00

m

3 )

2.831

685 E+00

m

3 )

68
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

To convert from to Multiply by

VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME (includes FLOW)

cubic foot per minute (ft

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 4.719 474 E-04

cubic foot per minute (ft

3 / min) liter per second (L / s) 4.719 474 E-01

cubic foot per second (ft

3 / s) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 2.83 1 685 E-02

cubic inch per minute (in

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 2.73 1 1 77 E-07

cubic yard per minute (yd

3 / min) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 1.274 258 E-02

gallon (U.S.) per day (gal / d) cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 4.381 264 E-08

gallon (U.S.) per day (gal / d) liter per second (L / s) 4.381 264 E-05

gallon (U.S.) per minute (gpm) (gal / min cubic meter per second (m3 / s) 6.309 020 E-05

gallon (U.S.) per minute (gpm) (gal / min) liter per second (L / s) 6.309 020 E-02

WORK (see ENERGY)

69
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Appendix C. Comments on the References of Appendix D— Bibliography

C.l Defining document for the SI: BIPM SI Brochure

The defining document for the International System of Units is the Brochure published by the

International Bureau of Weights and Measures (BIPM) in French, followed by an English translation [1]. This document is revised from time to time in accordance with the decisions of the General Conference on

Weights and Measures (CGPM) and the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM).

C.2 United States version of defining document for the SI: NIST SP 330

The United States edition of the English translation in the BIPM SI Brochure (see Sec. C.l) is published by the National Institute of Standards and Technology as NIST Special Publication 330 [2]; it differs from the translation in the BIPM publication in the following details:

— the spelling of English-language words—for example, "meter," "liter," and "deka" are used

instead of "metre," "litre," and "deca"—is in accordance with the United States Government

Printing Office Style Manual [3], which follows Webster's Third New International Dictionary

rather than the Oxford Dictionary used in many English-speaking countries. This spelling also

reflects recommended United States practice (see Sees. C.l and C.5); — editorial notes regarding the use of the SI in the United States are added.

Inasmuch as NIST Special Publication 330 reflects the interpretation of the SI for the United

States by the U.S. Secretary of Commerce (see the Preface) while at the same time highly consistent with

Ref. [1] (see Sec. C.l), SP 330 is the authoritative source document on the SI for the purposes of this Guide.

C.3 ISO and IEC

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical

Commission (IEC) both publish a series of international consensus standards to promote international

uniformity in the practical use of the SI in various fields of science and technology, and in particular to standardize the symbols for various quantities and the units in which the values of these quantities are expressed. These standards are in general compatible with Ref. [1] published by the BIPM (see Sec. C.l).

Currently ISO 31 is being revised jointly by technical committees ISO TC12 and IEC TC25. The

revised standards ISO/IEC 80000-1—ISO/IEC 80000-15, will supersede ISO 31-0:1992—ISO 31-13:1992

[4], which constitute a series of international consensus standards published by ISO.

IEC 60027-1 —IEC 60027-4 [5] constitute a series of international consensus standards published

by the IEC to promote international uniformity in the practical use of the SI in electrical technology, and in

particular to standardize the symbols for various quantities used in electrotechnology and the units in which

the values of these quantities are expressed. These IEC standards are also compatible with Ref. [1]

published by the BIPM (see Sec. C.l), and they are coordinated with the ISO standards [4].

C.4 IEEE/ASTM SI 10

SI 10-2002 "American National Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The

Modern Metric System," Ref. [6], is the product of a joint effort by Institute of Electrical and Electronics

Engineers (IEEE) and ASTM International (ASTM) to develop a single American National Standard

Institute (ANSI) standard. It is based on the International System of Units as interpreted for use in the

United States (see Sees. C.l and C.2), and has been approved by a consensus of providers and consumers

that includes interests in industrial organizations, government agencies, and scientific associations. SI 10 is

70
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

recommended as a comprehensive source of authoritative information for the practical use of the SI in the

United States. (Similar documents have also been developed by other North American technical

organizations; see Ref. [6], note 1.)

C.5 Federal Register Notices

Important details concerning United States customary units of measurement and the interpretation

of the SI for the United States are published from time to time in the Federal Register; these notices have

the status of official United States Government policy.

