UNIT 1

TOPICS COVERED
 Basic and derived units

 Use of different system of units in process calculations

 DIMENSIONS AND UNITS

Definition:
Dimensions are basic concepts of physical
measurements such as:
– Length = [L]
– Time = [T]
– Mass = [M]
– Temperature = [θ]

Units are terms that precede and describe the

dimensions.
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 Classification of dimensions

Definition:
Fundamental or basic dimension
– dimensions that are measured independently
and enough to express essential physical
quantities

Derived dimensions
– dimensions that are products or quotients of
fundamental dimensions

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 Systems of units

SI (Le Systeme Internationale d’Unites)

system
• Simple system because fewer
names are associated with the
dimensions.
• The current metric system.
• Use prefixes (e.g., c, M, n, m) and are factors of
10.

AE (American Engineering) system

• Deeply rooted in the United States.
• Other names of this system are
English, U.S. Customary or Imperial System.

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 Countries that do not use SI:
Liberia, Myanmar and United States

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SI dimensions and units

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Source: Himmelblau, D.M. & Riggs, J.B.,
2004
AE dimensions and units

Source: Himmelblau, D.M. & Riggs, J.B., 6

2004
Some important tips about units:

– Uppercase and lowercase letters should be strictly

followed, e.g. K (kelvin), Pa (pascal), L (liter).
– Unit abbreviations have the same form for both singular
and plural and NOT followed by a period (.) except for
inches (in.).
– Multiplication of two or more units will combine those
two
or more units together separated by a period (.) e.g.
m.s.
– Hyphen (-) should NOT be used in combination of units.
– Dot (.) in multiplication of numbers should be AVOIDED
such as 2 . 5.
– Commas in numbers (e.g. 100,000) should also be
AVOIDED.
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 Mathematical operations with units
• Addition, subtraction, equality
• Add, subtract, or equate numerical quantities only if
they are of the same units.
• E.g., 5 kg + 10 J are not of the same units, thus
cannot be added.
• E.g., 10 lb - 10 g can be subtracted only after
the
units have been converted to be same units.

• Multiplication and division

• Multiplication and division can be done on unlike units
but cannot be cancelled or merged if they are
different.
• E.g., 200 (kg)(m)/(s2) cannot be cancelled or
merged because the units are different from each
other
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 Conversion of units and conversion factors

• As a future scientist, technologist, or engineer, you must

pay close attention to your units.
• The procedure for converting a set of units to another is
by multiplying the number and its units to the ratio
required (a.k.a. conversion factor)
• Grid method is a simple method to use to avoid
confusion when converting units.
• Examples of conversion factors:

» 1 m = 100 cm 1 m / 100 cm or 100 cm / 1 m

» 4.45 N = 1lbf 4.45 N / 1 lbf or 1 lbf / 4.45 N

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Example 1
Convert from 328 ft/s to mi/h.

You need to know the required conversion factors such as,

• 1 mi = 5280 ft
• 1 min = 60 s
• 1 h = 60 min
Using the grid method,
328 ft 1 mi 60 s 60 min
s 5280 ft 1 min 1h
= 234 mi/h

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Example 2
Convert from 452 cm/s2 to m/min2.
You need to know the required conversion factors such as:
• 1 m = 100 cm
• 1 min = 60 s

452 cm 1m (60 s)2

s2
100 cm (1 min)2

= 16272 m/min2

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 Pound mass (lbm) and pound force (lbf)
Newton’s 2nd law (SI system) for weight

F = Cma
Where, F = force
C = constant
m = mass
a = acceleration

• In the SI system, force of 1 N is where 1 kg is

accelerated at 9.8 m/s2; C has to be 9.8 (N)/[(kg)(m)/s2]
1N 1 kg 9.8 m
(kg)(m) s2
F= s2
= 9.8 N

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Newton’s 2nd law (AE system) for weight

•lbf and lbm can be the same value if it is at Earth’s surface

•Mass of 1 lbm is accelerated at g ft/s2 (= 32.2 ft/s2)
1(lbf)(s2) 1 lbm g
F= ft
32.174(lb )(ft) = 1 lbf
m s2

lbm ft
• 32.174 is a constant
lb f s 2

•lbf and lbm are not the same units

•1 lbf ≈ 4.44822 N

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