unit conversions
Moderators: Chem_Mod, Chem_Admin
-
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:01 pm
unit conversions
When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?
-
- Posts: 77
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:59 pm
Re: unit conversions
Leaving it in scientific notation would be best since you need to account for sig figs and all.
-
- Posts: 107
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:38 pm
Re: unit conversions
When doing conversions, I usually use 10^x (x being all real numbers). This simplifies my conversions since I do not have to waste my time writing out the full value.
-
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:42 pm
Re: unit conversions
I think the best way is just to do 10^x. It also keeps it in scientific notation for sigfigs.
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:31 pm
Re: unit conversions
Hi! I think it would be best to leave your numbers in 10^x/scientific notation form just because it preserves the sig figs and also prevents you from getting confused. Hope this helps!
-
- Posts: 103
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:57 pm
Re: unit conversions
The most common way I see conversions presented when looking at conversion charts is essentially x•10^y. I think for the sake of leaving things uncomplicated, this would probably be the best way to go. Also, it keeps sig figs consistent.
-
- Posts: 50
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:33 pm
Re: unit conversions
Okay then, so I was working on a Heisenberg's Indeterminacy question and the one thing from preventing me from the answer were the units of conversions.
I needed to get my answer in meters per second but I kept getting it in
( Joule-Seconds ) / ( meters * kilograms )
After looking around on the internet it turns out that those units are somehow equal to meters per second
1 ( Joule-Second ) / ( meters * kilograms ) = 1 ( meter ) / ( second )
Can anyone explain how that makes any sense???
Thanks
I needed to get my answer in meters per second but I kept getting it in
( Joule-Seconds ) / ( meters * kilograms )
After looking around on the internet it turns out that those units are somehow equal to meters per second
1 ( Joule-Second ) / ( meters * kilograms ) = 1 ( meter ) / ( second )
Can anyone explain how that makes any sense???
Thanks
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:00 pm
Re: unit conversions
Agustina Santa Cruz 2F wrote:When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?
I usually leave the answer as x 10^x!
-
- Posts: 87
- Joined: Wed Nov 13, 2019 12:18 am
- Been upvoted: 1 time
Re: unit conversions
does anyone have any useful tips for converting SI units for the final or is it just straight up practice makes perfect kind of thing ?
Re: unit conversions
I think it's best to leave it in scientific notation. Simpler and easier to check your work (-:
-
- Posts: 102
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:09 pm
Re: unit conversions
Giselle_zamora_3E wrote:does anyone have any useful tips for converting SI units for the final or is it just straight up practice makes perfect kind of thing ?
I feel like it is more of a practice makes perfect kind of thing! The equation sheet usually provides the more commonly used conversion units. Just make sure you start with what you're given and use those conversion units and make sure they cancel out. You'll be left with what you are trying to convert to. It definitely helps to cross out the units (not the numerical value) as you cancel them so you can see what units are left.
-
- Posts: 74
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:42 pm
Re: unit conversions
I agree with many of the people in this post. Keeping it in scientific notation will be best for consistency in calculations, and it keeps the answer in sigfigs.
-
- Posts: 101
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:54 pm
Re: unit conversions
Agustina Santa Cruz 2F wrote:When converting units do you just multiply by 10^x given number or is there a different way? For example if I convert centi to giga, I multiply the number I'm converting by 10^9 and leave it in scientific notation?
I believe leaving it at 10^x would be the best as it would leave it in sig fig already.
-
- Posts: 94
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:42 pm
Re: unit conversions
I don't really see another way to do it, besides writing out the full values and multiplying them, but that wouldn't be efficient. I would definitely say to just keep it in scientific notation when performing your calculations.
-
- Posts: 51
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:36 pm
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:00 pm
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:48 pm
Re: unit conversions
Whenever I do conversions, I personally always write out the units, which helps me deal with the different magnitudes of size. I do this with scientific notation. For example, if I were to convert 357 nm to m, I would do 357 nm (1 m/1 x 10^9 nm).
-
- Posts: 124
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:43 pm
-
- Posts: 113
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 10:08 pm
Re: unit conversions
I think the best way is to leave it in the scientific notation because then you'll have to deal with all the decimals and it gets messy.
-
- Posts: 100
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:47 pm
-
- Posts: 97
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:47 pm
-
- Posts: 49
- Joined: Wed Sep 30, 2020 9:41 pm
Re: unit conversions
Yea scientific notation is just way simpler especially dealing with big or small numbers.
Return to “SI Units, Unit Conversions”
Who is online
Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 10 guests