# NIST Special Publication 811 200 8 Edition

Ambler Thompson and Barry N. Taylor 

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

# 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 Publicatio n 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 DirectorNational Institute of Standards and Technology Special Publication 811, 2008 Edition (Supersedes NIST Special Publication 811, April 1995 Edition) Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 811, 2008 Ed., 85 pages (March 2008; 2 nd printing November 2008) CODEN: NSPUE3

Note on 2 n d printing: This 2 n d printing dated November 2008 of NIST SP811 corrects a number of minor typographical errors present in the 1 st printing dated March 2008.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)



### Preface

The International System of Units, univers ally abbreviated SI (from the French Le Système
International d’Unités ), is the modern metric system of m easurement. 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 measuremen t 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 th e extent economically feasible by the end of fiscal year 1992, use the metric system of m easurement 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 Fe deral 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, al so known as the Ameri ca 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 th e 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 (Coo rdinated 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 1120 (1979), which was widely distributed in the United States and which was incorporated into the NBS Communications Manual for 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.

iiiGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

It is quite natural for NIST to publish documents on the use of the SI. Firs t, 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 Mètre , 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 (51 countries are now members of the Convention).

One body created by the Meter Convention is the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM, Conférence Générale des Poids et Mesures ), a formal diplomatic organization.** The International System was in fact established by the 11th 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.”

March 2008

Ambler Thompson

Barry N. Taylor

__________________ ** See Ref. [1] or [2] for a brief description of the various bo dies established by the Meter Convention: The International Bur eau of Weights and Measures (BIPM, Bureau International des Poids et Mesures ), the International Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM, Comité International des Poids et Mesures ), and the CGPM. The BIPM, which is located in Sèvres, a suburb of Paris, France, and which has the task of ensuring worldwide unification of phy sical measurements, operates under the exclusive supervision of the CIPM, which itself comes under the authority of the CGPM. In add ition to a complete description of the SI, Refs. [1] and [2] al so give
the various CGPM and CIPM resolutions on which it is based.

ivGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

v 

### 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 princi ples 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 in tended audience. (See Chapter 2.)

(2) 

###  Abbreviations such as sec (for eith er 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 pr efix 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 μL/L or 2.0 × 10 –6 V , 4.3 nm/m or
4.3 × 10 –9 l , 7 ps/s or 7 × 10 − 12 t , where V

, l , 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 us ed instead. (See Secs. 7.4 and 7.10.2.)

V

max = 1000 V but not : V = 1000 V max a mass fraction of 10 % but not : 10 % ( m / m ) or 10 % (by weight)

(5) 

###  Statements such as “the length l 1 exceeds the length l 2 by 0.2 %” are avoided because it is recognized that the symbol % represents simply the number 0.01. Instead, forms such as

“ l 1 = l 2 (1 + 0.2 %)” or “ Δ = 0.2 %” are used, where Δ is defined by the relation
Δ = ( l 1 − l 2 )/ l 2 . (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 H 2 O/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 × 48 cm but not : 35 × 48 cm 1MHz to 10 MHz or (1 to 10) MHz but not: 1 MHz – 10 MHz or 1 to 10 MHz 20 oC to 30 oC or (20 to 30) oC but not : 20 oC – 30 oC or 20 to 30 oC 123 g ± 2 g or (123 ± 2) g but not: 123 ± 2 g 70 % ± 5 % or (70 ± 5) % but not : 70 ± 5 %
240 × (1 ± 10 %) V but not : 240 V ± 10 % (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/m 3 , kg · m − 3 , or kilogram per cubic meter
are used and not forms such as kilogram/m 3 , kg/cubic meter, kilogram/cubic meter, kg per

m 3 , or kilogram per meter 3 . (See Secs. 6.1.7, 9.5, and 9.8.)Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

vi (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 15 A but not : the current was 15 amperes.

(10) 

###  There is a space between the num erical value and unit symbol, ev en when the value is used as an adjective, except in the case of supe rscript units for plane angle. (See Sec. 7.2.)

a 25 kg sphere but not : a 25-kg sphere an angle of 2 o 3'4" but not: an angle of 2 o 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 exam ple, 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 prefer ence to equations between numerical values, and symbols representing numerical values are different from symbols representing the corresponding quantities. When a numerical-va lue 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 A
r 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 31-11] are used, for example, “tan x ” and not “tg x .” More specifically, the base of “log” in equations is sp ecified when required by writing log

a x (meaning log to
the base a of x ), lb x (meaning log 2 x ), ln x (meaning log
e x ), or lg x (meaning log 10 x ). (See Secs. 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 Secs. 10.2.1 to 10.2.4.)

(15) 

###  When the word “weight” is us ed, the intended meaning is cl ear. (In science and technology, weight is a force, for which the SI unit is th e 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 volu me.” (See Sec. 7.12.)

(17) 

###  An object and any quantity describing the object are distinguished. (Note the difference between “surface” and “area,” “body” and “ma ss,” “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-o f-substance concentration of B (more commonly called concentration of B), and its symbol c B and SI unit mol/m 3 (or a related acceptable unit), are used instead. Similarly, th e obsolete term molal and the symbol m are not used, but the quantity molality of solute B, and its symbol b B or m B and SI unit mol/kg (or a related SI unit), are used instead. (See Secs. 8.6.5 and 8.6.8.)Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

vii 

### Contents

Preface........................................................................................................................ .......................... iii

Check List for Revi ewing Manuscripts ........................................................................................... ...... v

1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ ....................... 1

1.1 Purpose of Guide ..................................................................................................................... 1
1.2 Outline of Guide .................................................................................................................... 1

2 NIST policy on th e Use of the SI ............................................................................................. .......... 2

2.1 Essen tial da ta ............................................................................................................ .............. 2 2.1.1 Tables and graphs ..................................................................................................... ..... 2 2.2 Descriptive information .................................................................................................. ....... 2

3 Other Sources of Information on the SI....................................................................................... ....... 3

3.1 Pub licatio ns ............................................................................................................ ............... 3
3.2 Fundamental Consta nts Data Center ..................................................................................... 3 3.3 Metric Program .......................................................................................................... ........... 3

4 The Two Classes of SI Un its 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 pr efixes ................................................. 7

5 Units Outs ide th e SI......................................................................................................... ................... 7

5.1 Units accepted fo r 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 fo r use with th e SI............................................................................. 1 0 5.3 Units not accepted for use with the SI ................................................................................... 10 5.3.1 CGS units ............................................................................................................. ........ 10
5.3.2 Other un acceptable units .............................................................................................. 11
5.4 The terms “SI units” an d “acceptable units ”.......................................................................... 11

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 Cap italiza tion ......................................................................................................... ....... 12 6.1.3 Plurals................................................................................................................ ............ 12
6.1.4 Punctuation............................................................................................................ ........ 12 6.1.5 Unit symbols obtain ed by multiplica tion ...................................................................... 12 6.1.6 Unit symbols obta ined by divisi on................................................................................ 13 6.1.7 Unacceptability of unit symbol s and unit names t ogether ............................................ 13 6.1.8 Unacceptability of abbr eviations for un its ................................................................... 13Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

viii 6.2 Rules and style conventions for SI prefixes........................................................................... 13 6.2.1 Typeface and spacing .................................................................................................. . 13 6.2.2 Cap italiza tion ......................................................................................................... ....... 14 6.2.3 Inseparability of prefix an d unit .................................................................................... 14 6.2.4 Unacceptability of co mpound prefixes ......................................................................... 14
6.2.5 Use of multiple pr efixes ............................................................................................... . 14 6.2.6 Unacceptability of stan d-alone prefix es ....................................................................... 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 Expr essing Values of Quantities .................................................. 15

7.1 Value and numerical va lue of a quan tity ............................................................................ 15 7.2 Space between numerical value and unit sy mbol ............................................................... 16 7.3 Number of units per value of a qu antity ............................................................................. 16 7.4 Unacceptability of attaching information to units .............................................................. 16 7.5 Unacceptability of mixing in formation with units ............................................................. 17 7.6 Symbols for numbers and units versus sp elled-out names of numbers and units ............... 17 7.7 Clarity in writing values of quantitie s ................................................................................ 18 7.8 Unacceptability of stand- alone unit sym bols ..................................................................... 18 7.9 Choosing SI prefixes .................................................................................................... ..... 18 7.10 Values of quantities expressed simply as numbers: the unit one, symbol 1 ....................... 19 7.10.1 Decimal multiples and su bmultiples of the unit one ........................................... 19 7.10.2 %, percentage by, fraction ................................................................................... 19 7.10.3 ppm, ppb, and ppt ................................................................................................ 2 0 7.10.4 Roman numerals .................................................................................................. 21 7.11 Quantity equations and nu merical-value equations ............................................................ 21 7.12 Proper names of quotient quantitie s ................................................................................... 22 7.13 Distinction between an object and its attr ibute ................................................................... 22
7.14 Dimensi on of a quantity ................................................................................................ .... 22

8 Comments on Some Quantitie s and Their Units .............................................................................. 2 3

8.1 Time and rotational frequency............................................................................................ 23
8.2 Volume ................................................................................................................... ............ 23 8.3 Weight ................................................................................................................... ............. 23 8.4 Relative atomic mass and relative molecula r 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 ...................................................................................................... 2 6 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 ................................................................................................... 2 8 8.6.10 Mass fraction of B ............................................................................................... 2 8 8.7 Logarithmic quantities and un its: level, neper, bel............................................................. 28 8.8 Viscosity ............................................................................................................... ............. 30 8.9 Massic, volumi c, areic, lineic .......................................................................................... .. 30Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

ix 9 Rules and Style Conventions fo r Spelling Unit Na mes..................................................................... 31

9.1 Cap italiza tion........................................................................................................... ........... 31
9.2 Plurals ................................................................................................................. ............. 31 9.3 Spelling unit name s with prefixes ...................................................................................... 31 9.4 Spelling unit names obtai ned by multiplication ................................................................. 31 9.5 Spelling unit names obt ained by division ........................................................................... 32 9.6 Spelling unit names ra ised to powers ................................................................................ 32 9.7 Other spelling conventions .............................................................................................. .. 32 9.8 Unacceptability of appl ying mathematical operations to unit names ................................ 32

10 More on Printing and Using Symbols and Numbers in Scientific and Techni cal Documents ........ 32

10.1 Kinds of symbols ....................................................................................................... ........ 33
10.1.1 Standardized quantity symbol s ............................................................................ 33
10.1.2 Standardized mathema tical signs and sy mbols .................................................... 33 10.2 Typefaces for symbols................................................................................................... ..... 33 10.2.1 Quantities and variables—italic .......................................................................... 34
10.2.2 Units— roman ..................................................................................................... 3 5 10.2.3 Descriptiv e terms—roman ................................................................................... 35 10.2.4 Sample equations showing correct type .............................................................. 35 10.3 Greek alphabet in ro man and italic type ............................................................................. 35 10.4 Symbols fo r the elements ............................................................................................... ... 36 10.4.1 Typeface and punctua tion for element sy mbols ................................................... 36 10.4.2 Subscripts and supers cripts on element symbols.................................................. 36
10.5 Prin ting numbers ....................................................................................................... ......... 37 10.5.1 Typeface for numbers .......................................................................................... 37
10.5.2 Decimal si gn or marker ....................................................................................... 37
10.5.3 Grou ping digits..................................................................................................... 37 10.5.4 Multiplyi ng numbers ........................................................................................... 37

Appendix A. Definitions of the SI Base Units................................................................................... ... 39

A.1 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 Ca ndela................................................................................................................... ............ 39

Appendix B. Conversion Factors ......................................................................................................... 40

B.1 Intr oduction ............................................................................................................. .......... 40 B.2 Notation ................................................................................................................ ............. 40
B.3 Use of conversion factors ................................................................................................ ... 40 B.4 Organization of entries an d styl e ....................................................................................... 41 B.5 Factor for converting moto r vehicle effici ency ................................................................. 42 B.6 U.S. survey foot and mile ................................................................................................ ... 42 B.7 Rules for rounding numbers and conver ted numerical values of quantities ...................... 43 B.7.1 Rounding numbers .................................................................................................. 4 3 B.7.2 Rounding converted numeri cal values of qua ntities ............................................... 43
B.8 Factors for units listed alphab etica lly ................................................................................. 45 B.9 Factors for units listed by kind of quantity or field of science ........................................... 57Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

x Appendix C. Comments on the References of Appendix D—Bib liogra phy ....................................... 70

C.1 Defining document for the SI: BIPM SI Broc hure ............................................................ 70 C.2 United States version of defining document for the SI: NIST SP 330 ............................... 70
C.3 ISO and IEC ............................................................................................................. ......... 70 C.4 ANSI/IEEE SI-10 .......................................................................................................... ..... 70
C.5 Federal Re gister notices ................................................................................................ ..... 71
C.6 Federal Standard 376B ................................................................................................... ... 72 C.7 2006 CODATA values of th e fundamental cons tants ........................................................ 72 C.8 Uncertainty in measurement .............................................................................................. 72

Appendix D. Bibliography ...................................................................................................... ............ 73Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

1 

### 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). Un iversally abbreviated SI (from the French Le Système
International d’Unités ), it is the modern metric system of meas urement 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 us e 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) pr ecise 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 pr epare 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 expresse d in units that are mainly unacceptab le 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

.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

2 

### 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 po licy 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 us e 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 interp ret quantitative results. All such data shall be given in acceptable
units. In those cases where

— the sole use of acceptable units w ould compromise good communication, or — units other than acceptable units have be en specified as a co ntractual requirement,

values of quantities shall be given in acceptable units fo llowed, in parentheses, by the values of the same quantities given in the other units.

Exceptions may sometimes be necessary for comme rcial 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 accep table units and the corresp onding values expressed in other units may be shown in parallel columns, w ith the acceptable-un it 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 arrangemen ts, 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 in formation 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 fasten er sizes, commercial pipe sizes, and other common terms used in the trades, the professions, the market place, 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.

