MAR 110 Natural Hazards & the Oceans

Tutorial 1

Metric-English Conversion (using the conversion factor method)

Instructor: Prof. Dan MacDonald (dmacdonald@umassd.edu; 508-910-6334; ATT Suite 325)

TA: Georgia Kakoulaki (gkakoulaki@umassd.edu; 508-910-6366; ATT Suite 325)

Expectations concerning homework assignments

Students are expected to: 1. Access the course website; 2. Print out the homework (HW) assignments & lecture outlines; (Contact the TA if you have a problem with this).

All information needed to do the HW can be found in assigned reading materials; Start the assignment early - well before the due date!

Read the assignment background text). QUESTIONS?

(a) First - Contact the TA via email (b) Second - Make appointment to meet with the TA

Each student must submit their own work. We encourage you to work together. Write assignments in your own words. Copying is not permitted.

Full credit only for HW assignments that are handed in on time.

Contact the TA via email before the assignment due date if special circumstances do not allow you to hand the assignment in on time.

BASIC UNITS of the METRIC SYSTEM

TABLE 2.

ASSIGNMENT EXERCISE 1. CONVERSION OF UNITS

Convert each of the following quantities into those with the units that are requested.

1. Earth's circumference: 24,900 mi = _________km = ______________m

2. Equatorial diameter: 12,756 km = ______________mi = ___________ft

3. Ocean depth of 36,198 ft = ___________________m = ____________km

4. Highest point on Earth: 8847 m = ________________ km = _________ft

5. An area of 2500mi2 = ____________km2 =_______________m2

6. A 10 L container = ____________________ Gal = ________________in3

7. A 55 gallon drum of oil =_________________ ft3 = ______________liters

8. A 60 lb weight = __________________ kg = ______________________ g

NOTE: The last two problems contain fraction units (mi/hr or ft3/sec). In both cases, just let the bottom of the fraction “tag along” with the rest of the unit. Otherwise, use the conversion factor method in the same manner as you did in the earlier problems.

9. Wind speed of 30 mi/hr = ____________________km/hr = ________________m/hr

10. Discharge of the Mississippi River:

61,000 ft3/sec = _____________________ m3/sec = _____________________ L/sec

DID YOU SHOW YOUR WORK ?? Please show how you derived these answers using the

conversion factor method, in order to receive full credit for your answers. An answer with no work shown will

get no credit!!!

  From Table 4 we find that 1 mi = 1.609 km

  We start with miles but want kilometers

  Thus, multiply 15.7 mi * 1.609 km 1 mi

  Canceling out miles (mi) you multiply 15.7 * 1.609

  Answer is 25.26 km

Some Reminders