II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• You MUST learn and use the unit conversion method (not
your own method!)
• A CONVERSION FACTOR: is a fractional expression relating or connecting two different units.
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• Example 1: There are 60 seconds in 1 minute. In
statement form:•
• The conversion factor relates 2 units (minutes to seconds).
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• Example 2: $1.44 per dozen eggs.
• Conversion Factors:
• Conversion factors do not change the VALUE of something, ever….
• We simply use them to change from one unit to another!
II. 1 UNIT CONVERSIONS
THE UNIT CONVERSION METHOD
•We need 3 important pieces of information:
•Desired amount and units ( what we want )•Initial amount and units ( what we know )•Conversion factor (relating the initial units to units of unknown)
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• Example 5: If the price of gas is $1.10 per liter (l), how
much will it cost to fill a 40 liter tank?
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS
HOW TO PUT EVERYTHING TOGETHER
• The general form of a unit conversion calculation is:
(wanted amount) = ( Initial amount) x (Conversion factor)
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• Example 6 • a. If 0.200 mL of gold has a mass of 3.86 g, what
is the mass of 5.00 mL of gold?
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• *Important: Always ask yourself “which way do I have to
write the conversion factor so that my units cancel properly?”
• b. If 0.200 mL of gold has a mass of 3.86 g, what is the volume occupied by 100.0 g of gold?
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONSSUMMARY• Identify wanted/desired amount and its units (put on left
side of = sign).
• Identify the initial amount and its units (put on right side of = sign).
• 3. Identify conversion factor. (Multiply initial amount by conversion factor in such a way that one of the units cancels. You want to be left with units of wanted amount!)
• 4. Complete the problem by multiplying and/or dividing
II.1 UNIT CONVERSIONSMultiple Unit Conversions • We can solve problems that require more than one conversion
factor.
oExample: • If eggs are $1.44 per dozen, and if there are 12 eggs in a
dozen, how many individual eggs can be bought for $4.32?
II. 1 UNIT CONVERSIONS• EX: The automobile gas tank of a Canadian tourist holds 39.5 l
of gas. If 1 L of gas is equal to 0.264 gal in the USA (“gal” is the symbol for “gallon”, a measure of volume used in the US), and gas is $1.26/gal in Dallas, Texas, how much will it cost the tourist to fill his gas tank in Dallas?
Top Related