1 The NIST policy on the use of the SI is se t forth in the NIST Administration Manual, Chapter 4, Communications, Subchapter 4.09

, NIST Technical Communications Program , Appendix D—Use of Metric Units.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

3 

### 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 Secs. 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 100 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 sy stem of quantities and equations if the syst em 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 S ecs. 7.11 and 7.14). In such a coherent system, of which t he SI is an example, no numerical factor other than the number 1 ever o ccurs in the expressions for the derived units in terms of the ba se units.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

4 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 temper ature 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 mola r 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 Secs. 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/s 2 wavenumber reciprocal meter m − 1 density, mass density kilogram per cubic meter kg/m 3 specific volume cubic meter per kilogram m 3/ kg current density ampere per square meter A/m 2 magnetic field strength ampere per meter A/m luminance candela per square meter cd/m 2

amount-of-substance concentration amount concentration , concentration mole per cubic meter mol/m 3

4.2.1 SI coherent d erived 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

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

SI coherent derived unit ( a ) Special name Special symbol Expression in
terms of other
SI units Expression in
terms of SI base
units plane angle radian ( b ) rad 1 ( b ) m/m solid angle steradian ( b ) sr ( c ) 1 ( b ) m 2 /m 2 frequency hertz ( d ) Hz s − 1

force newton N m · kg

· s − 2
pressure, stress pascal Pa N/m 2 m − 1

· kg

· s − 2 energy, work,
amount of heat joule J N
· m m 2

· kg

· s − 2

power, radiant flux watt W J/s m 2

· kg

· s − 3 electric charge, amount of electricity coulomb C s

· A

electric potential difference (e)

, electromotive force volt V W/A m 2

· kg

· s − 3

· A –1

capacitance farad F C/V m − 2

· kg − 1

· s 4

· A 2

electric resistance ohm Ω 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 m 2

· kg

· s − 2

· A − 1 magnetic flux density tesla T Wb/m 2 kg

· s − 2

· A − 1 inductance henry H Wb/A m 2

· kg

· s − 2

· A − 2 Celsius temperature degree Celsius (f) oC K
luminous flux lumen lm cd

· sr (c) Cd
illuminance lux lx lm/m 2 m − 2

· cd activity referred to
a radionuclide ( g ) becquerel ( d ) Bq s − 1

absorbed dose, specific energy (imparted),
kerma gray Gy J/kg m 2

· s − 2

dose equivalent, ambient dose equivalent, directional dose equivalent, personal dose equivalent sievert ( h ) Sv J/kg m 2

· s − 2

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 longe r 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 di mensionless quantities. (See Sec 7.10.) ( c ) In photometry the name steradian and the symbol sr are usually retained in expressions for units. ( d

) The hertz is used only for periodic phenomena, and the becquerel is used only for stochastic pr ocesses in activity referred t o a radionuclide. ( e ) Electric potential difference is also called “voltage” in the United States. ( f ) The degree Celsius is the special name fo r the kelvin used to express Celsius temp eratures. The degree Celsius and the kelvin are equal in size, so that the numerical value of a temperature diff erence or temperature interval is the same when expressed in ei ther degrees Celsius or in kelvins. (See Secs. 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 T ), expressed in the unit kelvin, use is also made of the quantity Celsius temperature (symbol t ) defined by the equation

t = T

− T 0

,Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

6 where T 0 = 273.15 K by definition. To express Celsius temperature, the unit degree Celsius, symbol oC, 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, howe ver, can be expressed in the unit kelvin as well as in the unit degree Celsius (see S ec. 8.5). (Note that the thermodynamic temperature T 0 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 surface tension newton per meter N/m kg

· s –2 angular velocity radian per second rad/s m · m − 1

· s − 1 = s − 1 angular acceleration radian per second squared rad/s 2 m · m − 1

· s − 2 = s − 2 heat flux density,
irradiance watt per square meter W/m 2 kg

· s − 3

heat capacity, entropy jo ule per kelvin J/K m 2

· kg

· s − 2

· K − 1 specific heat capacity, specific entropy joule per kilogram kelvin J/(kg

· K) m 2

· s − 2

· K − 1

specific energy joule per kilogram J/kg m 2

· s − 2 thermal conductivity watt per meter kelvin W(m

· K) m

· kg

· s − 3

· K − 1 energy density joule per cubic meter J/m 3 m − 1

· 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/m 3 m − 3

· s · A surface charge density coulomb per square meter C/m 2 m − 2

· s · A electric flux density, electric displacement coulomb per square meter C/m 2 m − 2

· s · A

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

· mol − 1 molar entropy, molar heat capacity joule per mole kelvin J/(mol

· K) m 2

· kg

· s − 2

· K − 1

· mol − 1

exposure ( x

and γ rays) coulomb per kilogram C/kg kg − 1

· s · A absorbed dose rate gray per second Gy/s m 2

· s − 3 radiant intensity watt per steradian W/sr m 4

· m − 2

· kg

· s − 3 = m 2

· kg

· s − 3

radiance watt per square meter steradian W/(m 2

· sr) m 2

· m − 2

· kg

· s − 3 = kg

· s − 3

catalytic activity
concentration katal per cubic meter kat/m 3 m − 3

· s − 1

· mol

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, communi cation 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

.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

7 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 ba se units. For example, the SI unit of frequency is specified as the hertz (Hz) rath er than the reciprocal second (s − 1 ), 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 siever t (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 un its, 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 Secs. 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 = (10 3 ) 8

10 21 = (10 3 ) 7

10 18 = (10 3 ) 6

10 15 = (10 3 ) 5

10 12 = (10 3 ) 4

10 9 = (10 3 ) 3

10 6 = (10 3 ) 2

10 3 = (10 3 ) 1

10 2

10 1 yotta

zetta

exa peta

tera giga

mega kilo
hecto
deka Y
Z
E
P
T
G
M
k
h
da 10 − 1

10 − 2

10 − 3 = (10 3 ) − 1

10 − 6 = (10 3 ) − 2

10 − 9 = (10 3 ) − 3

10 − 12 = (10 3 ) − 4

10 − 15 = (10 3 ) − 5

10 − 18 = (10 3 ) − 6

10 − 21 = (10 3 ) − 7

10 − 24 = (10 3 ) − 8 deci
centi
milli
micro

nano pico
femto

atto zepto yocto d

c

m
μ

n
p f

a

z
y
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 2 20 = 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 w ith the SI by the CIPM and hence this Guide ; — those units that are not acce pted for use with the SI by th e 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

5.1.1 Hour, degree, liter, and the like

Certain units that are not part of the SI are essen tial 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 occasi on 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 fo r a suggestion regarding the symbol fo r 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
hour day degree
minute
second
hectare ( h )

liter
metric ton ( c )

neper bel

decibel min
h
d
o
'
"
ha
L ( b ) , l

T Np ( d

, f )

B ( e , f )

dB ( e , f ) 1 min = 60 s
1 h = 60 min = 3600 s
1 d = 24 h = 86 400 s 1o = ( π /180) rad 1' = (1/60)o = ( π /10 800) rad 1" = (1/60)' = ( π /648 000) rad
1ha = 1 hm 2 = 10 4 m 2

1 L = 1 dm 3 = 10 − 3 m 3

1 t = 10 3 kg [see footnote ( g ) regarding the numerical value of logarythmic ratio quantities such as the neper, the bel, and the decibel] 

# } time 

# } plane angle ( a )

( a ) See also Sec. 7.2. ( b ) The alternative symbol for the liter, L, was adopted by the CGPM in order to avoi d the risk of confusion between the letter l and the number 1 (see Ref. [1] or [2]). Thus , although both l and L are internationally accepted symbols for the liter, to avoid th is risk the symbol to be used in the United States is L (see Refs. [2] and [6]). The script letter l 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 Englis h-speaking countries. However, this unit is called “tonne” in Re f. [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( A 2 / A 1 ) = n . Thus when L A = 1 Np, A 2 / A 1 = e. The symbol A is used here to denote the amplitude of a sinusoidal signal, and L A is then called the Napierian logarithmic amplitude ratio, or the Napierian am plitude level difference. ( e ) The statement L X = m dB = ( m / 10) B (where m is a number) is interpreted to mean that lg( X / X 0 ) = m /10. Thus when L X = 1 B,
X / X 0 = 10, and when L X = 1 dB, X / X 0 = 10 1/10 . If X denotes a mean square si gnal or power-like quantity, L X is called a power
level referred to X 0 . (See Sec. 8.7.) ( f ) In using these units it is important that the nature of the qua ntity be specified, and that any reference value used be speci fied. These units are not SI units, but they ha ve 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 r arely required. They depend on the way in whic h 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.)

8Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

9 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
astronomical unit
unified atomic mass unit
dalton eV

ua

u Da ( a ) ( b ) ( c ) (d) ( a ) The electronvolt is the kinetic energy acquired by an elect ron in passing through a potential difference of 1 V in vacuum, 1.602 176 487(40) × 10 − 19 J. This value of 1 eV is the 2006 CODATA recomm ended 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 Eart h-Sun distance. It is the radius of an unperturbed circular Newtonian orbit about the Sun of a partic le 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 standa rd uncertainty of the astronomical unit, ua, is 1.495 978 706 91(6) × 10 11 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 für Kartographie und Geodäsie, 2004, 12). The value of the astronomical unit in meters comes from the JPL ephemerides DE403 (Standish E.M., Report of the IAU WGAS Sub- Group on Numerical Standards, Highlights of Astronomy, Appenzeller ed., Dordre cht: 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 [19, 20]. ( d

) The dalton (Da) and the unified atomic mass unit (u) are alte rnative names (and symbols) for the same unit, equal to 1/12 ti mes 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 accep table unit symbol for the unified atomic mass unit. The only allowed name is “unifi ed 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 Electrotech nical Commission (IEC) and which in the view of this
Guide are also acceptable for use with th e SI. They include the octave, p hon, 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
action

mass electric charge length

energy time speed of light in vacuum (n.u.) Planck constant divided by 2 π (n.u.) electron rest mass (n.u. and a.u.) elementary charge (a.u.) Bohr radius (a.u.) Hartree energy (a.u.) ratio of action to energy (a.u.) c ħ

m e

e

a 0 E

h ħ / E h

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 nepe r and bel, see Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3], and Sec. 8.7 of this Guide

.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

10 5.2 Other Non-SI units a ccepted 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 pr esently used. Further, this Guide strongly discourages the continued use of these units by NIST authors except when absolutely necessa ry. 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 Un ited 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 * ångström *

barn *

bar * millimeter of mercury *

curie **

roentgen **

rad **

rem ** Å

b
bar mmHg

Ci
R rad ( a )

rem 1 nautical mile = 1852 m 1 nautical mile per hour = (1852/3600) m/s 1 Å = 0.1 nm = 10

− 10 m 1 b = 100 fm 2 = 10 − 28 m 2

1 bar = 0.1 MPa = 100 kPa = 1000 hPa = 10 5 Pa 1 mmHg ≈ 133.322 Pa

1 Ci = 3.7 x 10 10 Bq
1 R = 2.58 x 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 discus s 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 us e with the SI by this Guide except such units as th e centimeter, gram, and
second that are also defined in the SI.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

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

Name Symbol Value in SI units

erg dyne poise ( a )

stokes ( b )

gauss ( c )

oersted ( c )

maxwell ( c )

stilb phot gal ( d ) erg dyn
P
St Gs, G
Oe
Mx sb ph
Gal 1 erg = 10 − 7 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 1 Gs corresponds to 10 − 4 T 1 Oe corresponds to (1000/4 π ) A/m 1 Mx corresponds to 10 − 8 Wb
1 sb = 1 cd/cm 2 = 10 4 cd/m 2 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 dy namic viscosity). The SI unit is the pascal second (Pa · s). ( b ) The stokes (St) is the CGS unit for kinematic visc osity. The SI unit is the meter squared per second (m 2 /s). ( c ) This unit is part of the so-called electromagnetic three-dime nsional 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 geophy sics to express acceleration due to gravity.

5.3.2 Other unacceptable units

There are many units besides CGS units that ar e 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 mu ltiples and submultiples), must be used instead. This restriction also applies to the us e 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 ( μ m). Table 11 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 photometric carat

torr standard atmosphere kilogram-force
micron calorie (various)
x unit

stere

gamma gamma (mass) lambda (volume) fermi
metric carat
Torr

atm kgf

μ cal th (thermochemical)

xu
st

γ
γ λ 1 fermi = 1 fm = 10 − 15 m 1 metric carat = 200 mg = 2 × 10 − 4 kg 1 Torr = (101 325/760) Pa
1 atm = 101 325 Pa 1 kgf = 9.806 65 N 1 m = 1 μm = 10 − 6 m 1 cal th = 4.184 J
1 xu ≈ 0.1002 pm = 1.002 × 10 − 13 m 1 st = 1 m 3

1 γ = 1 nT = 10 − 9 T
1 γ = 1 μg = 10 − 9 kg
1 λ = 1 μL = 10 − 6 L = 10 − 9 m 3

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 deri ved units, and multiples and submultiples of these units formed by using the SI prefixes. The term “accep table 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

12 

### 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 Secs. 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 : l = 75 cm but not : l = 75 cms

Note : l 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 obta ined 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 usua lly 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 indicat e units formed by multiplication, the space may be omitted if it does not cause conf usion. 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 ha lf-high dot or a space should always be used toGuide for the Use of the Intern ational 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,

s m , or m · s − 1

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

Examples : m/s 2 or m · s − 2 but not : m/s/s

m · kg/(s 3

· A) or m · kg · s − 3

· A − 1 but not : m · kg/s 3 /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 Secs. 9.5 and 9.8.)

Example : C/kg, C · kg − 1 , 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 interna tionally 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 mm 2 or square millimeter), cc (for either cm 3 or cubic centimeter), mins (for either min or minutes), hrs (for either h or hour s), 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 num bers 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 w ithout 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) G Ω (gigaohm) THz (terahertz)

13Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

14 6.2.2 Capitalization

The prefix symbols Y (yotta), Z (zetta), E (exa), P (p eta), T (tera), G (giga), an d M (mega) are printed in upper-case letters while all other prefix symbols are pr inted 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 attach ed 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 m − 1 5000 μs − 1 = 5000 (μs) − 1 = 5000 (10 − 6 s) − 1 = 5000 × 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 mega newton 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 : mμm (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 10 MV/m is often considered pref erable 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 Unacceptab ility of stand-al one 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 × 10 6 /m 3 but not : the number density of Pb atoms
is 5 M/m 3

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 un acceptable (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, theGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

15 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 μkg (1 microkilogram)

6.2.8 Prefixes with the degree Celsiu s and units accepted for use with the SI

Prefix symbols may be used with the unit symbol oC and prefix names may be used with the unit name “degree Celsius.” For example, 12 moC (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) o (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. Similarl y, 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 / [ A ], which is a convenient form for use in figure s 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 /oC” instead of

“ t (oC)” or “Temperature (oC).” Similarly, an axis or column heading can be labeled “ E /(V/m)” instead of

“ E (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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

16 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: o, ', and ", respectively (see Table 6), in whic h case no space is left betw een the numerical value and the unit symbol.

Example : α = 30o22'8"

Note : α is a quantity symbol for plane angle.

This rule means that:

(a) The symbol oC for the degree Celsius is preceded by a space when one expresse s the values of Celsius temperatures.

Example : t = 30.2 oC but not : t = 30.2oC or t = 30.2o 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 Secs. 7.6 and 7.10.3.)

Examples : a 1 m end gauge but not : a 1-m end gauge
a 10 k Ω resistor but not : a 10-k Ω resistor

However, if there is any ambiguity, the words should be rearrange d 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 : l = 10.234 m but not : l = 10 m 23 cm 4 mm

Note : Expressing the values of time intervals and of plan e angles are exceptions to this rule. However, it is preferable to divide the degree decimally. Thus one should write 22.20o rather than 22o12', except in fields such as cartography and astronomy.

7.4 Unacceptability of atta ching 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 : V
max = 1000 V but not : V = 1000 V
maxGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

17 Note : V is a quantity symbol for potential difference.

7.5 Unacceptability of mixi ng 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 th e unit. This means that quantities must be defined so that they can be expressed solely in acceptable units (including the unit one — see Sec. 7.10).

Examples :

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

the sensitivity for NO 3 molecules is 5 × 10 10 /cm 3 but not : the sensitivity is 5 × 10 10

NO 3 molecules/cm 3

the neutron emission rate is 5 × 10 10 /s but not : the emission rate is 5 × 10 10 n/s

the number density of O 2 atoms is 3 × 10 18 /cm 3 but not : the density is 3 × 10 18 O 2 atoms/cm 3

the resistance per square is 100 Ω but not : the resistance is 100 Ω /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 sc ientific 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 possi ble. 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 an d 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 but not : the sample was annealed at a temperature temperature of 955 K for 12 h 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 orliterary manner and it is fitting to use the spelledout name of the unit rather than its symbol. Thus , this Guide considers a cceptable statements suchGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

18 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 writin g values of quantities

The value of a quantity is expressed as the produc t 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 h yphen) because the dash could be misinterpreted as a minus sign. (The first of th ese 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 × 51 mm × 25 mm but not : 51 × 51 × 25 mm

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

0 oC to 100 oC or (0 to 100) oC but not : 0 oC

− 100 oC

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 Unacceptability 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 /oC, 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 pref ix, 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, andGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

19 — 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
l = 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 l . However, in the expression l = 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 l would have been written l = 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 × 10 − 3 g = 9.52 mg 2703 W may be written as 2.703 × 10 3 W = 2.703 kW
5.8 × 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 × 3 mm × 0.02 mm” rather than “the size of the sample is 1 cm × 3 mm × 20 μm.”

