Unit conversion involves converting measurements from one unit to another, facilitating comparisons across different metrics like length, temperature, mass, and volume. This process employs specific conversion factors to maintain accuracy.
Take length, for instance, a fundamental physical quantity. The meter serves as a standardized unit representing a precise length. When we express a measurement as "10 meters" (or "10 m"), it signifies ten times the established length unit, the meter.
The International System of Units (SI), recognized as the most prevalent measurement system, offers a coherent framework consisting of seven base units. Explore these fundamental units below:
| Unit | SI base | Symbol |
|---|---|---|
| Length | meter | m |
| Mass | kilogram | kg |
| Time | second | s |
| Temperature | kelvin | K |
| Electric current | ampere | A |
| Amount of substance | mole | mol |
| luminous intensity | candela | cd |
| Unit | Derived SI base | Symbol |
| Angle | radian | rad |
| Angle [Solid] | steradian | sr |
| Frequency | hertz | Hz |
| Force | Newton | N |
| Pressure, stress | pascal | Pa |
| Energy, power | joule | J |
| Power, radiant flux | watt | W |
| Electric charge | coulumb | C |
| Voltage | volt | V |
| Capacitance | farad | F |
| Electric resistance | ohm | Ω |
| electrical conductance | siemens | S |
| magnetic flux | weber | Wb |
| magnetic flux density | tesla | T |
| inductance | henry | H |
| magnetic flux density | tesla | T |
| luminous flux | lumen | lm |
| illuminance | lux | lx |
| radioactivity | becquerel | Bq |
| absorbed dose | gray | Gy |
| equivalent dose | sievert | Sv |
| catalytic activity | katal | kat |