Study Guide in PHYS 111: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS UNITS, DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

INTRODUCTION

 Physics is an experimental science in which physicists seek patterns that relate the phenomena of nature.

 The patterns are called physical theories.

 A very well established or widely used theory is called a physical law or principle.
UNITS, DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

At an early stage the student of engineering will discover that the data which he/she uses are expressed in a
great variety of different units, so that he/she must convert his/her quantities into a common system before
proceeding with his/her calculations.
Most of the physical properties determined in the laboratory will have been expressed in the c.g.s. system,
whereas the dimensions of the full-scale plant, its throughput, design, and operating characteristics will have appeared
either in some form of general engineering units or in special units which have their own origin in the history of the
particular industry. This inconsistency is quite unavoidable and is a reflection of the fact that chemical engineering has
in many cases developed as a synthesis of scientific knowledge and practical experience. Familiarity with the various
systems of units and an ability to convert from one another is therefore essential.

Dimensions- these are the basic concepts of measurements such as length, time, mass, temperature and so on.
Units- are a means of expressing the dimensions such as feet or centimeters for length, or hours or seconds in time.

Fundamental Dimensions:
Dimension Symbol
Mass m
Length l
Time t
Temperature T
Force F

Systems of Units

1. The English System (FPS)- the first system of measurement to be developed It is a system that uses biological
standards
2. The Metric System (CGS)- the system of units used for scientific measurements. Metric units are based on decimal
system, related to powers of 10. The first measurement system to use earth as a standard
3. The Systeme International d'Unites (SI) - the established (standard) system of measurement agreed upon in 1960
A measurement system that covers the entire-field-of science and engineering, including electromagnetic and
illumination. It is based on physical rather than biological standards.

A system of units has the following components:

1. Base units for mass, lengths, time, electric current and light intensity.
2. Multiple units, which are define as multiples or fractions of base units such as minutes, hours and
milliseconds, is all of which are defined in terms of the base unit of second. Multiple units are defined
for convenience rather than necessity.
3. Derived units, obtained in two ways:
a) By multiplying or dividing base or multiple units (cm 2, ft/min, kg۰m/s2). Derived units of this type
are referred to as compound units
b) As defined as equivalents of compound units (I lbf= 32.174 1bm۰ft/s2)

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Study Guide in PHYS 111: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS UNITS, DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

International System of Units: The seven (7) base units

Dimensions Unit Definition of unit Symbol

Mass Measure of the kilogram The kilogram is equal to the mass of the
amount of matter international prototype of the kilogram. The kg
contained in an primary standard is a cylinder of Platinum-
object, heaviness lridium alloy. (This cylinder is kept at a Bureau
or lightness of weights and measures at Sevres, France)
Length Measure of meter The meter is the length of the path traveled m
distance by light in a vacuum during a meter time
interval of (1/299,792,458) a second
Time Measure of second The second is the duration 9,192,631,770. S
duration of periods of the radiation corresponding to the
period transition between the two hyperfine levels
of the ground state of the cesium-133 atom.
Or of simply, the duration required for
9,192,631,770 cycles of the Cesium resonator.
Temperature Measure of the Kelvin Kelvin, unit of thermodynamic temperature, K
hotness or is the fraction (1/273.16) of the
coldness of an thermodynamic temperature of the triple
object point of water.
Amount of Dimensionless mole The mole is the amount of substance of a mol
Substance expression of the system which contains as many elementary
number of entities as there are atoms in 0.012 kilogram
particles in a of carbon-12. When the mole is used, the
sample elementary entities must be specified and
may be atoms, ions, electrons, other
molecules, particles, or specified group of
particles.
Electric Measure the flow ampere The ampere is that constant current which if A
Current of electricity maintained in a 2 straight parallel conductors
through a of infinite length of negligible circular cross-
conductor section, and placed 1 meter apart in a
vacuum, would produce between these
conductors a force equal to 2 x 10 Newton
per meter of length
Luminous An expression of candela The candela is the luminous intensity given cd
Intensity the amount of direction of a source that emits
light power monochromatic radiation of frequency 540 x
emanating from a 1012 hertz and that has a radiant intensity in
point of source that direction of (1/683) watt per steradian. It
within a solid is the luminous intensity, in the perpendicular
angle of one direction of a surface of 1/600,000 m of a
solution. black body at a temperature of freezing
platinum under a pressure of 101,325 N/m.