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 fiel d of science or technology.

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

Certain quantities, such as refractive index, re lative 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 identi cal 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 n = 1.51 × 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), respectiv ely, 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 S ec. 6.2.6), powers of 10 are used to express decimal multiples and submultiples of the unit one.

Example : μ r = 1.2 × 10 -6 but not : μ r = 1.2 μ

Note : μ r is the quantity symbol for relative permeability.

7.10.2 %, percent age 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 betweenGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

20 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 : x B = 0.0025 = 0.25 % but not : x B = 0.0025 = 0.25% or x B = 0.25 percent

Note : x B is the quantity symbol for amount-of-sub stance 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),” “% ( V / V

),” “% (by volume),” or “% (mol/mol).” The preferred forms are “the mass fraction is 0.10,” or “the mass fraction is 10 %,” or “ w B = 0.10,” or “ w B = 10 %” ( w B 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 “ φ B = 0.35,” or “ φ B = 35 %” ( φ B 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 “ x B = 0.15,” or “ x B = 15 %.” Mass fraction, volume fraction, and amount-of-substance fraction of B may also be expressed as in the following examples: w B = 3 g/kg; φ B = 6.7 mL/L; x B = 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 1 and R 2 differ by 0.05 %,” or “where the resistance R 1 exceeds the
resistance R 2 by 0.05 %.” Instead, one should write, for example, “where R 1 = R 2 (1 + 0.05 %),” or define a quantity Δ via the relation Δ = ( R 1 − R 2 ) / R 2 and write “where Δ = 0.05 %.” Alternativ ely, in certain cases,
the word “fractional” or “relative” can be used. For example, it wo uld be acceptable to write “the fractional
increase in the resistance of the 10 k Ω 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 abbrevia tions), 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 (μA/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 f 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 U
r = 3 μ Ω / Ω

or

the expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is U = 3 × 10 − 6 R

or

the relative expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is U
r = 3 × 10 − 6

but not :Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

21 the relative expanded uncertainty of the resistance R is U
r = 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 × 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 ar e language dependent together with internationally recognized signs and symbols, such as MPa, ln, 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, Secs. 2.1 and 2.1.1 apply.

7.10.4 Roman numerals

It is unacceptable to use Roman numerals to ex press 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.

7.11 Quantity equations and numerical-value equations

A quantity equation expresses a relation among quantities. An example is l = υ t , where l is the distance a particle in uniform motion with velocity υ travels in the time t

.

Because a quantity equation such as l = υ t is independent of the units used to express the values of the quantities that compose the equation, and because l

, υ , and t represent quantities and not numerical values of quantities, it is incorrect to associate the equation with a statement such as “where l is in meters, υ is in meters per second, and t 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, { l }

m = 3.6 − 1 { υ } km/h { t }
s expresses the relation among the numerical values of l, υ , and t only when the
values of l

, υ , 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 l /m = 3.6 − 1 [ υ /(km/h)]( t / s). NIST authors should consider using this preferred form instead of the more traditional form “ l = 3.6 − 1 υ t, where l is in meters, υ is in kilometers per hour, and t is in seconds.” In fact, this form is still ambiguous because no clear dis tinction is made between a quantity and its numerical value. The correct statement is, for example, “ l * = 3.6 − 1 υ * t *, where l * is the
numerical value of the distance l traveled by a particle in uniform motion when l is expressed in meters, υ * is the numerical value of the velocity υ of the particle when υ is expressed in kilometers per hour, and t * is
the numerical value of the time of travel t 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 equatio ns. 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 E g is the gap energy of a compound semiconductor and k is the conductivity of an electrolytic solution:Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

E

g /eV = 1.425

− 1.337 x + 0.270 x 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 × 10 − 3 ( t / oC) + 6.4141 × 10 − 6 ( t / oC) 2

− 4.5028 × 10 − 8 ( t / oC) 3

, 0 oC ≤ t ≤ 50 oC, 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-val ue 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 th e 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 cap acitor 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 pendu lum,” 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 ( l ) , mass ( m ), time ( t ), electric current ( l ) , thermodynamic temperature ( T ) , amount of substance ( n ), and luminous intensity ( I
v ) by an equation of the form



### Q = l α 

### m β 

### t

γ 

### I

δ 

### T ε 

### n ζ 

### I

v η a k , 

# ∑

= K

k 1

where the exponents α , β

, γ , . . . are numbers and the factors a k are also numbers. The dimension of Q is
defined to be dim Q = L α M β T γ I δ θ ε N ζ J η

,

where L

, M

, T

, I

, θ

, 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 α , β

, γ , . . . are called “dimensional exponents.” The SI derived unit of Q is m α

· kg β

· s γ

· A δ

· K ε

· mol ζ

· cd η , 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 l in a
time t . Its velocity is υ = l / t and its kinetic energy is E k = m υ 2 / 2 = l .2 mt . − 2 / 2. The
dimension of E k is dim E k = L 2 MT − 2 and the dimensional exponents are 2, 1, and

− 2. The SI
derived unit of E k is then m 2

· kg

· s − 2 , which is given the special name “joule” and special symbol J.

22Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

23 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 w B of a substance B in a mixture is given by w B = m B / m , where m B is the
mass of B and m is the mass of the mixture (see Sec. 8.6.10). The dimension of w B is dim

w B = M 1 M − 1 = 1; all of the dimensional exponents of w B 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 kilomete r per hour (km/h) is the usual unit for expressing vehicular speeds. Although there is no universally accepted symbol fo r 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 (m 3 ) 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 (dm 3 ), 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 accelera tion 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 sphe re 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 atmo spheric 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 th e mass of” or “to have a mass of.”

Examples : the child’s weight is 23 kg the briefcase weighs 6 kg Net wt. 227 gGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

24 Inasmuch as NIST is a scientific and technical or ganization, the word “weight” used in the everyday sense (that is, to mean mass) shou ld appear only occasionally in NI ST publications; the word “mass” should be used instead. In any case, in order to avoi d 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 pref erred terms relative atomic mass, symbol A
r , and relative molecular mass, symbol M
r , 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 aver age mass per atom of an element to 1/12
of the mass of the atom of the nuclide 12 C.

Relative molecular mass (formerly molecular weight): ratio of th e average mass per molecule or specified entity of a substance to 1/12 of the mass of an atom of the nuclide 12 C.

Examples : A
r (Si) = 28.0855 M
r (H 2 ) = 2.0159 A
r ( 12 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 A
r (X) = m (X) / [ m ( 12 C) / 12]
and M
r (B) = m (B) / [ m ( 12 C) / 12], where m (X) is the mass of X, m (B) is the mass of B, and m ( 12 C)
is the mass of an atom of the nuclide 12 C. It should also be recognized that m ( 12 C) / 12 = u, the unified atomic mass unit, which is approximately equal to 1.66 × 10 − 27 kg [see Table 7, footnote ( d )].

2. It follows from the exampl es and note 1 that the respective average masses of Si, H 2 , and 12 C are

m (Si) = A
r (Si) u, m (H 2 ) = M
r (H 2 ) u, and m ( 12 C) = A
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 m / z. For example, the mass-to-c harge ratio of the ion 12 C 7 1 H 7 + + is 91/2 = 45.5.

8.5 Temperature interval and temperature difference

As discussed in Sec. 4.2.1.1, Celsius temperature ( t ) is defined in terms of thermodynamic temperature ( T ) by the equation t = T

− T 0 , where T 0 = 273.15 K by definition. This implies that the numerical value of a given temperature interval or te mperature difference whose value is expressed in the unit degree Celsius (oC) 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, { Δ t }oC = { 

### Δ T } 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 fr eezing point of gallium a nd the triple point of
water is Δ t = 29.7546 oC = Δ T = 29.7546 K.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

25 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, x B , n B , b B . However, it is generally preferable to place symbols for substances and their states in parenthe ses immediately after the quantity symbol, for example

n (H 2 SO 4 ). (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 ba se quantities upon which the SI is founded (see Sec. 4.1 and Table 1).

2. In general, n ( x B) = n (B) / x, where x is a number. Thus, for example, if the amount of substance of
H 2 SO 4 is 5 mol, the amount of substance of (1/3)H 2 SO 4 is 15 mol: n [(1/3)H 2 SO 4 ] = 3 n (H 2 SO 4 ).

Example : The relative atomic mass of a fluorine atom is A
r (F) = 18.9984. The relative molecular mass of a fluorine molecule may therefore be taken as M
r (F 2 ) = 2 A
r (F) = 37.9968. The molar mass
of F 2 is then M (F 2 ) = 37.9968 × 10 − 3 kg/mol = 37.9968 g/mol (see Sec. 8.6.4). The amount of substance of, for example, 100 g of F 2 is then n (F 2 ) = 100 g / (37.9968 g/mol) = 2.63 mol.

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

Quantity symbol: x B (also y B ). SI unit: one (1) (amount-of-sub stance fraction is a quantity of dimension one).

Definition : ratio of the amount of substance of B to the amount of substance of the mixture: x B = n B / n

.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

Table 12. Summary description of nine quantities that are quotients involving amount of substance, volume, or mass ( a )
Quantity in numerator

Amount of Substance

Symbol: n

SI unit: mol Volume

Symbol: V

SI unit: m 3 Mass

Symbol: m

SI unit: kg

Amount of Substance

Symbol: n

SI unit: mol amount-of-substance
fraction

n n x B

B =

SI unit: mol/mol = 1 molar volume

n V V =

m

SI unit: m 3 /mol molar mass

n m M =

SI unit: kg/mol

Volume

Symbol: V

SI unit: m 3 amount-of-substance
concentration

V n c B

B =

SI unit: mol/mol 3 volume fraction

* Am,A

* Bm,B

B Vx Vx
∑ = φ

SI unit: m 3 /m 3 = 1 mass density

V m

= ρ

SI unit: kg/m 3Quantity in denominator

Mass

Symbol: m

SI unit: kg molality

A B
B m n b =

SI unit: mol/kg specific volume

m V

= υ

SI unit: m 3 /kg mass fraction

m m w B

B =

SI unit: kg/kg = 1

( a ) Adapted from Canadian Metric Practice Guide (see Ref. [6], note 2; the book cited in Re f. [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, . . . , 

# ∑ ≡+++

A A CBA ... n nnn

3. A related quantity is amount-of-substance ratio of B (commonly called “mole ratio of solute B”), symbol r B . It is the ratio of the amount of substance of B to the amount of substance of the solvent
substance: r B = n B / n S . For a single solute C in a solvent substance (a one-solute solution),

r C = x C /(1

− x C ). This follows from the relations n = n C + n S , x C = n C / n , and r C = n C / n S , where the
solvent substance S can itself be a mixture.

8.6.3 Molar volume

Quantity symbol: V
m . SI unit: cubic meter per mole (m 3 /mol).

Definition : volume of a substance divided by its amount of substance: V
m

= V / n

.

Notes:

1. The word “molar” means “div ided by amount of substance.”

26Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

27 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 V
m of a real gas at p = 101 325 Pa and T = 273.15 K and is approximately equal to 22.4 × 10 − 3 m 3 /mol. The name “amagat” is also given to 1/ V
m

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/m 3 .)

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 = m / n

.

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) =
M

r (B) × 10 − 3 kg/mol = M
r (B) kg/kmol = M
r g/mol, where M
r (B) is the relative molecular mass of B (see Sec. 8.4). The molar mass of an atom or nuclide X is M ( X

) = A
r ( X

) × 10 − 3 kg/mol =
A
r ( X

) kg/kmol = A
r ( X

) g/mol, where A
r ( X

) is the relative atomic mass of X (see Sec. 8.4).

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

Quantity symbol: c B . SI unit: mole per cubic meter (mol/m 3 ).

Definition : amount of substance of B divided by the volume of the mixture: c B = n B / V

.

Notes:

1. This Guide prefers the name “amount-of-substance concentra tion 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, ρ B = m B / V ; and molecular concentration of B, C B = N B / V , where N B is the number of molecules of B.

2. The term normality and the symbol N should no longer be used b ecause they are obsolete. One should avoid writing, for example, “a 0.5 N solution of H 2 SO 4 ” and write instead “a solution having an amount-of-substance concentration of c [(1/2)H 2 SO 4 ]) = 0.5 mol/dm 3 ” (or 0.5 kmol/m 3

or 0.5 mol/L since 1 mol/dm 3 = 1 kmol/m 3 = 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/dm 3 , kmol/m 3

, or mol/L. (A solution of, for example, 0.1 mol/dm 3 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: φ B . SI unit: one (1) (volume fraction is a quantity of dimension one).

Definition : for a mixture of substances A, B, C, . . . ,Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

* Am,A * Bm,B

B 

### Vx Vx
∑ = φ

where x A , x B , x C , . . . are the amount-of-substance fractions of 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 ,,, * Cm, * Bm, * Am, VVV


# ∑

= .1 A x

8.6.7 Mass density; density

Quantity symbol: ρ . SI unit: kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m 3 ).

Definition : mass of a substance divided by its volume: ρ = m / V

.

Notes:

1. This Guide prefers the name “mass density” for this qu antity because there are several different “densities,” for example, number density of particles, n = N / V ; and charge density, ρ = Q / V

.

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

.

8.6.8 Molality of solute B

Quantity symbol: b B (also m B ). SI unit: mole per kilogram (mol/kg).

Definition : amount of substance of solute B in a solution divided by the mass of the solvent: b B = n B / m A
.

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: υ . SI unit: cubic meter per kilogram (m 3 /kg).

Definition : volume of a substance divided by its mass: υ = V / m

.

Note: Specific volume is th e reciprocal of mass de nsity (see Sec. 8.6.7): υ = 1 / ρ

.

8.6.10 Mass fraction of B

Quantity symbol: w B . SI unit: one (1) (mass fraction is a quantity of dimension one).

Definition : mass of substance B divided by the mass of the mixture: w B = m B / m

.

8.7 Logarithmic quantities and units: level, neper, bel

This section briefly introduces logarithmic quantitie s 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 L F , and level-of-a-power-quantity, symbol L P ; 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

28Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

prefixes to them, such as the millineper, symbol mNp (1 mNp = 0.001 Np), and the decibel, symbol dB (1 dB = 0.1 B).

Level-of-a-field-quantity is defined by the relation L F = ln( F / F

0 ), where F/F 0 is the ratio of two amplitudes of the same kind, F 0 being a reference amplitude. Level-of-a-power-quantity is defined by the
relation L P = (1/2) ln( P

/ P 0 ), where P / P 0 is the ratio of two powers, P 0 being a reference power. (Note that if
P

/ P 0 = ( F / F

0 ) 2 , then L P = L F .) 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 L F 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 L E = ln( E / E 0 ).

The difference between two levels-of-a-field-quan tity (called “field-level difference”) having the same reference amplitude F 0 is Δ L F =
2 1 FF 

### LL

− = ln( F 1 / F

0 )

− ln( F 2 /

F

0 ) = ln( F 1 / F

2 ), and is independent of

F

0 . This is also the case for the difference between two levels-of-a-power-quantity (called “power-level difference”) having the same reference power P 0 : Δ L P =
2 1 PP 

### LL

− = ln( P 1 / P 0 )

− ln( P 2 / P 0 ) = ln( P 1 / P 2 ).

It is clear from their definitions that both L F and L P 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 / F

0 = e, that is, when ln( F / F

0 ) = 1. Equivalently, 1 Np is the level-of-a-power-quantity when P / P 0 = e 2 , that is, when (1/2) ln( P

/ P 0 ) = 1. These definitions imply that the numerical value of L F when L F is expressed in the unit neper is { L F } Np = ln( F / F

0 ),
and that the numerical value of L P when L P is expressed in the unit neper is { L P } Np = (1/2) ln( P

/ P 0 ); that is

L F = ln( F / F

0 ) Np

L P = (1/2) ln( P

/ P 0 ) Np.

