Fundamental dimensions and units 11

10

MN
1MPa or 1 m2
bar

bar atmosphere

760 mm Hg

10.3 m H2O
1.013 bar
or 105Pa
105N/m2

14.7 psi
kg/cm2
1.1097
1 bar

Rules of thumb: An apple ‘weighs’ about 1.5 newtons

A meganewton is equivalent to about 100 tonnes
An average car weighs about 15 kN

Fig. 2.1 Pressure relationships

KSI

21000

psi

03
07
0.
2
2 6.895.10–3

2
14

3
.5

22
2

03

.
14
0.
06

2
89
5

2 0.9807
Kg/cm2 Bar
2 1.0197
2 145.03

1
0.
2
2

2
10
0.

.1
09

.0
97
80

10
7

N/mm2
(MPa)

Fig. 2.2 Pressure conversions

 Fundamental dimensions and units 19

2.3.14 Length and area

Comparative lengths in USCS and SI units are:
1 ft = 0.3048 m
1 in = 25.4 mm
1 statute mile = 1609.3 m
1 nautical mile = 1853.2 m
The basic unit of area is square feet (ft2) or
square inches (in2 or sq.in). In SI it is m2. See
Table 2.9.
Small dimensions are measured in ‘micro­
measurements’ (see Figure 2.8).

The microinch (µin) is the commonly used unit

for small measures of distance:

1 microinch = 10–6 inches = 25.4 micrometers (micron )

Diameter of a
Smoke hair: 2000µin
particle
120µin Oil filter
mesh
450µin
1 micron (µm) = 39.37µin
A smooth-machined ‘mating’
surface with peaks 16–32µin

A fine ‘lapped’ surface

with peaks within 1µin

Fig. 2.8 Micromeasurements

2.3.15 Viscosity
Dynamic viscosity (µ) is measured in lbf.s/ft2 or,
in the SI system, in N s/m2 or pascal seconds
(Pa s).
1 lbf.s/ft2 = 4.882 kgf.s/m2 = 4.882 Pa s
1 Pa s = 1 N s/m2 = 1 kg/m s
A common unit of viscosity is the centipoise
(cP). See Table 2.10.
20 Aeronautical Engineer’s Data Book

Table 2.10 Dynamic viscosity ()

Unit lbf-s/ft2 Centipoise Poise kgf/m s

1 lb (force)-s 1 4.788 4.788 4.882

per ft2 2 104 2 102
1 centipoise 2.089 1 10–2 1.020
2 10–5 2 10–4
1 poise 2.089 100 1 1.020
2 10–3 2 10–2
1 N-s per m2 0.2048 9.807 98.07 1
2 103

Kinematic viscosity () is a function of dynamic

viscosity.
Kinematic viscosity = dynamic viscosity/
density, i.e.  = µ/#
The basic unit is ft2/s. Other units such as
Saybolt Seconds Universal (SSU) are also used.
1 m2/s = 10.7639 ft2/s = 5.58001 2 106 in2/h
1 stoke (St) = 100 centistokes (cSt) = 10–4 m2/s
1 St >� 0.00226 (SSU) – 1.95/(SSU) for 32
< SSU < 100 seconds
1 St � 0.00220 (SSU) – 1.35/(SSU) for SSU
> 100 seconds

2.4 Consistency of units

Within any system of units, the consistency of
units forms a ‘quick check’ of the validity of
equations. The units must match on both sides.
Example:
To check kinematic viscosity () =
dynamic viscosity (µ)
333 = µ 2 1/#
density (#)
ft2 lbf.s ft4
3=3 2 2 3
s ft lbf.s2
ft2 s.ft4 ft2
Cancelling gives 3 = 3 = 3
s s2.ft2 s
OK, units match.
 Fundamental dimensions and units 21

2.5 Foolproof conversions: using unity

brackets
When converting between units it is easy to
make mistakes by dividing by a conversion
factor instead of multiplying, or vice versa. The
best way to avoid this is by using the technique
of unity brackets.
A unity bracket is a term, consisting of a
numerator and denominator in different units,
which has a value of unity.

�2.205 lb
kg � �
kg
e.g. 3 or 3 are unity
2.205 lb brackets �
as are

�33
25.4 mm
in � or �33 � or �33 �

in
25.4 mm
atmosphere
101 325 Pa

Remember that, as the value of the term inside

the bracket is unity, it has no effect on any term
that it multiplies.

Example:
Convert the density of titanium 6 Al 4 V; # =
0.16 lb/in3 to kg/m3
0.16 lb
Step 1: State the initial value: # = 3
in3

Step 2: Apply the ‘weight’ unity bracket:

0.16 lb
#=3
in3
3 �
kg
2.205 lb �
Step 3: Then apply the ‘dimension’ unity
brackets (cubed):

0.16 lb
�
kg
� �33
25.4 mm �
in
3 3
#=3 3
3
in 2.205 lb

�33
1000 mm
�
3

m
20 Aeronautical Engineer’s Data Book

Table 2.10 Dynamic viscosity ()

Unit lbf-s/ft2 Centipoise Poise kgf/m s

1 lb (force)-s 1 4.788 4.788 4.882

per ft2 2 104 2 102
1 centipoise 2.089 1 10–2 1.020
2 10–5 2 10–4
1 poise 2.089 100 1 1.020
2 10–3 2 10–2
1 N-s per m2 0.2048 9.807 98.07 1
2 103

Kinematic viscosity () is a function of dynamic

viscosity.
Kinematic viscosity = dynamic viscosity/
density, i.e.  = µ/#
The basic unit is ft2/s. Other units such as
Saybolt Seconds Universal (SSU) are also used.
1 m2/s = 10.7639 ft2/s = 5.58001 2 106 in2/h
1 stoke (St) = 100 centistokes (cSt) = 10–4 m2/s
1 St >� 0.00226 (SSU) – 1.95/(SSU) for 32
< SSU < 100 seconds
1 St � 0.00220 (SSU) – 1.35/(SSU) for SSU
> 100 seconds

2.4 Consistency of units

Within any system of units, the consistency of
units forms a ‘quick check’ of the validity of
equations. The units must match on both sides.
Example:
To check kinematic viscosity () =
dynamic viscosity (µ)
333 = µ 2 1/#
density (#)
ft2 lbf.s ft4
3=3 2 2 3
s ft lbf.s2
ft2 s.ft4 ft2
Cancelling gives 3 = 3 = 3
s s2.ft2 s
OK, units match.