Physical Quantities
Any physical quantity consists of two parts: (a) a unit- tells what the quantity is and gives the standard by
which it is measured (b) a number - tells how many units are needed to make up the quantity
By attaching units to all numbers that are not fundamentally dimensionless, you get the following very
practical benefits:
1. Diminished possibility of inadvertent inversion of any portion of the calculation.
2. Reduced intermediate calculations and time in problem solving.
3. A logical approach to the problem rather than remembering a formula and plugging into it.

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Study Guide in PHYS 111: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS UNITS, DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

4. Easy interpretation of the physical meaning of the numbers you use.

Physical Symbol Absolute Systems

Quantity Internationally adopted units for ordinary and scientific use
SI cgs fps
Mass m kilogram, kg gram, g pounds,𝑙𝑏𝑚
Length l meter, m centimeter, cm foot, ft
Time t seconds, s seconds, s seconds, s
Temperature T Kelvin, K Degree Centigrade Degree Rankine
Force F Newton (kg.m/s2) Dynes (g.cm/s2) poundal
Volume V cubic meter, m3 cubic centimeter, cm3 cubic foot, ft3
Pressure p 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝐷𝑦𝑛𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑎𝑙
, pascal
𝑚2 𝑐𝑚 2
𝑓𝑡 2
2
Work/Energy W/E 𝑘𝑔.𝑚
, Joules erg ft.lbf
𝑠2
Heat H Joule, J Calorie BTU
Power P 𝐽 𝑒𝑟𝑔 𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏𝑓
, watts
𝑠
𝑠 𝑠
Density ρ 𝑘𝑔 𝑔 𝑙𝑏𝑚
𝑚3 𝑐𝑚3 𝑓𝑡 3
Velocity u 𝑚 𝑐𝑚 𝑓𝑡
𝑠 𝑠 𝑠
Acceleration a 𝑚 𝑐𝑚 𝑓𝑡
𝑠2 𝑠2 𝑠2

SI PREFIXES
Factor Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol Factor Prefix Symbol
1024 Yotta Y 103 Kilo k 10-9 nano n
1021 Zeta Z 102 Hecta h 10-12 pico p
1018 Exa E 101 Deca da 10-15 fempto f
1015 Peta P 10-1 deci d 10-18 atto a
1012 Tera T 10-2 centi c 10-21 zepto z
109 Giga G 10-3 milli m 10-24 yocto y
106 Mega M 10-6 micro μ

Note: The distinction between the uppercase ad lowercase letters should be followed, even if the symbol appears in
the applications where the other lettering is in uppercase.

Conversion of Units and Conversion Factors

RULES IN HANDILING UNITS
1. Treat the units as you would with the algebraic symbols.
2. Add, subtract or equate numerical quantities only if the units of the quantities are the same.
3. In multiplication and division, you can multiply or divide units, but you cannot cancel them out unless they
are the same.
4. When a compound unit is formed by multiplication of two or more units, its symbols consists of the symbols
for separate units joined by a centered dot (). Hyphens should not be used in symbols for compound units.
5. Positive and negative exponents may be used with the symbols for units.
6. If a compound is formed by division of one unit by another, its symbols consist of the symbols for the
separate unit either separated by solidus (0) or multiplied by using negative powers.

Conversion of Units

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Study Guide in PHYS 111: PHYSICS FOR ENGINEERS UNITS, DIMENSIONS AND MEASUREMENTS

 A measured quantity can be expressed in terms of any units having the appropriate dimension. The
equivalence between two expressions of the same quantity may be defined in terms of a ratio.

1𝑚 100𝑐𝑚
m= 100 cm can be expressed as 100𝑐𝑚
or 1𝑚

The above ratios are known as conversions factors.

 To convert a quantity expressed in terms of one unit to its equivalent in terms of another unit multiply the
given quantity by the conversion factor, new unit/old unit.
 If you are given a quantity giving a compound unit and you wish to convert it to its equivalent in terms of
another set of units, set up dimensional equation. Write the given quantity and its units on the left, write
the units of conversion factors that cancel the old units and replace them with the desired ones. Fill the
values of the conversion factors and carry out the indicated arithmetic to find the desire value.
 Every valid equation must be dimensionally homogeneous, that is, all additive terms on both sides of the
equation must have the same dimensions (dimensional homogeneity)

Common Conversion Factors:

Physical Conversion Factor Physical Conversion Factor

Quantity Quantity
1kg 2.204 lbm 1N 𝑘𝑔. 𝑚
1
2.2 lbm 𝑠2
1000 g 1x105 dyne
Force
1g 1000 mg 1 lbf 4.4482 N
𝑙𝑏𝑚 . 𝑓𝑡
Mass 1 short ton 2000 lbm 32.174
𝑠2
1 long ton 2240 lbm 1 atm 760 mmHg
1 metric ton 1000 kg 29.92 inHg
2200 lbm 14.7 psi
1 slug 32.174 lbm 𝑁
1m 3.28 ft 101,325 2 𝑜𝑟 𝑃𝑎
𝑚
Pressure 33.899 ft H2O
100 cm
1000 mm 1.01325 bar
1 ft 30.48 cm 760 torr
12 inch 1 bar 100 kPa
Length 1 in 2.54 cm 1x105 Pa
1 yard 3 ft 1 Joules 1 N.m
1 mile 5280 ft 1x107 erg
1.609 km 1 BTU 252 cal
1 fathom 6 ft Work/Energy 1054.5 Joules
1 Angstrom 1 x 10-10 m 778 ft.lbf
1 liter 1000 cm3 1 erg 10.409 L.atm
1 m3 1000 liter 1 cal 4.184 Joules
1 Poise 𝑔
1 ft3 7.481 gal 1
Volume 𝑐𝑚. 𝑠
1 gal 3.7854 liter 100 cP
4 quarts 0.1 Pa.s
1 quart 2 pints Viscosity 𝑘𝑔
1 cP 1𝑥10−3
1 hectare 1000 m 2 𝑚. 𝑠
Area 𝑙𝑏𝑚
1 acre 43, 560 ft2 6.72𝑥10−4
𝑓𝑡. 𝑠

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Additional Important Quantities:

Quantity Value
Gravitational acceleration, g 𝑚
9.8
𝑠2
𝑓𝑡
32.174 2
𝑠
Universal gas constant, R 𝐿. 𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.08205
𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾
𝑚3 . 𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.08205
𝑘𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾
𝐵𝑇𝑈
1.987
𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙. ⁰𝑅
𝑓𝑡 3 . 𝑎𝑡𝑚
0.7302
𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙. ⁰𝑅
𝑓𝑡 3 . 𝑝𝑠𝑖
10.73
𝑙𝑏𝑚𝑜𝑙. ⁰𝑅
𝑚3 . 𝑃𝑎
8.314
𝑚𝑜𝑙. 𝐾
Dimensional Constant, gc 𝑘𝑔. 𝑚
1
𝑁. 𝑠 2
𝑓𝑡. 𝑙𝑏𝑚
32.174
𝑙𝑏𝑓 . 𝑠 2

PROCESS VARIABLES

Variables or parameters are necessary to describe systems and processes. These variables are
properties that can be measured and recorded to define the conditions of a system at any time.

The most common process variables that an engineer in concerned with and measures are:
(a)Mass (d)Composition (g) Pressure
(b)Volume (e)Concentration (h) Flow rate
(c)Density (f) Temperature

MASS AND VOLUME

A. Density (ρ) - it is defined as the mass per unit volume of a substance

- densities of a substance can be used as a conversion factor to relate the mass and the
volume of a quantity of the substance
- densities of pure solids and liquids are essentially independent of pressure and vary
relatively and slightly with temperature
- densities of mixtures vary with composition

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠 𝑘𝑔 𝑙𝑏𝑚 𝑔
ρ= 𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 UNITS: 𝑚3; ;
𝑓𝑡 3 𝑐𝑚3

B. Specific Gravity (SG or Sp.Gr.) - the ratio of two densities, that of the substance of interest to
the density of a reference substance

Specific gravity= density of the substance

density of the reference substance

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-The reference used for solids and liquids is water at 4°C while the reference substance used
for gases is usually air at 60°F, or other specified gas.

ρwater at 4C lg/cm3= 1000 kg/m3 = 62.4 Ibm/ft3

Example: SG = 1.2 20°/4° signifies that the specific gravity of the substance at 20°C with
reference to water at 4°C is 1.2.

Note: If the specific gravity of a substance is given, multiply it with the density of the
reference substance in any units to get the density of the substance in the same units. In case the
temperature for which the specific gravity is state are unknown, assume ambient temperature and
4°C respectively

Special Specific Gravity Units:

1. Degrees Baumè (°Bè) - it is a hydrometer scale used to indicate the density of liquids.
-an expression of the specific gravity of a liquid at 60°F in relation to water at 60°F
(a) For liquids heavier than water (SG>I)

°Bè = 145 - 145

SG

(b) For liquids less dense than water (SG<1)

°Bè = 140 - 130

SG

2. Degrees Twadell (°Tw) - an arbitrary hydrometer scale usually used for liquids heavier than
water, mostly used in England. (Example: in the leather industry, to check tanning solutions)
𝜌𝑙𝑖𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑑
°Tw = 200200 ( − 1)
𝜌𝑤𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑟

3. Brix scale (°Brix) - a hydrometer scale calibrated so that the readings at a specified temperature
(in the US, usually at 20°c) is equal to the percentage by weight of sugar in a sugar solution (i.e. the
number of grams of sugar in 100 grams of liquid)
- it describes the sugar content of grape juice from which wine is made (maybe found in wine
labels)
-introduced in 1879 by Adolf F. Brix (Austrian)

400
°𝐵𝑟𝑖𝑥 = − 400
𝑆𝐺

4. Degrees API (°API) - American Petroleum institute (used in the Petroleum industry)

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141.5
°𝐴𝑃𝐼 = − 131.5
𝑆𝐺

C. Specific Volume - the inverse of the density, that is, the volume per unit mass or unit amount of
material.
1
Specific volume = 𝜌

Sample Problems:

Density:
1. A solid cube of aluminium (density 2.70 g/cm 3) has a volume of 0.200 cm3.
It is known that 27.0 grams of aluminium contains 6.02 x 10 23 atoms. How
many aluminium atoms contained in the cube?
2. The standard kilogram is a platinum-iridium cylinder 39.0 mm in height and
39.0 mm in diameter. What is the density of the material?
3. What mass of material with density p is required to make a hollow spherical
shell having an inner radius of r1 and outer radius of r2.
Dimensional Analysis:

4. The position of a particle moving under uniform acceleration is some function

of time and the acceleration. Suppose we write the position s= ka mtn, where k
is a dimensionless constant. Show by dimensional analysis that this
expression is satisfied if m =1 and n=2. Can this analysis give the value of k?
5. Which of the following equations are dimensionally correct?
a. vf = vi + ax
b. y= (2m)cos(kx), where k=2m-1.
6. (a) A fundamental law of motion states that the acceleration of an object is
directly proportional to the resultant force exerted on the object and inversely
proportional to its mass. If the proportionality constant is defined to have no
dimensions, determine the dimension of force.
(b) The newton is the SI unit of force. According to the results for (a), how
can you express a force having a units of newtons using the fundamental units
mass, length and time?
7. Newton’s Law of Universal Gravitation is represented by

F= GMm/r2
Here F is the magnitude of the gravitational force exerted by one small object
on another, M and m are the masses of the objects, and r is a distance. Force
has the SI units kg.m/s2. What are the SI units of the proportionality constant
G?

Conversion of Units
8. On an interstate highway in a rural region of Wyoming, a car is travelling at

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a speed of 38.0 m/s. Is this car exceeding the speed limit of 75.0 mile/h? What
if the driver is from outside the U.S. and is familiar with the speeds measured
in km/h? What is the speed of the car in km/h?
9. A worker is to paint the walls of a square room 8.00 ft high and 12.0 ft along
each side. What surface area in square meters must she cover?
10. Suppose your hair grows at the rate 1/32 inches per day. Find the rate at which
it grows in nanometers per second. Because the distance between atoms in a
molecule is on the order of 0.1 nm, your answer suggests how rapidly layers
of atoms are assembled in this protein synthesis.
11. The volume of a wallet is 8.50 in3. Convert this value to cubic meter.
12. A rectangular building lot is 100 ft by 150 ft. Determine the area of this lot in
m2.
13. An auditorium measures 40.0m∗20.0m∗12.0m. The density of air is
1.20kg/m3. What are (a) the volume of the room in cubic feet and (b) the
weight of air in the room in pounds?
14. Assume it takes 7.00 min to fill a 30.0-gal gasoline tank.
(a) Calculate the rate at which the tank is filled in gallons per second.
(b) Calculate the rate at which the tank is filled in cubic meters per second.
(c) Determine the time interval, in hours, required to fill a 1.00−m3 volume at
the same rate. (1 U.S. gal = 231 in.3)
15. A solid piece of lead has a mass of 23.94g and a volume of 2.10cm3. From
these data, calculate the density of lead in SI units (kilograms per cubic meter).
16. A section of land has an area of 1 square mile and contains 640 acres.
Determine the number of square meters in 1 acre.
17. An ore loader moves 1200tons/h from a mine to the surface. Convert this rate
to pounds per second, using 1ton=2000lb ?
18. (a) At the time of this books printing, the U.S. national debt is about $ 16
trillion. If payments were made at the rate of $ 1000 per second, how many
years would it take to pay off the debt, assuming no interest were charged?
(b) A dollar bill is about 15.5cm long. How many dollar bills attached end to
end would it take to reach the Moon? The front end papers give the Earth
Moon distance.

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