A Federal Register Notice of July 1, 1959, [7] states the values of conversion factors to be used in technical and scientific fields to obtain the values of the United States yard and pound from the SI base

units for length and mass, the meter and the kilogram. These conversion factors were adopted on the basis

of an agreement of English-speaking countries to reconcile small differences in the values of the inchpound units as they were used in different parts of the world. This action did affect the value of the yard or

foot used for geodetic surveys in the United States. Thus, at that time, it became necessary to recognize on

a temporary basis a small difference between United States customary units of length for "international

measure" and "survey measure." A Federal Register Notice of July 19, 1988, [8] announced a tentative

decision not to adopt the international foot of 0.3048 meters for surveying and mapping activities in the

United States. A final decision to continue the use of the survey foot indefinitely is pending the completion

of an analysis of public comments on the tentative decision; this decision will also be announced in the

Federal Register.

Even if a final decision affirms the continued use of the survey foot in surveying and mapping

services of the United States, it is significant to note that the Office of Charting and Geodetic Services of

the National Ocean Service in the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses the meter

exclusively for the North American Datum [9]. The North American Datum of 1983, the most recent

definition and adjustment of this information, was announced in a Federal Register Notice of June 14, 1989

[10].

The definitions of the international foot and yard and the corresponding survey units are also

addressed in a Federal Register Notice published on February 3, 1975, [1 1].

A Federal Register Notice of July 27, 1968, [12] provides a list of the common customary

measurement units used in commerce throughout the United States, together with the conversion factors

that link them with the meter and the kilogram.

A Federal Register Notice concerning the SI [13] is a restatement of the interpretation of the

International System for use in the United States, and it updates the corresponding information published in

earlier notices.

A Federal Register Notice of January 2, 1991, [14] removes the voluntary aspect of the conversion

to the SI for Federal agencies and provides policy direction to assist Federal agencies in their transition to the use of the metric system of measurement.

A Federal Register Notice of July 29, 1991, [15] provides Presidential authority and direction for

the use of the metric system of measurement by Federal departments and agencies in their programs.

27 The American National Standards Institute, inc. (11 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036) is a private sector organization that serves as a standards coordinating body, accredits standards developers that follow procedures sanctioned by ANSI, designates as American National Standards those standards submitted for and receiving approval, serves as the United States Member Body of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), and functions as the administrator of the United States National Committee for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).

71
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

A Federal Register Notice of July 28, 1998, [16] declares that there are now only two classes of

units in the International System of Units: base units and derived units. The units of these two classes form

a coherent set of units and are designated by the name "SI units."

C.6 Federal Standard 376B

Federal Standard 376B [17] was developed by the Standards and Metric Practices Subcommittee

of the Metrication Operating Committee, which operates under the Interagency Council on Metric Policy.

Specified in the Federal Standardization Handbook and issued by, and available from, the General

Services Administration, Washington, DC, 20406, it is the basic Federal standard that lists preferred metric

units for use throughout the Federal Government. It gives guidance on the selection of metric units required

to comply with PL 94-168 (see Preface) as amended by PL 100-418 (see Preface), and with Executive

Order 12770 [15] (see Sec. C.5).

C.7 2006 CODATA recommended values of the fundamental constants

The set of self-consistent recommended values of the fundamental physical constants resulting

from the 2006 Committee on Data for Science and Technology (CODATA) least-squares adjustment of the

constants [19] can be found at the NIST website: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/index.html . The

definitive paper describing the 2006 adjustment has been accepted for publication and a preprint is available at http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/codata.pdf.

C.8 Uncertainty in measurement

Reference [20] cites two publications that describe the evaluation and expression of uncertainly in measurement based on the approach recommended by the CIPM in 1981 and which have been adopted

worldwide.

72
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Appendix D. Bibliography

[1] he Systeme International d 'Unites (SI), The International System of Units (SI), 8th Edition (Bur. Intl. Poids et Mesures, Sevres, France, 2006).

Note: This publication, which is commonly called the BIPM SI Brochure, consists of the official

French text followed by an English translation.

[2] The International System of Units (SI), Ed. by B. N. Taylor and Ambler Thompson, Natl. Inst. Stand.

Technol. Spec. Publ. 330, 2008 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, March

2008). It is available in electronic form at no charge at http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/bibliography.html.

Note: This publication is the United States edition of the English translation in Ref. [1].

[3] United States Government Printing Office Style Manual (U.S. Government Printing Office,

Washington, DC, 2000).

[4] ISO 3 1 -0 is cited in the text in the form [4: ISO 31-0]. Currently ISO 3 1 is being revised jointly by

ISO TC12 and IEC TC25. The revised joint standards ISO/IEC 80000-1—ISO/IEC 80000-15 will

supersede ISO 31-0:1992—ISO 31-13. The completed revised joint standards published to date are included in this list, though the part numbers maybe different from the earlier designation.