One bel (1 B) is the level-of-a-field-quantity when F / F

0 = 10 , that is, when 2 lg(F / F

0 ) = 1 (note that lg x = log 10 x – see Sec. 10.1.2). Equivalently, 1 B is the level- of-a-power-quantity when P / P 0 = 10, that is, when lg( P / P 0 ) = 1. These definitions imply that the numerical value of L F when L F is expressed in the unit bel is { L F } B = 2 lg( F / F

0 ) and that the numerical value of L P when L P is expressed in the unit bel is { L P } B = lg( P / P 0 ); that is

L F = 2 lg( F/F 0 ) B = 20 lg( F/F 0 ) dB

L P = lg( P/P 0 ) B = 10 lg( P/P 0 ) dB.

Since the value of L F (or L P ) is independent of the unit used to express that value, one may equate L F in the above expressions to obtain ln( F

/ F

0 ) Np = 2 lg( F / F

0 ) B, which implies

1 B 

### 2 10ln

= Np exactly

≈ 1.151 293 Np

1 dB ≈ 0.115 129 3 Np.

When reporting values of L F and L P , one must always give the reference level. According to Ref. [5: IEC 60027-3], this may be done in one of two ways: L

x (re x ref ) or L x / x ref where x is the quantity symbol for

29Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

30 the quantity whose level is being report ed, for example, electric field strength E or sound pressure p , and

x ref is the value of the reference quantity, for example, 1 μ V/m for E 0 , and 20 μ Pa for p 0 . Thus

L E (re 1 μ V/m) =

− 0.58 Np or L E/ (1 μ V/m) =
− 0.58 Np

means that the level of a certain electric field stre ngth is 0.58 Np below the reference electric field strength
E 0 = 1 μ V/m. Similarly

L p (re 20 μ Pa) = 25 dB or L p /(20 μ Pa) = 25 dB

means that the level of a cert ain sound pressure is 25 dB above the reference pressure p 0 = 20 μ Pa.

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 μ V/m); 25 dB (20 μ Pa).

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, fo r 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 η (also called dynamic viscosity) and values of kinematic viscosity ν are, respectively, the pascal second (Pa·s) and the meter squared per second (m 2 /s) (and their decimal multiples and submultiples as appr opriate). The CGS units co mmonly 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 “linéique.” They are convenient and NIST authors may wish to use them. They are equivalent, respectively, to “specific,” “density,” “s urface . . . 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: υ = 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: ρ = m / V

volumic number or number density: n = N / VGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

31 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 quan tity (a scalar) and its associated surface area.

Examples : areic mass or surface (mass) density: ρ A = m / A

areic charge or surface charge density: σ = 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: ρ l = m / l

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 beginnin g of a sentence or in capitalized material such as a
title.

In keeping with this rule, the correct spelling of th e name of the unit oC 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 rule s of English grammar. They are normally formed regularly, for exam ple, “henries” is the plural of he nry. 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

32 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 Secs. 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/s 2 )

The modifiers “square” or “cubic” may, however, be pl aced before the unit name in the case of area or
volume.

Examples : square centimeter (cm 2 ) cubic millimeter (mm 3 )

ampere per square meter (A/m 2 ) kilogram per cubic meter (kg/m 3 )

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·m 2 /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 “fiv e kilopascal” is acceptable. If in such a single-unit case the number isless 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 math ematical operations to unit names

Because it could possibly lead to confusion, math ematical operations are not applied to unit names but only to unit symbols. (See also Secs. 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 a nd Numbers in Scientific and Technical
Documents 4

By following the guidance given in this chapter, NIST authors can prepare manuscripts that are consistent with accepted typesetting practice.

4 This chapter is adapted in part from Refs. [4: ISO 31-0] , and [4: ISO 31-11].Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

33 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 sign s. 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 symbol s, 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 Z
m

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 prin ciples 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 : Ω (solid angle) Z
m (mechanical impedance)
L P (level of a power quantity) Δ

r (relative mass excess)

p (pressure) σ tot (total cross section)

ĸ

T (isothermal compressibility) Eu (Euler number)
E (electric field strength) T N (Néel 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 : ^ (conjunction sign, p ^ q means p and q )



### ≠ ( a ≠ b

, a is not equal to b )

def

= (

, ba

def

= a is by definition equal to b )

≈ ( a ≈ b

, a is approximately equal to b ) ~ ( a ~ b

, a is proportionally equal to b )

arcsin x (arc sine of x ) log a x (logarithm to the base a of x )
lb x (lb x = log 2 x )
ln x (ln x = log e x ) lg x (lg x = log 10 x )

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 f or Quantities Used in Electrical Science and Electrical Engineering. Si milarly, in addition to Ref. [4: ISO 31-11], mathematical s igns 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, Nomenc lature and Fundamental Consta nts in Physics, 1987 Revision, by E. R. Cohen and P. Giacomo, International Union of Pure a nd Applied Physics, SUNAMCO Comm ission [reprinted from Physica, Vol. 146A, Nos. 1-2, p. 1 (November, 1987)]. See also Ref. [6], Note 3.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

34 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 appear s helps to define what the symbol represents. For example, irrespective of the typeface us ed 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 cat egories 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 E
x or an index such as i in ∑ i x i that represents a number (see Secs. 10.2.1, 10.2.3, and 10.2.4). An index that represents a number is also called a “running number” [4: ISO 31-0].

Notes :

1. The above rules also im ply, for example, that μ , the symbol for the SI prefix micro (10
! 6 ), that Ω

, 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 ( μ , Ω , 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 disc ussed 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, f ( x) :

t = 3 s time, s second T = 22 K T temperature, K kelvin

r = 11 cm r radius, cm centimeter λ = 633 nm λ 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 descriptiv e (see Sec. 10.2.3):

N A Avogadro constant, A Avogadro R molar gas constant
θ

D Debye temperature, D Debye Z atomic number

e elementary charge m e 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:



# ∑

= = m

i ii zxy

1 x 2 = ay 2 = bz 2

Symbols for vectors are boldface italic, symbols fo r tensors are sans-serif bold italic, and symbols
for matrices are italic:Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

A

· B = C (vectors) T (tensors) (matrices) ⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜ ⎝ ⎛

= 2111

2221 aa

aa A

Symbols used as subscripts and superscripts ar e italic if they represent quantities or variables:

C p p pressure q m m mass σ Ω Ωsolid angle

z 

### ω z z coordinate

10.2.2 Units— roman

The symbols for units and SI prefixes are roman:

m meter g gram L liter
cm centimeter μ g microgram mL milliliter

10.2.3 Descriptive terms — roman

Symbols representing purely descriptive terms (for example, the chemical elements) are roman, as are symbols representing mathematical cons tants that never change (for example, π ) and symbols representing explicitly defined functions or well defined operators (for example, Γ ( x ) or div):

Chemical elements:

Ar argon B boron C carbon

Mathematical constants, functions, and operators:

e base of natural logarithms Σ x i Σ sum of

exp x exp exponential of log

a x log

a logarithm to the base a of
d x/

d t d 1st derivative of sin x sin sine of

Symbols used as subscripts and superscripts are roman if descriptive:

ir irrational E k k kinetic )ir(
0 

### ε
m molar, l liquid phase μ B B Bohr

1

m 

### V

10.2.4 Sample equati ons showing correct type

2 0 21 4 r qq F

πε

= F = ma pV = nRT

φ B = x B V * m,B / E
a = RT 2 d(1n k ) / d T c 1 = λ − 5 /[exp( c 2 / λ T )

− 1] 

# ∑

A A 

### Vx

, *

m

E

= mc 2 

### )/( lim

~

BB0BB 

### λ λ px p p → 

### = V Q grad −= F

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.

35Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

36 Table 13. Greek alphabet in roman and italic type
Greek Letter Name Roman Italic
alpha Α α Α α beta Β β Β β

gamma Γ γ Γ γ delta Δ δ Δ δ epsilon Ε ε Ε ε

zeta Ζ ζ Ζ ζ

eta Η η Η η

theta Θ

, Ө ( a ) θ

, θ ( b ) Θ

, Ө (a) θ

, θ (b)

iota Ι ι Ι i kappa Κ κ, κ ( β ) Κ κ
, κ (b)

lambda Λ λ Λ λ

mu Μ μ Μ μ

nu Ν ν Ν ν xi Ξ ξ Ξ ξ

omicron Ο ο Ο ο pi Π π , π ( b ) Π π
, π (b)

rho Ρ ρ Ρ ρ sigma Σ σ Σ σ

tau Τ τ Τ τ upsilon Υ υ Υ υ phi Φ φ, φ Φ φ , φ

chi Χ χ Χ χ psi Ψ ψ Ψ ψ

omega Ω ω Ω ω ( 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 par ticular nuclide is shown in the right subscript position: 1 H 2
.

The proton number (atomic number) is indicated in the left subscript position: 29 Cu.

The state of ionization or excitation is indicated in the right superscript position, some examples of
which are as follows:Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

State of ionization: Ba ++ Co(NO 2 ) 6 − − −

. or or [Co(NO 2 ) 6 ] 3

−

− 3 62 )NO(Co

Electronic excited state: Ne 

### * , CO 

### *

Nuclear excited state: 15 N* or 15 N m

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 ty pe 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 th e 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
0.491 722 3 is highly preferred to: 0.4917223
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) (×), not a half-high (that is, centered) dot (· )

.

Examples : 25 × 60.5 but not : 25·60.5
53 m/s × 10.2 s but not: 53 m/s·10.2 s 15 × 72 kg but not : 15·72 kg

37Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

38 Notes:

1. When the comma is used as the decimal mark er, the preferred sign fo r 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

, a·b

, a × b

.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

39 

### Appendix A. Definitions of the SI Base Units

A.1 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 1/299 792
458 of a second.

A.3 Kilogram (3d CGPM, 1901)

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 of 9 192 631 770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the cesium- 133 atom.

A.5 Ampere (9th CGPM, 1948)

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 a force equal to 2 × 10 − 7 newton per meter of length.

A.6 Kelvin (13th CGPM, 1967)

The kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, is the fraction 1/273.16 of the thermodynamic temperature of the triple point of water.

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 mu st 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 re st 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 (16th CGPM, 1979)

The candela is the luminous intensity, in a given direction, of a source that emits monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 × 10 12 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in that direction of (1/683) watt per steradian.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

40 

### Appendix B. Conversion Factors 6

B.1 Introduction

Sections B.8 and B.9 give factors for converti ng values of quantities expressed in various units— predominantly units outside the SI th at are unacceptable for use with it—to values expressed either in (a) SI units, (b) units that ar e accepted for use with the SI (especially units that better reflect the nature of the unconverted units), (c) units formed from such accepte d 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 ångströms, 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 Secs. B.8 and B.9 by selecting an appropriate SI prefix (see Sec. B.3).

B.2 Notation

The factors given in Secs. 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 × 10 − 2 = 0.035 239 07

3.386 389 E+03 means 3.386 389 × 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 S ecs. 7.9, B.7.2, and Refs. [4: IS O 31-0] and [6]). Where less than six digits after the decimal place ar e given, the unit does not warrant a greater number of digits in its conversion. However, for the conveni ence 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 Secs. 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 (m 3 /s) .........2.831 685 ................. 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 = 11.8 standard atmospheres (atm) in pascals (Pa), write

p = 11.8 atm × 101 325 Pa/atm and obtain the converted numerical value 11.8 × 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 mater ial 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).Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

41 Notes :

1. Guidance on rounding converted numerical va lues 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 Secs. 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 kg

· m/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 × 0.3048 m/s = 0.138 255 0 kg

· 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·m 2 , obtain from
Sec. B.8 or B.9

1 oz = 2.834 952 E

− 02 kg
1 in 2 = 6.4516 E

− 04 m 2

and substitute these values into the unit oz·in 2 to obtain

1 oz·in 2 = 0.028 349 52 kg × 0.000 645 16 m 2 = 0.000 018 289 98 kg·m 2

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 al phabetized list of kinds of quantities and fields of
science:

ACCELERATION FORCE DIVIDED BY LENGTH
ANGLE HEAT
AREA AND SECOND MOMENT Available Energy
OF AREA Coefficient of Heat Transfer CAPACITY (see VOLUME) Density of Heat DENSITY (that is, MASS DENSITY) Density of Heat Flow Rate (see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME) Fuel Consumption
ELECTRICITY and MAGNETISM H eat Capacity and Entropy ENERGY (includes WORK) Heat Flow Rate
ENERGY DIVIDED BY AREA TIME Specifi c Heat Capacity an d Specific Entropy FLOW (see MASS DIVIDED BY TIME Thermal Conductivity or VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME) Thermal Diffusivity
FORCE Thermal InsulanceGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

42 FORCE DIVIDED BY AREA Thermal Resistance (see PRESSURE) Thermal Resistivity
LENGTH POWER
LIGHT PRESSURE or STRESS (FORCE
MASS and MOMENT OF INERTIA DIVIDED BY AREA) MASS DENSITY (see MASS DIVIDED RADIOLOGY BY VOLUME) SPEED (see VELOCITY)
MASS DIVIDED BY AREA STRESS (see PRESSURE)
MASS DIVIDED BY CAPACITY TEMPERATURE (see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME) TEMPERATURE INTERVAL
MASS DIVIDED BY LENGTH TIME
MASS DIVIDED BY TIME TORQUE (see MOMENT OF FORCE) (includes FLOW) VELOCITY (includes SPEED)
MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME VISCOSITY, DYNAMIC (includes MASS DENSITY and VISCOSITY, KINEMATIC MASS CONCENTRATION) VOLUME (includes CAPACITY) MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE, (includes FLOW)
DIVIDED BY LENGTH WORK (see ENERGY)
PERMEABILITY

In Secs. B.8 and B.9, the units in the left-hand columns are written as they are often used customarily; the rules and style co nventions 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 agreemen t; see Ref. [7: FR 1959]. Si nce 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 foot.” The two are related to each other through the expression 1 international foot = 0.999 998 U.S. survey foot exactly.

In Secs. 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. survey foot 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

43 1 ft = (1200/3937) m
1 ft = 0.3048 m
1 ft = 0.999 998 ft 1 rd, pole, or perch = 16 1⁄2 ft
40 rd = 1 fur = 660 ft 8 fur = 1 U.S. survey mile (also called “statute mile”) = 1 mi = 5280 ft
1 fathom = 6 ft
1 international mile = 1 mi = 5280 ft
272 1/4 ft 2 = 1 rd 2

160 rd 2 = 1 acre = 43 560 ft 2

640 acre = 1 mi 2

B.7 Rules for rounding numbers and co nverted 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 cust omary 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 valu es 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 (c alled 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 : 6.974 951 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 : 6.974 951 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 : 6.974 951 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 Secs. B.8 and B.9 to convert values of quantities was demonstrated in Sec. B.3. In most cases the product of the unconver ted numerical value and the factor will be a numerical value with a number of dig its that exceeds the number of significant di gits (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 l = 36 ft in meters, use the factor 3.048 E

− 01 from Sec. B.8 or Sec. B.9
and write
l = 36 ft × 0.3048 m/ft = 10.9728 m = 11.0 m.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

44 The final result, l = 11.0 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 ± 0.05/11.0 = ± 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 numeri cal value “36.” This example theref ore 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 l = 36 ft had been rounded to the nearest inch. Then in this case, since l is known to within ± 1 in, the RE of the numerical value “36” is ± 1 in/(36 ft × 12 in/ft) = ± 0.23 %. Although this is less th an the ± 0.45 % RE of the number 11.0, it is comparable to it. Th erefore, the result l = 11.0 m is still given as the converted value. (Note that the numerical value “10.97” would give excessive unwarranted informati on because it has an RE that is one-fifth of ± 0.23 %.)Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

45 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 ( Ω ) ........................................................... 1.0 E

− 09 abvolt ................................................................... volt (V) ...........................................

