Dimensional Analysis

Introduction – There are many situations where we need to convert from one unit to another.
The process of dimensional analysis allows you to set up a single or multiple-step conversion to
ensure that your calculation produces a result with the correct unit. Within the sciences, we
often measure variables in a range of units based on the equipment available. Often times this
means that we will need to convert from a measured unit to a unit more appropriate for our
calculation or desired outcome.

Prerequisite knowledge – This activity requires that you are comfortable with the following
skills and understanding. If you need to review this material, the page numbers provided
indicate where a topic is covered within the Tro (4th Edition) text book as well as the free
*OpenStax text

Prerequisite knowledge Tro (4th) *OpenStax

Converting into and out of scientific notation 17 30-31
Common prefixes used with small and large numbers 17 30-31
Determining the number of significant digits in a measured value 20-23 36-38
Determining the number of significant digits for a calculation containing
23-25 38-41
several measured values
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Model 1 – To solve many problems you need to convert between different units. These
conversions require that you know (or can look up) the relationship between a set of units
(known as an equality statement). This relationship can then be used to write a conversion
factor within a calculation.
Equality Conversion
Conversion Example
Statement Factor
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
s à min (124.8 𝑠) × 0 1 = 2.080 𝑚𝑖𝑛
60 𝑠 60 𝑠
60 s = 1 min
60 𝑠 60 𝑠
min à s (13.18 min) × 0 1 = 790.8 𝑠
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

1 𝑙𝑏 1 𝑙𝑏
g à lb (527.1 𝑔) × 0 1 = 1.162 𝑙𝑏
453.59 𝑔 453.59 𝑔
1 lb = 453.59 g
453.59 𝑔 453.59 𝑔
lb à g (0.17 𝑙𝑏) × = 7.7 × 10= 𝑔
1 𝑙𝑏 1 𝑙𝑏
Note: s = second, min = minute, lb = pound, g = gram
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*The OpenStax book is available for free at http://cnx.org/content/col11760/1.9

Key Questions – Use the information provided in Model 1 to answer these questions.

KQ 1) How many grams of sodium are in one pound of sodium?

KQ 2) Why does each equality statement have two conversion factors?

KQ 3) In completing a conversion, how can you be sure that you are using the correct
conversion factor for a given equality statement? Use an observation from the examples in
Model 1 to support your response.

KQ 4) Write an equality statement for the relationship between seconds and hours. Write the
two conversion factors for this relationship.

Exercises – These questions will help you develop your skills in using equality statements to
convert between units. Use the equality statements from Model 1 and those listed below.
Report numerical answers with the correct number of significant digits.

Note: cm = centimeter Equality

km = kilometer Statement
in = inch 2.54 cm = 1 in
mi = mile 1 mi = 5280 ft
gal = gallon 1 mi = 1.6093 km
L = liter 1 gal = 3.7854 L

EX 1) In the laboratory, you measure the length of a metal sample to be 3.81 in. How many
centimeters is your sample?

EX 2) Determine a single equality statement for the relationship between feet and kilometers.

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EX 3) Using your equality statement from EX 2, how many feet are in a 0.57 km distance?

EX 4) On a trip to England you need to purchase gas for your rental car. In England, gas is sold
by the liter. If gas in England costs $1.45 per liter, how much is gas per gallon?

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Model 2 – Many problems require more than a single unit conversion. These multi-step
conversions can be set up so that you can easily track your units through a calculation.

Example 1: Convert a measurement of 341.7 cm to miles

Conversion Needed Equality Statements
2.54 cm = 1 in
cm à mi 1 ft = 12 in
1 mi = 5280 ft = 1.6093 km
Solution

1 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑚𝑖
(341.7 𝑐𝑚) × 0 1 × 0 1 × 0 1 = 2.123 × 10AB 𝑚𝑖
2.54 𝑐𝑚 12 𝑖𝑛 5280 𝑓𝑡

*Alternative Solution (using prefix conversions)

1 × 10AD 𝑚 1 𝑘𝑚 1 𝑚𝑖
(341.7 𝑐𝑚) × C E × 0 B
1 × 0 1 = 2.123 × 10AB 𝑚𝑖
1 𝑐𝑚 1 × 10 𝑚 1.6093 𝑘𝑚

*Note – The solution strategy you use will depend on what equality statements you know or can easily
look up but should not change the result.

Model 2 continues on next page

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 Model 2 continued

Example 2: A cube of sugar has a volume of 0.988 cm3, determine its volume in cubic inches
Conversion Needed Equality Statements
cm3 à in3 2.54 cm = 1 in
Solution

1 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑖𝑛
(0.988 𝑐𝑚B ) × 0 1 × 0 1 × 0 1 = 6.03 × 10AD 𝑖𝑛B
2.54 𝑐𝑚 2.54 𝑐𝑚 2.54 𝑐𝑚

*Alternative Solution

1 𝑖𝑛 B
(0.988 𝑐𝑚B ) × 0 1 = 6.03 × 10AD 𝑖𝑛B
2.54 𝑐𝑚
*Note – The 3 outside the parenthesis raises each number and unit in the conversion factor to the third
power. Practice entering this form into your calculator to be sure you get the correct answer.
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Key Questions – Use the information provided in Model 2 to answer these questions.

KQ 5) Why are there two different ways to solve Example 1 in Model 2? Is this ok? Why?

KQ 6) When converting the sugar cube volume in Example 2 of Model 2, why does the
conversion factor appear three times in the solution?

Exercises – These questions will help you develop your skills in using multiple equality
statements to convert between units. Report numerical answers with the correct number of
significant digits.

EX 5) Starting with the number of days in the month of June (30), set up a multi-step
dimensional analysis to convert this value to the number of seconds in June. Be sure to show
how units cancel through each step of your conversion.

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EX 6) The square-footage (area) of your apartment is 600. ft2. Set up a multi-step dimensional
analysis to convert this value to square-meters (m2). Be sure to show how units cancel through
each step of your conversion.

Problems – These problems will help you to further build on the skills from this activity. For
each, use the equality statements given throughout the activity. Be sure to set up your
conversion and show how units cancel through each step.

P 1) The fastest recorded human speed (achieved by Usain Bolt) is 27.8 miles per hour (mi/hr).
Determine this rate in meters per second (m/s).

P 2) In the west end of London, property costs £11,588 per square meter. If one British Pound
(£) is equal to 1.34 US Dollar ($), how much would a 600. ft2 apartment in the west end of
London cost in US Dollars?

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P 3) A doctor prescribes a dosage of 100.0 mg per kg (of patient weight) of a drug to be
delivered to a patient. The drug comes in a liquid solution that contains 0.70 g of the drug per
milliliter of solution. If the patient weighs 243.5 pounds, how many milliliters of solution must
be given?

P 4) The Physics Fact Book reports the density of fresh water to be 1000 kg/m3. Due to the salt
content, sea water has an average density of 1030 kg/m3. Using this information, determine the
number of grams of salt in one gallon (1.0 gal) of sea water. Assume that the added salt does
not change the volume of water.
Additional equality statement that might be useful: 1L = 1 X 10-3 m3