Quantities and units — Part 0: General principles, ISO 31-0:1 992.

Quantities and units — Part 2: Periodic and related phenomena, ISO 3 1-2: 1992.

Quantities and units — Part 3: Space and time, ISO 80000-3 (2006).

Quantities and units —Part 4: Mechanics, ISO 80000-4 (2006).

Quantities and units — Part 4: Heat, ISO 3 1-4: 1992.

Quantities and units — Part 5 : Electricity and magnetism, ISO 31-5:1 992.

Quantities and units —Part 5: Thermodynamics, ISO 80000-5 (2007).

Quantities and units — Part 6: Light and related electromagnetic radiations, ISO 31-6:1 992.

Quantities and units — Part 7: Acoustics, ISO 3 1-7: 1992.

Quantities and units —Part 8: Physical chemistry and molecular physics, ISO 3 1-8: 1992.

Quantities and units — Part 9: Atomic and nuclear physics, ISO 3 1-9: 1992.

Quantities and units — Part 10: Nuclear reactions and ionizing radiations, ISO 31-10:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 1 1 : Mathematical signs and symbols for use in physical sciences and

technology, ISO 3 1-1 1 : 1992.

Quantities and units — Part 12: Characteristic numbers, ISO 31-12:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 1 3 : Solid state physics, ISO 31-13:1 992.

73
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

Note: ISO 31-0:1992— ISO 31-13:1992 and ISO 1000:1992 are reprinted in the ISO Standards

Handbook Quantities and units (International Organization for Standardization, Geneva,

Switzerland, 1993).

[5] The following four standards, which are cited in the text in the form [IEC 60027-X], are published

by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), Geneva, Switzerland.

Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology, Part 1 : General, IEC 60027-1 (1992).

Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology, Part 2: Telecommunications and electronics, IEC

60027-2 (2005).

Note: As pointed out in Sec. 4. 3.,the SI prefixes refer strictly to powers of 10. They should not be

used to indicate powers of 2 (for example, one kilobit represents 1000 bits and not 1024

bits). The IEC has adopted prefixes for binary powers in the above standard The names

10 20 30 40 50 60 and symbols for the prefixes corresponding to 2 ,2 ,2 ,2 ,2 ,and2 are, respectively:

kibi, Ki; mebi, Mi; gibi, Gi; tebi, Ti; pebi, Pi; and exbi, Ei. Thus, for example, one kibibyte

10 would be written: 1 KiB = 2 B = 1024 B, where B denotes a byte. Although these

prefixes are not part of the SI, they should be used in the field of information technology to avoid the incorrect usage of the SI prefixes.

Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology, Part 3: Logarithmic and related quantities and

their units, IEC 60027-3 (2003).

Letter symbols to be used in electrical technology, Part 4: Rotating electrical machines, IEC 60027-

4 (2006).

[6] SI 10-2002 IEEE/ASTM Standard for Use of the International System of Units (SI): The Modern

Metric System. A joint ASTM-IEEE effort to develop a single ANSI standard.

Notes:

1. A number of similar standards for metric practice are published by technical organizations.

They include:

Rules for SAE Use of SI (Metric) Units, TSB003 MAY 1999 (Society of Automotive

Engineers, Warrendale, PA, May 1999).

2. The Canadian Standards Association, 5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100, Mississauga,

Ontario, Canada, L4W 5N6, publishes CAN/CSA-Z234.1-00 (R2006), Canadian Metric

Practice Guide, a Canadian National Standard.

3. The application of the SI to physical chemistry is discussed in Quantities, Units and

Symbols in Physical Chemistry, Third Edition (International Union of Pure and Applied

Chemistry, RSC Publications, Cambridge, 2007).

[7] Federal Register, Vol. 24, No. 128, p. 5348, July 1, 1959.

[8] Federal Register, Vol. 53, No. 138, p. 27213, July 19, 1988.

[9] Federal Register, Vol. 42, No. 57, p. 8847, March 24, 1 977.

[10] Federal Register, Vol. 54, No. 1 13, p. 253 18, June 14, 1989.

[1 1] Federal Register, Vol. 40, No. 23, p. 5954, February 3, 1975.

74
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

[12] Federal Register, Vol. 33, No. 146, p. 10755, July 27, 1968.

[13] Federal Register, Vol. 55, No. 245, p. 52242, December 20, 1 990.

[

1 4] Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 1 , p. 1 60, January 2, 1 99 1

.

[15] Federal Register, Vol. 56, No. 145, p. 35801, July 29, 1991.