................. 1.0 E

− 08 acceleration of free fall, standard ( g

n )................... meter per second squared (m / s 2 ) ........... 9.806 65 E+00 acre (based on U.S. survey foot) 7 ........................ square meter (m 2 ).................................. 4.046 873 E+03 acre foot (based on U.S. survey foot) 7 ................. cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.233 489 E+03 ampere hour (A·h) ............................................... coulomb (C) .................................................... 3.6 E+03 ångström (Å)......................................................... meter (m) ........................................................ 1.0 E

− 10 ångström (Å)......................................................... nanometer (nm)...........................................

..... 1.0 E

− 01

are (a) ................................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ............................................ 1.0 E+02
astronomical unit (ua) ......................................... meter (m) ............................................. 1.495 979 E+11 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
barn (b) ................................................................ square meter (m 2 )............................................. 1.0 E

− 28 barrel [for petroleum, 42 gall ons (U.S.)](bbl) ...... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.589 873 E

− 01 barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S .)](bbl) ..... liter (L) ................................................. 1.589 873 E+ 02 biot (Bi) ................................................................ ampere (A) ..........................................

............ 1.0 E+01 British thermal unit IT (Btu IT ) 9 ............................... joule (J) ................................................ 1.055 056 E+03
British thermal unit th (Btu IT ) 9 ................................ joule (J) ................................................ 1.054 350 E+03 British thermal unit (mean) (Btu ) ........................ joule (J) .................................................. . 1.055 8 7 E+03 British thermal unit (39 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) .................................................. . 1.059 67 E+03 British thermal unit (59 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) .................................................. . 1.054 80 E+03 British thermal unit (60 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) .................................................. . 1.054 68 E+03 British thermal unit IT foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT ·ft/(h·ft 2 ·oF)].......................................... watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ...... 1.730 735 E+00
British thermal unit th foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th ·ft/(h·ft 2 ·oF)] .........................................watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ...... 1.729 577 E+00
British thermal unit IT inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT ·in/(h·ft 2 ·oF)] ........................................ watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ...... 1.442 279 E

− 01
British thermal unit th inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th ·in/(h·ft 2 ·oF)] ........................................ watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 1.441 314 E

− 01 British thermal unit IT inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT ·in/(s·ft 2 ·oF)] ......................................... 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-f orce per square centimete r (1 at = 1 kgf/cm2).

9 The Fifth International Conference on th e Properties of Steam (London, July 1956) defi ned the International Table calorie as 4.1868 J. Therefore, the exact conversion factor for the International Table Btu is 1.055 055 852 62 kJ. Note that the notation for International Table used in this listing is subscript “IT.” Similarily, the notation for thermochemical is subscript “th.” Fur ther, the thermochemical Btu, Btuth, is based on the thermo chemical calorie, calth, where calth = 4.184 J exactly.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

46 To convert from to Multiply by

British thermal unit th inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th ·in/(s·ft 2 ·oF)] ......................................... watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 5.188 732 E+02
British thermal unit IT per cubic foot (Btu IT /ft 3 ) ...................................................... joule per cubic meter (J / m 3 )................ 3.725 895 E+04
British thermal unit th per cubic foot (Btu th /ft 3 ) ...................................................... joule per cubic meter (J / m 3 ) ............... 3.723 403 E+04
British thermal unit IT per degree Fahrenheit (Btu IT /oF) ...................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.899 101 E+03
British thermal unit th per degree Fahrenheit (Btu th /oF)........................................................ joule per kelvin (J / K) ........................ 1.897 830 E+0 3
British thermal unit IT per degree Rankine (Btu IT / oR) ..................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.899 101 E+03
British thermal unit th per degree Rankine (Btu th / oR) ..................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.897 830 E+03
British thermal unit IT per hour (Btu IT /h) .............. watt (W)................................................ 2.930 711 E

− 01
British thermal unit th per hour (Btu th /h) ............... watt (W)................................................ 2.928 751 E

− 01
British thermal unit IT per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (h·ft 2 ·oF)] .......................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ........................................ 5.678 263 E+00
British thermal unit th per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (h·ft 2 ·oF)] ........................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ........................................ 5.674 466 E+00
British thermal unit th per minute (Btu th / min) ...... watt (W) ............................................... 1.757 250 E+01
British thermal unit IT per pound (Btu IT / lb) ......... joule per kilogram (J / kg) ........................... 2.326 E+03
British thermal unit th per pound (Btu th / lb) .......... joule per kilogram (J / kg) .................... 2.324 444 E+03
British thermal unit IT per pound degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (lb·oF)] .............................................. joule per k ilogram kelvin (J / (kg · K)] ...... 4.1868 E+03
British thermal unit th per pound degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (lb·oF)] .............................................. joule per k ilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ........ 4.184 E+03
British thermal unit IT per pound degree Rankine [Btu IT / (lb·oR)] .............................................. joule per k ilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ...... 4.1868 E+03
British thermal unit t h per pound degree Rankine [Btu th / (lb·oR)] .............................................. joule per k ilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ........ 4.184 E+03
British thermal unit IT per second (Btu IT / s) ......... watt (W) ............................................... 1.055 056 E+03
British thermal unit th per second (Btu th / s) .......... watt (W) ............................................... 1.054 350 E+03
British thermal unit IT per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (s · ft 2 ·oF)] ......................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W/(m 2 · K)] ......................................... 2.044 175 E+04
British thermal unit th per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (s · ft 2 ·oF)] .......................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W/(m 2 · K)] ......................................... 2.042 808 E+04
British thermal unit IT per square foot (Btu IT / ft 2 ) .................................................... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) ............. 1.135 653 E+04
British thermal unit th per square foot (Btu th / ft 2 ) ..................................................... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) ............. 1.134 893 E+04
British thermal unit IT per square foot hour [(Btu IT / (ft 2 · h)] ............................................ watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 3.154 591 E+00
British thermal unit th per square foot hour [Btu th / (ft 2 · h)] .............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 3.152 481 E+00
British thermal unit t h per square foot minute [Btu th / (ft 2 · min)] ......................................... watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 1.891 489 E+02
British thermal unit IT per square foot second [(Btu IT / (ft 2 · s)] ............................................ watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 1.135 653 E+04Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

47 To convert from to Multiply by

British thermal unit th per square foot second [Btu th / (ft 2 · s)] .............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ........... . 1.134 893 E+04
British thermal unit th per square inch second [Btu th /(in 2 · s)] .............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 1.634 246 E+06 bushel (U.S.) (bu) ................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 3.523 907 E

− 02 bushel (U.S.) (bu) ................................................ liter (L) ................................................. 3.523 907 E+01

calorie IT (cal IT ) 10 .................................................. joule (J) ..................................................... 4.1868 E+00
calorie th (cal th ) 10 ................................................... joule (J) ....................................................... 4.184 E+00 calorie (cal) (mean) .............................................. joule (J) ................................................. . 4.190 02 E+00 calorie (15 oC) (cal 15 ) ........................................... joule (J) ................................................... 4.185 80 E+00 calorie (20 oC) (cal 20 ) ........................................... joule (J) ................................................... 4.181 90 E+00
calorie IT , kilogram (nutrition) 11 ........................... joule (J) ..................................................... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th , kilogram (nutrition) 11 ............................ joule (J) ....................................................... 4.184 E+03 calorie (mean), kilogram (nutrition) 11 .................. joule (J) .................................................. 4.190 02 E+03
calorie th per centimeter second degree Celsius [cal th / (cm · s · oC)] ....................................... watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ............. 4.184 E+02 calorie IT per gram (cal IT / g) ................................. joule per kilogram (J / kg) ......................... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram (cal th / g) .................................. joule per kilogram (J / kg) ........................... 4.184 E+03
calorie IT per gram degree Celsius [cal IT / (g·oC)] ............................................... joule per k ilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ...... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram degree Celsius [cal th / (g·oC)] ................................................ joule per k ilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ........ 4.184 E+03 calorie IT per gram kelvin [cal IT / (g·K)] ............... joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ...... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram kelvin [cal th / (g·K)] ................ joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ........ 4.184 E+03
calorie th per minute (cal th / min) .......................... watt (W) ............................................... 6.973 333 E

− 02 calorie th per second (cal th / s) ............................... watt (W) ...................................................... 4.184 E+00
calorie th per square centimeter (cal th / cm 2 ) ......... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) .................... 4.184 E+04
calorie th per square centimeter minute [cal th / (cm 2 · min)] ........................................ watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 6.973 333 E+02
calorie th per square centimeter second
cal th / (cm 2 · 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 oC) 12 ............................ pascal (Pa) .............................................. 1.333 22 E+03 centimeter of mercury (0 oC) 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 oC) 12 ................................. pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 38 E+01 centimeter of water, conventional (cmH 2 O) 12 ..... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 65 E+01 centipoise (cP) ..................................................... pas cal second (Pa·s) ....................................

.... 1.0 E

− 03 centistokes (cSt) .................................................. meter squared per second (m 2 /s) ..................... 1.0 E

− 06 chain (based on U.S. survey foot) (ch) 7 ............... meter (m) ............................................. 2.011 684 E+01
circular mil .......................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 5.067 075 E

− 10

10 The small calorie or gram calorie approxi mates the energy needed to increase the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 °C. Subscripts “IT” and “th” refer to International Table and thermochem ical calories, respectively; see footnote 9.

11 The kilogram calorie or ‘‘large calorie’’ is an obsolete term us ed for the kilocalorie, which is the calorie used to express t he energy content of foods. However, in practice, the prefix ‘‘kilo’’ is usually omitted.

12 Conversion factors for mercury manometer pressure units are cal culated using the standard valu e for the acceleration of gravit y and the density of mercury at the stated temperature. Additional di gits are not justified because the definitions of the units do n ot take into account the compressibility of mercury or the change in density caused by the revised practical temperature scale, ITS-90. Simi lar comments also apply to water manometer pressure units. Convers ion factors for conventional mercury and water manometer pressure units are based on Ref. [4: ISO 80000-4].Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

48 To convert from to Multiply by

circular mil .......................................................... square millimeter (mm 2 ) ...................... 5.067 075 E

− 04 clo ........................................................................ square mete r kelvin per watt (m 2 ·K / W) ...... 1.55 E

− 01 cord (128 ft 3 ) ....................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 3.624 556 E+00 cubic foot (ft 3 ) ..................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 2.831 685 E

− 02 cubic foot per minute (ft 3 / min) .......................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 4.719 474 E

− 04 cubic foot per minute (ft 3 / min) .......................... liter pe r second (L/s) ............................ 4.719 474 E

− 01 cubic foot per second (ft 3 / s) ............................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 2.831 685 E

− 02 cubic inch (in 3 ) 13 ................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.638 706 E

− 05 cubic inch per minute (in 3 / min) ......................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 2.731 177 E

− 07 cubic mile (mi 3 ) ................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 4.168 182 E+09 cubic yard (yd 3 ) ................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 7.645 549 E

− 01 cubic yard per minute (yd 3 / min) ........................ cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 1.274 258 E

− 02 cup (U.S.) ............................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 (m 2 ) ............................... 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) ( o ) ............................................... radian (rad) ........................................... 1.745 32 9 E

− 02 degree Celsius (temperature) (oC) ....................... kelvin (K) ..................................... T / K = t / o C + 273.15 degree Celsius (temperature interval) (oC) .......... kelvin (K) ........................................................ 1.0 E+00 degree centigrade (temperature) 15 ........................ degree Celsius (oC) .......................... t / o C ≈ t / deg. cent. degree cen tigrade (temperature interval) 15 .......... degree Celsius (oC) ......................................... 1.0 E+00 degree Fahrenheit (temperature) (oF) ................... degree Celsius (oC) .................... t / o C = ( t / oF

− 32 )/ 1.8 degree Fahrenheit (temperature ) (oF) ................... kelvin (K) ............................. T / K = ( t / o F + 459.67 )/ 1.8 degree Fahrenheit (temperature interval)(oF) ...... degree Celsius (oC) ............................... 5.555 556 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit (temperature interval) (o F) ...... kelvin (K) ............................................. 5.555 556 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unit IT (oF · h/Btu IT ) .................................................. kelvin per watt (K / W) ......................... 1.895 634 E+00 degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unit th (oF·h / Btu th ) .................................................. kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 1.896 903 E+00 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit IT (oF · h · ft 2 / Btu IT ) ................. square meter kelvin per watt (m 2 · K / W) ......................................... 1.761 102 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit th (oF · h · ft 2 / Btu th ) .................. square meter kelvin per watt (m 2 · K / W) ....................................... 1.762 280 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit IT inch [oF · h · ft 2 / (Btu IT · in)]. meter kelvin per watt (m · K / W) ........ 6.933 472 E+00 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit th inch [oF · h · ft 2 / (Btu th · in)] .. meter kelvin per watt (m · K / W) ....... 6.938 112 E+00 degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unit IT (oF · s / Btu IT ) ................................................ kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 5.265 651 E

− 04 degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unit th (oF · s / Btu th ) ................................................ kelvin per watt (K / W) ....................... 5.269 175 E

− 04 degree Rankine (oR) ............................................. kelvin (K) ........................................ T / K = ( T / oR) / 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 cen tigrade is only approximately equal to the degree Celsius.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

49 To convert from to Multiply by

degree Rankine (temperature interval) (o 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) ......................... 1.1 11 111 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) ................................................ 1.602 176 E

− 19 EMU of capacitance (abfarad) ............................. farad (F) .......................................................... 1.0 E+09 EMU of current (abamper e) ................................ ampere (A) ...................................................... 1.0 E+01 EMU of Electric potentia l (abvolt) .................... volt (V) ............................................................ 1.0 E

− 08 EMU of inductance (abhenry) ............................. henry (H) ......................................................... 1.0 E

− 09 EMU of resistance (abohm) ................................. ohm ( Ω ) ........................................................... 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 / (cm 2

· 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 (stat volt) ..................... volt (V).................................................. 2.997 925 E+02 ESU of inductance (stathenry) ............................. henry (H) .............................................. 8.987 552 E+11 ESU of resistance (statohm) ................................ ohm ( Ω ) ............................................... 8.987 552 E+11

faraday (based on car bon 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 (m 3 ) ................................... 2.957 353 E

− 05 fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) ..................................... milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2.957 3 53 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 2 ) ....... 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 oF) 12 ....................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 2.988 98 E+03 foot of water (39.2 oF) 12 ....................................... kilopascal (kPa) ...................................... 2.988 98 E+00 foot of water, conventional (ftH 2 O) 12 .................. pascal (Pa) ............................................ 2.989 067 E+03 foot of water, conventional (ftH 2 O) 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) ............................................... .. 4.214 011 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) ............................................... 1.355 818 E+00 foot to the fourth power (ft 4 ) 16 ............................. meter to the fourth power (m 4 ) ............. 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

50 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 (m 3 ) ..................................... 4.546 09 E

− 03 gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imp erial)] (gal) ....... liter (L ) ................................................... 4.546 09 E+00 gallon (U.S.) (gal) ................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 (m 3 / 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 (m 3 / J) ............... 1.410 089 E

− 09 gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour [gal / (hp · h)] ................................................ liter pe r joule (L / J) ............................. 1.410 089 E

− 06 gallon (U.S.) per minute (gpm)(gal / min)............ cubic meter per second (m 3 / 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 ( γ

) ............................................................ 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. (Imper ial)] (gi)............... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.420 653 E

− 04 gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) .............. lite r (L) ................................................. 1. 420 653 E

− 01 gill (U.S.) (gi) ...................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.182 941 E

− 04 gill (U.S.) (gi) ...................................................... liter (L) ............................................. .... 1.182 941 E

− 01 gon (also called grade) (gon) ............................... radian (rad) ........................................... 1.570 79 6 E

− 02 gon (also called grade) (gon) ............................... degree (angle) ( o ) ........................................... 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 ) ...... 1.711 806 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 (m 2 ) ............................................ 1.0 E+04 horsepower (550 ft · lbf / s) (hp) .......................... watt (W) ............................................... 7.456 99 9 E+02 horsepower (boiler) ............................................. watt (W) ................................................. 9. 809 50 E+03 horsepower (electric) ........................................... watt (W) ....................................................

