T G M k base m µ n p fTerra Giga Mega kilo milli micro nano pico fempto

1031061091012 10-3 10-6 10-9 10-12 10-15

centi

C10-2

What this chart means:

1 Terrameter = 1012 Meters OR 10-12 Terrameters = 1meter

1 micrometer = 10-6 Meters OR 106 micrometers = 1meter

For big things:

For little things:

Making conversions

Step 1: Write down a conversion factor between the two types of things you are comparing. If you don’t know it, look it up.

Step 2: Use “railroad tracks” or “factor-label” method to set up conversion formula. If you need to make multiple conversions, set each one up one at a time.

Step 3: Multiply across the top, multiply across the bottom, divide top by bottom. Answer. Include your final units.

Practice

240 Mm = __________ m

736 nm = ___________ m

mMm

mMm 86

104.21

10240

1 Mm = 106 m

Ans: 7.36 x 10-7 m

More practice

6.42 m = ___________ km

42 m = ___________ µm

Ans: 6.42 x 103 km

Ans: 4.2 x 107 µm

Still more practice (the “hard” ones)

12.3 Gm = _____________ pm

60,000 fm = _____________ km

pmm

pm

Gm

mGm 22129

1023.11

10

1

103.12

1 Gm = 109 m1 m = 1012 pm

Ans: 6 x 10-14 km

1 fm = 10-15 m1000 m = 1 km

Weird, multi-dimensional conversions

• PreAP packet number 8 on dim. analysis wrksht.

12 mi/hr*s = ___________ m/s2 1 mile = 1609 meters1 hr = 3600 seconds

2^/36.53600

1

1

1609

*

12sm

s

hr

mi

m

shr

mi

PreAP Students:• If you don’t know the conversion factor look it

up:– In a book– On the internet (wikipedia is good)– On a website: http://www.onlineconversion.com– “MultiConvert” app for smartphone

If you use the website or the app: don’t cheat. Don’t go straight to the result, even if you can. This does you no good on your upcoming test. Just use it to find the conversion factors. You could also use it to check your work