[16] Federal Register, Vol. 63, No. 144, p. 40334, July 28, 1998.

[17] Preferred Metric Units for General Use by the Federal Government, Federal Standard 376B

(General Services Administration, Washington, DC, 1993).

[18] Quantities and Units in Radiation Protection Dosimetry, ICRU Report 51, 1993 (International

Commission on Radiation Units and Measurements, 7910 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, MD,

20814).

[19] Values for the 2006 adjustment of the fundamental physical constants can be found at the NIST

website (http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/index.html). The definitive paper describing the 2006

adjustment has been accepted for publication and a preprint can be found at http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/codata.pdf.

Note: For a detailed description of the previous 2002 adjustment of the values for the constants

see P. J. Mohr and B. N. Taylor, Reviews of Modern Physics, Vol. 77, No. 1, pp. 1-107,

2005.

[20] The term standard uncertainly used in the footnotes to Table 7 of this Guide, and the related terms

expanded uncertainty and relative expanded uncertainty used in some of the examples of Sec. 7. 10.3, are discussed in ISO, Guide to the Expression of Uncertainty in Measurement (International

Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland, 1995); and in B. N. Taylor and C. E. Kuyatt,

Guidelines for Evaluating and Expressing the Uncertainty ofNIST Measurement Results, Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 1297, 1994 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC,

September 1994).

75
Guide for the Use of the International System of Units (SI)

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76
SI COHERENT DERIVED UNITS WITH SPECIAL NAMES AND SYMBOLS

(Explanation of Graphic on Back Cover)

Derived units are defined as products of powers of the base units. When the product of powers includes no

numerical factor other than one, the derived units are called "coherent derived" units. The base and coherent derived

units of the SI form a coherent set. designated the set of "coherent SI units." The word coherent is used here in the

following sense: when coherent units are used, equations between the numerical values of quantities take exactly

the same form as the equations between the quantities themselves. Thus, if only units from a coherent set are used,

conversion factors between units are never required.

The diagram on the back page of SP811 shows graphically how the 22 SI coherent derived units with special names and symbols are related to the seven SI base units.

1 . In the first column, the symbols of the SI base units are shown in rectangles, with the name of the unit

shown toward the upper left of the rectangle and the name of the associated base quantity shown in

italic type below die rectangle.

2. In the second column are shown those additional coherent derived units without special names that are necessary for the derivation of the coherent derived units with special names [the cubic meter (nf

)

excepted]. In the diagram, the derivation of each coherent derived unit is indicated by arrows that bring in units in the numerator (solid lines) and units in the denominator (broken lines), as appropriate.

3. In the third column the symbols of the 22 SI coherent derived units with special names are shown in

solid circles, with the name of the unit shown toward the upper left of the circle, the name of the

associated derived quantity shown in italic type below die circle, and an expression for the derived

unit in terms of other units shown toward the upper right in parenthesis.

Two SI coherent derived units with special names and symbols, die radian, symbol rad, and the steradian.

symbol sr (bottom-right of the third column of the diagram), are shown without any connections to SI base units -

either direct or dirough other SI derived units. The reason is that in die SI, die quantities plane angle and solid angle

are defined in such a way diat their dimension is one - they are so-called dimensionless quantities. This means that

the coherent SI derived unit for each of diese quantities is the number one, symbol 1 . That is, because plane angle is expressed as the ratio of two lengdis, and solid angle as the ratio of an area and die square of a length, the SI

coherent derived unit for plane angle is m/m = I. and the SI coherent derived unit for solid angle is m/m = 1. To

aid understanding, the special name "radian" with symbol rad is given to the number 1 for use in expressing values

of plane angle; and die special name "steradian" with symbol sr is given to the number 1 for use in expressing values

of solid angle. However, one has the option of using or not using these names and symbols in expressions for other

SI derived units, as is convenient.

The unit "degree Celsius," which is equal in magnitude to the unit "kelvin," is used to express Celsius

temperature /. In this case, "degree Celsius" is a special name used in place of "kelvin." This equality is indicated

in the diagram by die symbol K in parenthesis toward the upper right of die °C circle. The equation below

"CELSIUS TEMPERATURE* relates Celsius temperature / to thermodynamic temperature '/'. An interval or

difference in temperature may be expressed equivalently in eidier kelvins or in degrees Celsius.
c

S °

«/» °- fl> 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

p.! I I to nOxm

i? 30 o m

512 I a - < P5 H 1 1 I cr i/i O -O 1 7T m

few z

5' > 2 m

!°- ^ < 2

|5T

O 2 ^ 3 •<O

10