.... 7.46 E+02 horsepower (metric) ............................................. watt (W) ............................................... 7.35 4 988 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, 112 lb) ............................... kilogram (kg) ....................................... 5.080 235 E +01 hundredweight (short, 10 0 lb) ............................. kilogram (kg) ....................................... 4.535 924 E +01

inch (in) ............................................................... meter (m) ...........................................

........... 2.54 E

− 02 inch (in) ............................................................... centimeter (cm) .....................................

........ 2.54 E+00 inch of mercury (32 oF) 12 ..................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 3.386 38 E+03 inch of mercury (32 oF) 12 ..................................... kilopascal (kPa) ...................................... 3.386 38 E+00 inch of mercury (60 oF) 12 ..................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 3.376 85 E+03 inch of mercury (60 oF) 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 oF) 12 ...................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 2.490 82 E+02 inch of water (60 oF) 12 ......................................... pascal (Pa) ................................................. 2.4884 E+02 inch of water, conventional (inH 2 O) 12 ................. pascal (Pa)............................................. 2.490 889 E+02 inch per second (in / s) ......................................... meter per second (m / s) ................................ 2.54 E

− 02Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

51 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 (m 4 ) ............. 4.162 314 E

− 07

kayser (K) ............................................................ reciprocal meter (m

− 1 ) ..................................... 1.0 E+02
kelvin (K) ............................................................. degree Celsius (oC) ...................... t / oC = T / K

− 273.15
kilocalorie IT (kcal IT ) ............................................. joule (J) ..................................................... 4.1868 E+03 kilocalorie th (kcal th ) .............................................. joule (J) ....................................................... 4.184 E+03 kilocalorie (mean) (kcal) ..................................... joule (J) .................................................. 4. 190 02 E+03 kilocalorie th per minute (kcal th / min) .................. watt (W ................................................. 6.973 333 E+01
kilocalorie th per second (kcal th / 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 / mm 2 ) ................................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 65 E+06 kilogram-force per square millimeter (kgf / mm 2 ) ................................................... 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 lbf) .......................................... k ilonewton (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

− 01

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 (m 3 ) ............................................. 1.0 E

− 03 lumen per square foot (lm / ft 2 ) ........................... 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 ( μ m) ........................................... 2.54 E

− 02 micron ( μ ) ............................................................ meter (m) ........................................................ 1.0 E

− 06 micron ( μ ) ............................................................ micrometer ( μ 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 10 4 / π

. 18 This conversion factor is based on 1 d = 86 400 s; and 1 Julia n 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 decimete r. Between 1901 and 1964 the liter was slightly larger (1.000 028 dm 3 ); when one uses high-accuracy volum e data of that time, this fact must be kept in mind.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

52 To convert from to Multiply by

mil (angle) ........................................................... radian (rad) .......................................... . 9.817 477 E

− 04 mil (angle) ........................................................... degree ( o ) ..........................................

......... 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, nautical 20 .................................................... meter (m) .................................................... 1.852 E+03 mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal)................. meter per cubic meter (m / m 3 ) ............ 4.251 437 E+05 mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (m i / 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 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 of mercury , conventional (mmHg) 12 .. pascal (Pa) ............................................ 1.333 224 E+02 millimeter of water, conventional (mmH 2 O) 12 .... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 65 E+00

minute (angle) (') ................................................. radian (rad) ........................................... 2.908 88 2 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 ( Ω · cm) ...................................... ohm meter ( Ω

· m) ............................................ 1.0 E

− 02 ohm circular-mil per foot ..................................... ohm meter ( Ω

· m) ................................. 1.662 426 E

− 09 ohm circular-mil per f oot ..................................... ohm square millimeter per meter ( Ω

· mm 2 / 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 (k g) ....................................... 3.11 0 348 E

− 02 ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) ........................... gram (g) ............................................... 3.110 348 E+01 ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)] (fl oz)............................................................. cubic meter (m 3 ) .................................. 2.841 306 E

− 05 ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)] (fl oz) ............................................................ milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2. 841 306 E+01 ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) ..................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 2.957 353 E

− 05 ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) ..................................... milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2.957 3 53 E+01 ounce (avoirdupois)-force (ozf) ........................... newton (N) ........................................... 2.780 139 E

− 01 ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (o zf · 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 / ga l) ............................ 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.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

53 To convert from to Multiply by

ounce (avoirdupois) per square inch (oz / in 2 ) ..... kilogram per square meter (kg / m 2 ) .... 4.394 185 E+01 ounce (avoirdupois) per square yard(oz / yd 2 ) ..... 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 (m 3 ) ................................... 8.809 768 E

− 03 peck (U.S.) (pk) ................................................... liter (L) ................................................ . 8.809 768 E+00 pennyweight (dwt) ............................................... kilogram (kg) ....................................... 1.555 1 74 E

− 03 pennyweight (dwt) ............................................... gram (g) ............................................... 1.55 5 174 E+00 perm (0 oC) .......................................................... kilogram per pascal second square meter [kg / (Pa

· s · m 2 )] .................................... 5.721 35 E

− 11 perm (23 oC) ........................................................ kilogram per pascal second square meter [kg / (Pa

· s · m 2 )] .................................... 5.745 25 E

− 11 perm inch (0 oC ) .................................................. kilogram per pa scal second meter [kg / (Pa

· s · m)] ...................................... 1.453 22 E

− 12 perm inch (23 oC ) ................................................ kilogram per pa scal 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) ....................................... m illimeter (mm) ................................... 4.233 333 E+00 pica (printer’s) ..................................................... meter (m) ............................................. 4.217 518 E

− 03 pica (printer’s) ..................................................... millimeter (mm).................................... 4.21 7 518 E+00 pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt).......................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 (m 3 ) ................................... 4.731 765 E

− 04 pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) ...................................... liter (L) ............................................... . 4.731 765 E

− 01 point (computer) (1/72 in) ................................... meter (m) ............................................. 3.527 77 8 E

− 04 point (computer) (1/72 in) ................................... mil limeter (mm) ................................... 3.527 778 E

− 01 point (printer’s) .................................................... meter (m) ............................................ . 3.514 598 E

− 04 point (printer’s) .................................................... millimeter (mm) ................................... 3.51 4 598 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 fo ot ........................... pascal second (Pa

· s) ............................. 1.488 164 E+00 pound foot squared (lb · ft 2 ) ................................. kilogram meter squared (kg

· m 2 ) .......... 4.214 011 E

− 02 pound-force (lbf) 23 ............................................... newton (N) ........................................... 4.448 222 E+00 pound-force foot (lbf · ft) ..................................... newton meter (N · m) ........................... 1.355 818 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) ..................... 1.751 268 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 Secs. B.8 and B.9 that contain the pound refer to the avoirdupois pound.

23 The exact conversion factor is 4.448 221 615 260 5 E+00 sin ce the standard value of the acceleration due to gravity,

g n = 9.806 65 m/s 2 exactly, is used to define the kilogram-force: 1 kgf = 9.806 65 E+00 N exactly.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

54 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

· m 2 ) ........... 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)] ........................... pa scal second (Pa · s) ............................ 4.133 789 E

− 04 pound per foot second [lb / (ft · s)] ...................... pa scal second (Pa · s) ............................ 1.488 164 E+0 0 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 / ga l) ............................. kilogram pe r 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 (k g / 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+0 1 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 2 ) ........................................................ 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 (10 15 Btu IT ) 9 ................................................. joule (J) ................................................ 1.055 056 E+18 quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) ....................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.101 221 E

− 03 quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) ....................................... liter (L) ................................................. 1 .101 221 E+00 quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) .................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 (m 2 / s) ............ 2.580 64 E

− 05Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

55 To convert from to Multiply by

square foot per second (ft 2 / s) ............................. square meter per second (m 2 / s) .......... 9.290 304 E

− 02 square inch (in 2 ) ................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ....................................... 6.4516 E

− 04 square inch (in 2 ) ................................................... square centimeter (cm 2 ) ............................ 6.4516 E+00 square mile (mi 2 ) ................................................. square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 2.589 988 E+06 square mile (mi 2 ) ................................................. square kilometer (km 2 ) ......................... 2.589 988 E+00 square mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi 2 ) 7 ................. square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 2.589 998 E+06 square mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi 2 ) 7 ................. square kilometer (km 2 ) ......................... 2.589 998 E+00 square yard (yd 2 ) .................................................. square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 8.361 274 E

− 01 statampere ............................................................ ampere (A) ........................................... 3.335 641 E

− 10 statcoulomb ......................................................... co ulomb (C) ......................................... 3.3 35 641 E

− 10 statfarad ............................................................... farad (F) ........................................... .... 1.112 650 E

− 12 stathenry .............................................................. henry (H) ............................................ .. 8.987 552 E+11 statmho ................................................................ siemens (S) .......................................... . 1.112 650 E

− 12 statohm ................................................................. ohm ( Ω ) ................................................ 8.987 552 E+11 statvolt ................................................................. volt (V) ........................................... ...... 2.997 925 E+02 stere (st) ............................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) .............................................. 1.0 E+00 stilb (sb)................................................................ can dela per square meter (cd / m 2 ) .................. 1.0 E+04 stokes (St) ............................................................ meter squared per second (m 2 / s) ................... 1.0 E

− 04

tablespoon............................................................. cubic meter (m 3 ) .................................... 1.478 676 E

− 05 tablespoon............................................................. milliliter (mL) ...................................... 1.478 676 E+01 teaspoon ............................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 4.928 922 E

− 06 teaspoon ............................................................... m illiliter (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) ....................................... 2.91 6 667 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 44 3 E+00 ton, long (2240 lb) ............................................... kilogram (kg) ....................................... 1.016 047 E+03 ton, long, per cubic yard ...................................... kilogram pe r 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 IT / h) .................. watt (W) ............................................... 3.516 853 E+03 ton of TNT (energy equivalent) 25 ........................ joule (J) ....................................................... 4.184 E+09 ton, register .......................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 ) ...... 1.186 553 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 fr equently used by engineers in the United States, the therm (U.S.) is the legal unit used by the U.S. natural gas industry.

25 Defined (not measured) value.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

56 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+07Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

57 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 ( g

n ) .................. 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 ( o ) ............................................................ radian (rad) ........................................... 1.74 5 329 E

− 02 gon (also called grade) (gon) ............................... radian (rad) ........................................... 1.570 79 6 E

− 02 gon (also called grade) (gon) ............................... degree ( o ).....................................................

... 9.0 E

− 01 mil ....................................................................... radian (rad) ..................................... ...... 9.817 477 E

− 04 mil ....................................................................... degree ( o ) .....................................

.............. 5.625 E

− 02

minute (')............................................................... radian (rad) ........................................... 2.9 08 882 E

− 04 revolution (r) ........................................................ radian (rad) .......................................... 6.283 185 E+00
second (") ............................................................. radian (rad) ........................................... 4.84 8 137 E

− 06



### AREA AND SECOND MOMENT OF AREA acre (based on U.S. survey foot)........................... square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 4.046 873 E+03

are (a) ................................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ............................................ 1.0 E+02 barn (b) ................................................................. square meter (m 2 ) ............................................ 1.0 E

− 28 circular mil ........................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 5.067 075 E

− 10 circular mil ........................................................... square millimeter (mm 2 ) ....................... 5.067 075 E

− 04 foot to the fourth power (ft 4 ) 16 ............................. meter to the fourth power (m 4 ) ............. 8.630 975 E

− 03
hectare (ha) .......................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ............................................ 1.0 E+04 inch to the fourth power (in 4 ) 16 ............................ meter to the fourth power (m 4 ) ............. 4.162 314 E

− 07 square foot (ft 2 ) .................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 9.290 304 E

− 02 square inch (in 2 ) ................................................... square meter (m 2 ) ...................................... 6.4516 E

− 04 square inch (in 2 ) ................................................... square centimeter (cm 2 ) ............................ 6.4516 E+00 square mile (mi 2 ) ................................................. square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 2.589 988 E+06 square mile (mi 2 ) ................................................. square kilometer (km 2 ) ......................... 2.589 988 E+00 square mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi 2 ) 7 ................ square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 2.589 998 E+06 square mile (based on U.S. survey foot) (mi 2 ) 7 ................ square kilometer (km 2 ) ......................... 2.589 998 E+00 square yard (yd 2 ) .................................................. square meter (m 2 ) ................................. 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+09Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

58 To convert from to Multiply by

abohm .................................................................. ohm ( Ω ) ........................................................... 1.0 E

− 09 abvolt ................................................................... volt (V)............................................

................. 1.0 E

− 08 ampere hour (A · h) ............................................. coulomb (C) .................................................... 3.6 E+03 biot (Bi) ............................................................... ampere (A) ..........................................

............ 1.0 E+01 EMU of capacitance (abfarad) ............................. farad (F) ..........................................................

. 1.0 E+09 EMU of current (abamper e) ................................ 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 ( Ω ) ........................................................... 1.0 E

− 09 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 (stat volt) ...................... volt (V) ................................................. 2.997 92 5 E+02 ESU of inductance (stathenry).............................. henry (H) .............................................. 8.987 552 E+11 ESU of resistance (statohm) ................................. ohm ( Ω ) ............................................... 8.987 552 E+11 faraday (based on car bon 12) ............................... coulomb (C) ......................................... 9.648 534 E+04 franklin (Fr) ......................................................... coulomb (C) ......................................... 3 .335 641 E

− 10 gamma ( γ

) ............................................................ tesla (T) ......................................................

..... 1.0 E

− 09 gauss (Gs, G) ........................................................ tesla (T) ...............................................

............ 1.0 E

− 04 gilbert (Gi) ........................................................... ampere (A) ........................................... 7.957 747 E

− 01 maxwell (Mx) ...................................................... weber (Wb) ................................................

..... 1.0 E

− 08 mho ................................................................... siemens (S) ..........................................

............ 1.0 E+00 oersted (Oe) ......................................................... ampere per meter (A / m) ..................... 7.957 747 E+01
ohm centimeter ( Ω · cm) ...................................... ohm meter ( Ω · m) ........................................... 1.0 E

− 02 ohm circular-mil per foot ..................................... ohm meter ( Ω · m) ................................ 1.662 426 E

− 09 ohm circular-mil per f oot ..................................... ohm square millimeter per meter ( Ω · mm 2 / m) ........................................ 1.662 426 E

− 03 statampere ............................................................ ampere (A) ............................................ 3.335 641 E

− 10 statcoulomb ......................................................... co ulomb (C) .......................................... 3.3 35 641 E

− 10 statfarad ............................................................... farad (F) ............................................ .... 1.112 650 E

− 12 stathenry .............................................................. henry (H)............................................. .. 8.987 552 E+11 statmho ................................................................ siemens (S)........................................... . 1.112 650 E

− 12 statohm ................................................................ ohm ( Ω )................................................. 8.987 552 E+11 statvolt ................................................................. volt (V)............................................ ...... 2.997 925 E+02 unit pole ............................................................... weber (Wb) ........................................... 1.256 637 E

− 07



### ENERGY (includes WORK)
British thermal unit IT (Btu IT ) 9 .............................. joule (J) ................................................. 1.055 056 E+03
British thermal unit th (Btu th ) 9 ............................... joule (J) ................................................. 1.054 350 E+03 British thermal unit (mean) (Btu ) ........................ joule (J) ................................................... 1.055 8 7 E+03 British thermal unit (39 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) ................................................... 1.059 67 E+03 British thermal unit (59 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) ................................................... 1.054 80 E+03 British thermal unit (60 oF) (B tu) ........................ joule (J) ................................................... 1.054 68 E+03 calorie IT (cal IT ) 10 .................................................. joule (J) ...................................................... 4.1868 E+00
calorie th (cal th ) 10 .................................................... joule (J) ........................................................ 4.184 E+00 calorie (mean) (cal) .............................................. joule (J) .................................................. . 4.190 02 E+00 calorie (15 oC) (cal 15 ) ........................................... joule (J) ................................................... 4.185 80 E+00 calorie (20 oC) (cal 20 ) ........................................... joule (J) ................................................... 4.181 90 E+00
calorie IT , kilogram (nutrition) 11 ........................... joule (J) ...................................................... 4.1868 E+03 calorie th , kilogram (nutrition) 11 ............................ joule (J) ........................................................ 4.184 E+03 calorie (mean), kilogram (nutrition) 11 .................. joule (J) ................................................... 4.190 02 E+03
electronvolt (eV) .................................................. joule (J) ................................................. 1.602 176 E

− 19 erg (erg) ............................................................... joule (J) ............................................

................ 1.0 E

− 07 foot poundal.......................................................... joule (J) ............................................... .. 4.214 011 E

− 02Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

59 To convert from to Multiply by

foot pound-force (ft · lb f) ..................................... joule (J) ................................................. 1. 355 818 E+00
kilocalorie IT (kcal IT ) ............................................. joule (J) ...................................................... 4.1868 E+03
kilocalorie th (kcal th ) .............................................. joule (J) ........................................................ 4.184 E+03 kilocalorie (mean) (kcal) ..................................... joule (J) ................................................... 4. 190 02 E+03
kilowatt hour (kW · h) ......................................... joule (J) ............................................................ 3.6 E+06
kilowatt hour (kW · h) ......................................... megajoule (MJ)................................................ 3.6 E+00 quad (10 15 Btu IT ) 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 / (cm 2 · s)] .............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ........................ 1.0 E

− 03 watt per square centimeter (W / cm 2 ) .................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ........................ 1.0 E+04 watt per square inch (W / in 2 ) .............................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............. 1.550 003 E+03



### FLOW (see MASS DIVIDED 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) .......................................... k ilonewton (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 44 3 E+00



### FORCE DIVIDED BY AREA (see PRESSURE)

FORCE DIVIDED BY LENGTH 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) ..................... 1.751 268 E+02



### HEAT Available Energy British thermal unit IT per cubic foot (Btu IT / ft 3 ) .. joule per cubic meter (J / m 3 ) ............... 3.725 895 E+04
British thermal unit th per cubic foot (Btu th / ft 3 ) ... joule per cubic meter (J / m 3 ) ............... 3.723 403 E+04
British thermal unit IT per pound (Btu IT / lb) ........ joule per kilogram (J / kg) ........................... 2.326 E+03 British thermal unit th per pound (Btu th / lb) ......... joule per kilogram (J / kg) .................... 2.324 444 E+03
calorie IT per gram (cal IT / g) ................................. joule per kilogram (J / kg) ......................... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram (cal th / g) ................................. joule per kilogram (J / kg) ........................... 4.184 E+03Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

60 To convert from to Multiply by

Coefficient of Heat Transfer British thermal unit IT per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (h · ft 2 · oF)] ...................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ....................................... 5.678 263 E+00
British thermal unit th per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (h · ft 2 · oF)] ...................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ....................................... 5.674 466 E+00
British thermal unit IT per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (s · ft 2 · oF)] ...................................... watt per square meter kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ....................................... 2.044 175 E+04
British thermal unit th per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (s · ft 2 · oF)] ....................................... watt per square meter Kelvin [W / (m 2 · K)] ....................................... 2.042 808 E+04

Density of Heat British thermal unit IT per square foot (Btu IT / ft 2 ) .................................................... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) ............. 1.135 653 E+04
British thermal unit th per square foot (Btu th / ft 2 ) .................................................... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) .............. 1.134 893 E+04
calorie th per square centimeter (cal th / cm 2 ) ......... joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) ..................... 4.184 E+04 langley (cal th / cm 2 ) .............................................. joule per square meter (J / m 2 ) ..................... 4.184 E+04

Density of Heat Flow Rate British thermal unit IT per square foot hour [Btu IT / (ft 2 · h)] ........................................... watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............. 3.154 591 E+00
British thermal unit th per square foot hour [Btu th / (ft 2 · h)] ............................................ watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............. 3.152 481 E+00
British thermal unit th per square foot minute [Btu th / (ft 2 · min)] ......................................... watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............. 1.891 489 E+02
British thermal unit IT per square foot second [Btu IT / (ft 2 · s)] ............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............. 1.135 653 E+04
British thermal unit th per square foot second [Btu th / (ft 2 · s)] ............................................ watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 1.134 893 E+04
British thermal unit th per square inch second [Btu th / (in 2 · s)] ............................................. watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 1.634 246 E+06
calorie th per square centimeter minute [cal th / (cm 2 · min)] ....................................... watt per square meter (W / m 2 ) ............ 6.973 333 E+02
calorie th per square centimeter second [cal th / (cm 2 · 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 (m 3 / J) ............... 1.410 089 E

− 09 gallon (U.S.) per horsepower hour [gal / (hp · h)] ................................................ liter pe r joule (L / J) ............................. 1.410 089 E

− 06 mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (mi / gal) ................ meter per cubic meter (m / m 3 ) ............ 4.251 437 E+05 mile per gallon (U.S.) (mpg) (m i / 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

− 07Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

61 To convert from to Multiply by

Heat Capacity and Entropy
British thermal unit IT per degree Fahrenheit (Btu IT / oF) ..................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.899 101 E+03
British thermal unit th per degree Fahrenheit (Btu th / oF) ..................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.897 830 E+0 3
British thermal unit IT per degree Rankine (Btu IT / oR) .................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.899 101 E+03
British thermal unit th per degree Rankine (Btu th / oR) .................................................... joule per kelvin (J / K) ......................... 1.897 830 E+03

Heat Flow Rate British thermal unit IT per hour (Btu IT / h) ............ watt (W) ............................................... 2.930 711 E

− 01
British thermal unit th per hour (Btu th / h).............. watt (W) ............................................... 2.928 751 E

− 01
British thermal unit th per minute (Btu th / min) ..... watt (W) ............................................... 1.757 250 E+01
British thermal unit IT per second (Btu IT / s).......... watt (W) ............................................... 1.055 056 E+03
British thermal unit th per second (Btu th / s)........... watt (W) ............................................... 1.054 350 E+03
calorie th per minute (cal th / min) .......................... watt (W) ............................................... 6.973 333 E

− 02 calorie th per second (cal th / s) ............................... watt (W) ...................................................... 4.184 E+00
kilocalorie th per minute (kcal th / min) .................. watt (W) ............................................... 6.973 333 E+01
kilocalorie th per second (kcal th / s) ....................... watt (W) ...................................................... 4.184 E+03 ton of refrigeration (12 000 Btu IT / h) .................. watt (W) ............................................... 3.516 853 E+03

Specific Heat Capacity and Specific Entropy
British thermal unit IT per pound degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT / (lb · oF)] ............................................ joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ..... 4.1868 E+03
British thermal unit th per pound degree Fahrenheit [Btu th / (lb · oF)] ............................................ joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ....... 4.184 E+03
British thermal unit IT per pound degree Rankine [Btu IT / (lb · oR)] ........................................... joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ..... 4.1868 E+03
British thermal unit th per pound degree Rankine [Btu th / (lb · oR)] ............................................ joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ....... 4.184 E+03
calorie IT per gram degree Celsius [cal IT / (g · oC)] .............................................. joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ..... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram degree Celsius [cal th / (g · oC)] .............................................. joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ....... 4.184 E+03
calorie IT per gram kelvin [cal IT / (g · K)] ............. joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ..... 4.1868 E+03
calorie th per gram kelvin [cal th / (g · K)] .............. joule per kilogram kelvin [J / (kg · K)] ....... 4.184 E+03

Thermal Conductivity
British thermal unit IT foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT · ft / (h · ft 2 · oF)] ................................. watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 1.730 735 E+00
British thermal unit th foot per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th · ft / (h · ft 2 · oF)] .................................. watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 1.729 577 E+00
British thermal unit IT inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT · in / (h · ft 2 · oF)] ................................ watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 1.442 279 E

− 01
British thermal unit th inch per hour square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th · in / (h · ft 2 · oF)] ................................ watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 1.441 314 E

− 01
British thermal unit IT inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu IT · in / (s · ft 2 · oF)] ................................ watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 5.192 204 E+02
British thermal unit th inch per second square foot degree Fahrenheit [Btu th · in / (s · ft 2 · oF)] ................................. watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ..... 5.188 732 E+02
calorie th per centimeter second degree Celsius [cal th / (cm · s · oC)] ...................................... watt per meter kelvin [W / (m · K)] ............ 4.184 E+02Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

62 To convert from to Multiply by

Thermal Diffusivity square foot per hour (ft 2 / h) ................................ square meter per second (m 2 / s) ............ 2.580 64 E

− 05

Thermal Insulance clo ....................................................................... square mete r kelvin per watt (m 2 · K / W) .... 1.55 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit IT (oF · h · ft 2 / Btu IT ) ........................ square meter kelvin per watt (m 2 · K / W) ........................................ . 1.761 102 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British
thermal unit th (oF · h · ft 2 / Btu th ) .................. square meter kelvin per watt (m 2 · K / W) .......................................... 1.762 280 E

− 01

Thermal Resistance degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unit IT (oF · h / Btu IT ) ............................................... kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 1.895 634 E+00 degree Fahrenheit hour per British thermal unit th (oF · h / Btu th ) ................................................ kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 1.896 903 E+00 degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unit IT (oF · s / Btu IT ) ................................................ kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 5.265 651 E

− 04 degree Fahrenheit second per British thermal unit th (oF · s / Btu th ) ................................................ kelvin per watt (K / W) ........................ 5.269 175 E

− 04

Thermal Resistivity degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British thermal unit IT inch [oF · h · ft 2 / (Btu IT · in)] ................................ meter kelvin per watt (m · K / W) ........ 6.933 472 E+00 degree Fahrenheit hour square foot per British thermal unit th inch [oF · h · ft 2 / (Btu th · in)] ................................ meter kelvin per watt (m · K / W) ........ 6.938 112 E+04



### LENGTH ångström (Å) ........................................................ meter (m) ........................................................ 1.0 E

− 10 ångström (Å) ........................................................ nanometer (nm) ..........................................

..... 1.0 E

− 01
astronomical unit (ua) ......................................... meter (m) ............................................. 1.495 979 E+11 chain (based on U.S. survey foot) (ch) 7 ............... meter (m) ............................................. 2.011 684 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 ) ........................................ 1 E+02 light year (l.y.) 18 .................................................. meter (m) ............................................... 9.460 73 E+15 microinch ............................................................. meter (m) .............................................

......... 2.54 E

− 08 microinch ............................................................. micrometer ( μ m) ........................................... 2.54 E

− 02 micron ( μ ) ............................................................ meter (m) ........................................................ 1.0 E

− 06 micron ( μ ) ............................................................ micrometer ( μ 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 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+00Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

63 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) ....................................... m illimeter (mm) ................................... 4.233 333 E+00 pica (printer’s) ..................................................... meter (m) ............................................. 4.217 518 E

− 03 pica (printer’s) ..................................................... millimeter (mm).................................... 4.21 7 518 E+00 point (computer) (1/72 in) ................................... meter (m) ............................................. 3.527 77 8 E

− 04 point (computer) (1/72 in) ................................... mil limeter (mm) ................................... 3.527 778 E

− 01 point (printer’s) .................................................... meter (m) ............................................. 3.514 598 E

− 04 point (printer’s) .................................................... millimeter (mm) .................................... 3.51 4 598 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 2 ) ....... 3.426 259 E+00
lambert 17 .............................................................. candela per square meter (cd / m 2 ) ....... 3.183 099 E+03 lumen per square foot (lm / ft 2 ) ........................... lux (lx) ................................................. 1.076 391 E+01 phot (ph) .............................................................. lux (lx) .............................................

............... 1.0 E+04 stilb (sb) ............................................................... can dela 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, 112 lb) .............................. kilogram (kg) ...................................... . 5.080 235 E +01 hundredweight (short, 10 0 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 (k g) ....................................... 3.11 0 348 E

− 02 ounce (troy or apothecary) (oz) ........................... gram (g) ............................................... 3.110 348 E+01 pennyweight (dwt) ............................................... kilogram (kg) ....................................... 1.555 1 74 E

− 03 pennyweight (dwt)................................................ gram (g) ............................................... 1.55 5 174 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) ........................................ 2.91 6 667 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+02Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

64 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 ) .... 3.051 517 E

− 01 ounce (avoirdupois) per square inch (oz / in 2 ) ..... kilogram per square meter (kg / m 2 ) .... 4.394 185 E+01 ounce (avoirdupois) per square yard (oz / yd 2 ) .... kilogram per square meter (kg / m 2 ) .... 3.390 575 E

− 02 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 2 ) kilogram per square meter (kg / m 2 ) ..... 7.030 696 E+02



### MASS DIVIDED BY CAPACITY (see MASS DIVIDED BY VOLUME)

MASS DIVIDED BY LENGTH denier ................................................................... kilogram per meter (kg / m) ................. 1.111 111 E

− 07 denier ................................................................... gram per meter (g / m) ......................... 1.1 11 111 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+0 1 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 DIVIDED BY VOLUME (includes MASS DENSITY and MASS CONCENTRATION) grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr / gal) .......................... kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m 3 ) ...... 1.711 806 E

− 02 grain per gallon (U.S.) (gr / gal) . ........................ m illigram per liter (mg / L).................... 1.711 806 E+01 gram per cubic centimeter (g / cm 3 ) .................... kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m 3 ) ................. 1.0 E+03 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 / ga l) . .......................... 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 / 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 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 / ga l) ............................. kilogram pe r 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 pe r 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 pe r cubic meter (kg / m 3 ) ...... 1.328 939 E+03 ton, short, per cubic yard ..................................... kilogram per cubic meter (kg / m 3 ) ...... 1.186 553 E+03



### MOMENT OF FORCE or TORQUE dyne centimeter (dyn · cm) .................................. newton meter (N · m)....................................... 1.0 E

− 07Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

65 To convert from to Multiply by

kilogram-force meter (kgf · m) ............................ newton meter (N · m).............................. 9.806 65 E+00 ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (o zf · in).............. newton meter (N

· m).............................. 7.061 552 E

− 03 ounce (avoirdupois)-force inch (ozf · in) ............. m illinewton 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

− 01



### 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 (m 2 ) ............................... 9.869 233 E

− 13 perm (0 oC) .......................................................... kilogram per pascal second square meter [kg / (Pa · s · m 2 )] ................................... 5.721 35 E

− 11 perm (23 oC) ........................................................ kilogram per pascal second square meter [kg / (Pa · s · m 2 )] ................................... 5.745 25 E

− 11 perm inch (0 oC) ................................................... kilogr am per pascal second meter [kg / (Pa · s · m)] ..................................... 1.453 22 E

− 12 perm inch (23 oC) ................................................ kilogr am 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 · lb f / 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 · lb f / 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) ............................................... 7.35 4 988 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 oC) 12 ............................ pascal (Pa) .............................................. 1.333 22 E+03 centimeter of mercury (0 oC) 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 oC) 12 ................................. pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 38 E+01 centimeter of water, conventional (cmH 2 O) 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 oF) 12 ....................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 2.988 98 E+03 foot of water (39.2 oF) 12 ....................................... kilopascal (kPa)....................................... 2.988 98 E+00 foot of water, conventional (ftH 2 O) 12 .................. pascal (Pa) ............................................ 2.989 067 E+03 foot of water, conventional (ftH 2 O) 12 .................. kilopascal (kPa)..................................... 2.989 067 E+00 gram-force per square centimeter (gf / cm 2 ) ........ pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 65 E+01Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

66 To convert from to Multiply by

inch of mercury (32 oF) 12 ..................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 3.386 38 E+03 inch of mercury (32 oF) 12 ..................................... kilopascal (kPa) ....................................... 3.386 38 E+00 inch of mercury (60 oF) 12 ..................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 3.376 85 E+03 inch of mercury (60 oF) 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 oF) 12 ...................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 2.490 82 E+02 inch of water (60 oF) 12 ......................................... pascal (Pa) ................................................. 2.4884 E+02 inch of water, conventional (inH 2 O) 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 / mm 2 )................................... pascal (Pa) .............................................. 9.806 65 E+06 kilogram-force per square millimeter (kgf / mm 2 )................................... 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 (mmH 2 O) 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 (oC) .............................................. kelvin (K) ..................................... T / K = t / oC + 273.15 degree centigrade 15 .............................................. degree Celsius (oC) .......................... t / oC ≈ t / deg. cent. degree Fahrenheit (o F) .......................................... degree Celsius (oC) ................... t / oC = ( t / oF

! 32 ) / 1.8 degree Fahrenheit (oF) .......................................... kelvin (K) ........................... T / K = ( t / oF + 459.67 ) / 1.8 degree Rankine (oR) ............................................. kelvin (K) ........................................ T / K = ( T / oR) / 1.8
kelvin (K) ............................................................. degree Celsius (oC) ....................... t / oC = T / K

! 273.15Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

67 To convert from to Multiply by



### TEMPERATURE INTERVAL degree Celsius (oC) .............................................. kelvin (K) ........................................................ 1.0 E+00 degree centigrade 15 .............................................. degree Celsius (oC) ......................................... 1.0 E+00 degree Fahrenheit (oF) ......................................... degree Celsius (oC) .............................. 5.555 556 E

− 01 degree Fahrenheit (oF) ......................................... kelvin (K).............................................. 5.555 556 E

− 01 degree Rankine (oR) ............................................. kelvin (K) ............................................. 5.55 5 556 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 centipoise (cP) ...................................................... pascal second (Pa · s) ..................................

.... 1.0 E

− 03 poise (P) ............................................................... pascal second (Pa · s) ..............................

........ 1.0 E

− 01 poundal second per square foot ........................... pascal second (Pa · s) ........................... 1.488 164 E+00 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 per foot hour [lb / (ft · h)] ......................... pa scal second (Pa · s) ........................... 4.133 789 E

− 04 pound per foot second [lb / (ft · s)] ...................... pa scal second (Pa · s) ........................... 1.488 164 E+0 0 rhe ...................................................................... reciprocal pascal second (Pa · s)
! 1

................... 1.0 E+01 slug per foot second [slug / (ft · s)] ...................... pascal second (Pa · s) ........................... 4.788 026 E+ 01Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

68 To convert from to Multiply by



### VISCOSITY, KINEMATIC centistokes (cSt) .................................................. meter squared per second (m 2 / s) ................... 1.0 E

− 06 square foot per second (ft 2 / s) ............................. meter squared per second (m 2 / s) ........ 9.290 304 E

− 02 stokes (St) ............................................................ meter squared per second (m 2 / s) ................... 1.0 E

− 04



### VOLUME (includes CAPACITY) acre-foot (based on U.S. survey foot) 7 ................. cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.233 489 E+03 barrel [for petroleum, 42 gall ons (U.S.)](bbl) ..... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................. . 1.589 873 E

− 01 barrel [for petroleum, 42 gallons (U.S .)](bbl) ..... liter (L) ................................................. 1.589 873 E+ 02 bushel (U.S.) (bu) ................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 3.523 907 E

− 02 bushel (U.S.) (bu) ................................................ liter (L) ................................................. 3.523 907 E+01 cord (128 ft 3 ) ....................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 3.624 556 E+00 cubic foot (ft 3 ) ...................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 2.831 685 E

− 02 cubic inch (in 3 ) 13 .................................................. cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 1.638 706 E

− 05 cubic mile (mi 3 ) ................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 4.168 182 E+09 cubic yard (yd 3 ) .................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 7.645 549 E

− 01 cup (U.S.) ............................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) ..................................... cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 2.957 353 E

− 05 fluid ounce (U.S.) (fl oz) ..................................... milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2.957 3 53 E+01 gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gal) ....... cubic meter (m 3 ) ..................................... 4.546 09 E

− 03 gallon [Canadian and U.K. (Imp erial)] (gal) ....... liter (L ) ................................................... 4.546 09 E+00 gallon (U.S.) (gal) ................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 3.785 412 E

− 03 gallon (U.S.) (gal ) ................................................ liter (L) ................................................ . 3.785 412 E+00 gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imper ial)] (gi) .............. cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 1.420 653 E

− 04 gill [Canadian and U.K. (Imperial)] (gi) .............. lite r (L) ................................................. 1. 420 653 E

− 01 gill (U.S.) (gi) ....................................................... cubic meter (m 3 )..................................... 1.182 941 E

− 04 gill (U.S.) (gi) ....................................................... liter (L) ............................................. .... 1.182 941 E

− 01
liter (L) 19 .............................................................. cubic meter (m 3 )............................................... 1.0 E

− 03 ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)] (fl oz) ............................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 2.841 306 E

− 05 ounce [Canadian and U.K. fluid (Imperial)] (fl oz) ............................................................ milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2. 841 306 E+01 ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) ..................................... cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 2.957 353 E

− 05 ounce (U.S. fluid) (fl oz) ..................................... milliliter (mL) ...................................... 2.957 3 53 E+01 peck (U.S.) (pk) ................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 8.809 768 E

− 03 peck (U.S.) (pk) ................................................... liter (L) ................................................ . 8.809 768 E+00 pint (U.S. dry) (dry pt).......................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 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 (m 3 ).................................... 4.731 765 E

− 04 pint (U.S. liquid) (liq pt) ...................................... liter (L) ................................................. 4.731 765 E

− 01 quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) ....................................... cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 1.101 221 E

− 03 quart (U.S. dry) (dry qt) ....................................... liter (L) ................................................. 1 .101 221 E+00 quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) .................................... cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 9.463 529 E

− 04 quart (U.S. liquid) (liq qt) .................................... liter (L) ................................................. 9 .463 529 E

− 01 stere (st) ................................................................ cubic meter (m 3 ) .............................................. 1.0 E+00 tablespoon............................................................. cubic meter (m 3 ).................................... 1.478 676 E

− 05 tablespoon............................................................. milliliter (mL) ...................................... 1.478 676 E+01 teaspoon ............................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 4.928 922 E

− 06 teaspoon ............................................................... m illiliter (mL) ..................................... . 4.928 922 E+00 ton, register .......................................................... cubic meter (m 3 ) ................................... 2.831 685 E+00Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

69 To convert from to Multiply by

VOLUME DIVIDED BY TIME (includes FLOW) cubic foot per minute (ft 3 / min) .......................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 4.719 474 E

− 04 cubic foot per minute (ft 3 / min) .......................... liter pe r second (L / s) .......................... 4.719 474 E

− 01 cubic foot per second (ft 3 / s) ............................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 2.831 685 E

− 02 cubic inch per minute (in 3 / min) .......................... cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 2.731 177 E

− 07 cubic yard per minute (yd 3 / min) ........................ cubic meter per second (m 3 / s) ............ 1.274 258 E

− 02 gallon (U.S.) per day (gal / d) .............................. cubic meter per second (m 3 / 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 minute (gpm) (gal / min ............ cubic meter per second (m 3 / 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)Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

70 

### Appendix C. Comments on the Referen ces of Appendix D— Bibliography

C.1 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 accord ance with the decisions of the General Conference on Weights and Measures (CGPM) and the Internatio nal Committee for Weights and Measures (CIPM).

C.2 United States version of defini ng document for the SI: NIST SP 330

The United States edition of the English transla tion in the BIPM SI Brochure (see Sec. C.1) 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 exam ple, “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 Secs. C.1 and C.5);

— editorial notes regarding the use of th e SI in the United States are added.

Inasmuch as NIST Special Publication 330 refl ects the interpretation of the SI for the United States by the U.S. Secretary of Co mmerce (see the Preface) wh ile at the same time highly consistent with Ref. [1] (see Sec. C.1), SP 330 is the authoritative so urce 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 ge neral compatible with Ref. [1] published by the BIPM (see Sec. C.1).

Currently ISO 31 is being revised jointly by technical committees ISO TC12 and IEC TC25. The
revised standards ISO/IEC 80000-1—ISO/IEC 80000-1 5, 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.1), and they are coordinated with the ISO standards [4].

C.4 IEEE/ASTM SI 10

SI 10-2002 “American National St andard 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 StandardGuide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

71 Institute (ANSI) standard. 26 It is based on the International System of Units as interpreted for use in the United States (see Secs. C.1 and C.2) , and has been approved by a cons ensus of providers and consumers that includes interests in industrial organizations, government agencies, and scientific associations. SI 10 is recommended as a comprehensive source of authoritative information for th e 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] stat es 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 basisof 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 would have affected the value of the yard or foot used for geodetic surveys in the United States. To pr event this from happening, 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 Oceani c 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, [11].

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 pr ovides 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 Fe deral departments and agencies in their programs.

26 The American National Standards Institute, Inc. (11 West 42nd St reet, New York, NY 10036) is a private sector organization that
serves as a standards coordina ting body, accredits standards developers that fo llow procedures sanctione d by ANSI, designates a s American National Standards those standards submitted for and recei ving approval, serves as the Un ited States Member Body of th e International Organization for Standardiza tion (ISO), and functions as the administra tor of the United States National Committe e for the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC).Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

72 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 operat es 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 th e 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 amende d by PL 100-418 (see Pref ace), 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 Technol ogy (CODATA) least-squares adjustment of the constants, see Ref. [19], can be found at the NIST website: http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Constants/index.html

.

C.8 Uncertainty in measurement

Reference [20] cites two publications that describe the evaluation and expression of uncertainty in measurement based on the approach recommended by the CIPM in 1981 and which have been adopted
worldwide.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

73 

### Appendix D. Bibliography

[1] Le Systéme International d’Unités (SI), The International System of Units (SI), 8th Edition (Bur. Intl. Poids et Mesures, Sèvres, 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 el ectronic 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 31-0 is cited in the text in the form [4: IS O 31-0]. Currently ISO 31 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 31-0:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 2: Periodic and related phenomena , ISO 31-2:1992.

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 31-4:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 5: Electricity and magnetism, ISO 31-5:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 5: Thermodynamics , ISO 80000-5 (2007).

Quantities and units — Part 6: Light and related electromagnetic radiations , ISO 31-6:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 7: Acoustics, ISO 31-7:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 8: Physical chemistry and molecular physics , ISO 31-8:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 9: Atomic and nuclear physics, ISO 31-9:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 10: Nuclear reactions and ionizing radiations , ISO 31-10:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 11: Mathematical signs and symbols for use in physical sciences and technology , ISO 31-11:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 12: Characteristic numbers, ISO 31-12:1992.

Quantities and units — Part 13: Solid state physics, ISO 31-13:1992.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

74 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 refe r 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 fo r binary powers in the above standard

. The names and symbols for the prefix es corresponding to 2 10 , 2 20 , 2 30 , 2 40 , 2 50 , and 2 60 are, respectively: kibi, Ki; mebi, Mi; gibi, Gi; tebi, Ti; pebi, Pi; and exbi, Ei. Thus, for example, one kibibyte
would be written: 1 KiB = 2 10 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: R otating 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, 1977.

[10] Federal Register , Vol. 54, No. 113, p. 25318, June 14, 1989.

[11] Federal Register , Vol. 40, No. 23, p. 5954, February 3, 1975.Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

75 [12] Federal Register , Vol. 33, No. 146, p. 10755, July 27, 1968.

[13] Federal Register , Vol. 55, No. 245, p. 52242, December 20, 1990.

[14] Federal Register , Vol. 56, No. 1, p. 160, January 2, 1991.

[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 from 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 published in two journals: P. J. Mohr, B. N. Taylor, and D. B. Newell, Rev. Mod. Phys. 80 (2), 633-730 (2008); J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data. 37 (3), 1187-1284 (2008). The paper may be obtained electronically through a link on the above web page.

[20] The term standard uncertainty 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 th e Uncertainty of NIST Measurement Results, Natl. Inst. Stand. Technol. Spec. Publ. 1297, 1994 Edition (U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, September 1994).Guide for the Use of the Intern ational System of Units (SI)

76 This page intentionally left blank.

### SI COHERENT DERIVED UNITS WI TH 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 “c oherent 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 the 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 (m 3 ) 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 cohe rent 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 the 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, the radian, symbol rad, and the steradian, symbol sr (bottom-right of the third column of the diagra m), are shown without any connections to SI base units – either direct or through other SI derived units. The reason is that in the SI, the quantities plane angle and solid angle are defined in such a way that their dimension is one – th ey are so-called dimensionless quantities. This means that the coherent SI derived unit for each of these quantities is th e number one, symbol 1. That is, because plane angle is expressed as the ratio of two lengths, and solid angle as the ratio of an area and the square of a length, the SI coherent derived unit for plane angle is m/m = 1, and the SI coherent derived unit for solid angle is m 2 /m 2 = 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 the 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 t . In this case, “degree Celsius’’ is a special name used in place of “kelvin.” This equality is indicated in the diagram by the symbol K in parenthesis toward the upper right of the °C circle. The equation below

“ CELSIUS TEMPERATURE ” relates Celsius temperature t to thermodynamic temperature T . An interval or difference in temperature may be expressed equivalently in either kelvins or in degrees Celsius.

### ACCELERATION VELOCITY

AREA VOLUME ABSORBED DOSE DOSE EQUIVALENT PRESSURE,

STRESS FORCE

ENERGY,WORK, QUANTITY OF HEAT

VOLTAGE, ELECTROMOTIVE FORCE

CAPACITANCE ELECTRIC CHARGE ACTIVITY
(OF A RADIONUCLIDE)

CONDUCTANCE RESISTANCE INDUCTANCE MAGNETIC FLUX DENSITY MAGNETIC FLUX

CELSIUS TEMPERATURE

LUMINOUS FLUX ILLUMINANCE THERMODYNAMIC

TEMPERATURE 

# K

LUMINOUS INTENSITY 

# cd ELECTRIC CURRENT 

# A AMOUNT OF SUBSTANCE 

# mol TIME



# s LENGTH 

# m MASS



# kg

lm lx T Wb

° C H

S V C CATALYTIC ACTIVITY 

### kat

F W Bq

FREQUENCY 

### Hz J Gy Sv Pa N
m 3

m/s m 2

m/s 2



### rad

PLANE ANGLE 

### sr

SOLID ANGLE POWER, HEAT FLOW RATE



### t / ° C = 

### T / K – 273.15 coulomb

farad siemens ohm degree Celsius

lumen (C/V) (A·s) katal (mol/s)

(1/ Ω ) (V/A) (K)

(cd·sr) becquerel (1/s) (1/s) hertz

radian steradian (m 2 /m 2 = 1) (m/m = 1) gray sievert pascal newton

joule watt

volt henry tesla

lux weber (J/s)

(Wb/A) (V·s)

(W/A) (Wb/m 2 ) (N·m) (N/m 2 ) (J/kg) (J/kg) (kg·m/s 2 )

(lm/m 2 ) 

### kelvin

candela ampere mole second

meter kilogram 

### SI COHERENT DERIVED UNITS WITH SPECIAL NAMES AND SYMBOLS 

## SI BASE UNITS d SI coherent erived units without special

names Solid lines indicate multiplication, broken lines indicate division



### Ω