University of Nebraska - Lincoln
DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and
Publications
Biological Systems Engineering
4-1-1980
Metric Units of Measure - Part II Fluid Volume, Mass,
Temperature, Pressure, Power and Energy
Elbert C. Dickey
University of Nebraska at Lincoln, [email protected]
Allen R. Rider
University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Gerald Bodman
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub
Part of the Biological Engineering Commons
Dickey, Elbert C.; Rider, Allen R.; and Bodman, Gerald, "Metric Units of Measure - Part II Fluid Volume, Mass, Temperature, Pressure,
Power and Energy" (1980). Biological Systems Engineering: Papers and Publications. Paper 265.
http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/biosysengfacpub/265
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G 79-469
Metric Units of Measure - Part II
Fluid Volume, Mass, Temperature, Pressure,
Power and Energy
Elbert C. Dickey, Extension Engineer (Conservation)
Allen R. Rider, Extension Engineer (Power Machinery)
Gerald R. Bodman, Extension Engineer (Livestock Systems)
The metric and U.S. customary systems of measure
differ in terminology for fluid volume, mass,
temperature, pressure, power and energy. The relationships between the metric and U.S. customary system for
these units are described and illustrated graphically in
the following text.
Fluid Volume- Fluid volumes are usually measured
in milliliters or liters. Small quantities of liquid products
are expressed as milliliters or as cubic centimeters.
Gasoline, milk and other similar sized volumes are
measured in liters.
Mass - Mass is the amount of matter in an object
and is normally referred to as weight. The common
metric units of mass are milligram, gram, kilogram and
tonne {1,000 kilograms). Medicine, vitamins and other
small objects are measured in milligrams. Several food
products are measured in grams. Heavier objects, including larger food quantities and humans, have masses
expressed in kilograms. A truck load of material and
other large quantities of matter are measured in tonnes.
Mass and volume are related in the metric system. A
milliliter of water at 4 oc (39.2 °F) and at sea level is
equal to a cubic centimeter of water and has a mass of
one gram. A liter of water equal to 1,000 cubic centimeters has a mass of one kilogram, and a cubic meter
of water has a mass of one tonne.
Temperature - Temperature in the metric system is
measured in degrees Celsius (formerly called
centigrade). Water freezes at 0°C (32 °F) and boils at
100°C (212°F). Normal body temperature is 37°C
(98.6 °F). A temperature of -5 °F is equal to -20.5 °C.
Pressure - Pressure, which is force per unit area, is
measured in pascals. One pascal is a very small pressure,
so kilopascal is the preferred unit for most commercial
and industrial applications. Standard atmospheric
pressure of 14.7 pounds per square inch is equal to 101
kilopascals.
Power- The unit of power in the metric system is the
watt. Conventionally, we use entirely different units for
power in mechanical, thermal and electrical systems. In
the metric system, however, all power is measured in
watts. A tractor rated at 100 horsepower in the U.S.
customary system will have a rating of 74.6 kilowatts in
the metric system.
Energy, Quantity of Heat - All forms of energy in
the metric system are ex-pressed as joules. The nutrition
calorie, which equals one kilocalorie, is replaced by the
kilojoule, with one kilocalorie being equal to approximately four kilojoules. Larger heat quantities such as
furnaces and air conditioners are measured in megajoules (I ,000 kilo joules). Kilowatt-hour, a commonly
used measure of energy, is replaced with the megajoule.
One kilowatt-hour equals 3.6 megajoules.
The Cooperative Extension Service provides info rmation
and educat i onal programs to all people w it hout regard
to race, color or national or igin .
Extension work in "Agriculture, Home Economics and subjects
relating thereto," The Cooperative Extension Service, Institute
of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-lincoln,
Cooperating with the Counties and the U.S. Department of Agriculture
Leo E. Lucas, Director
B-5
Mass
Fluid Volume
1 fluidounce
= 29.6 milliliters
1 gallon
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30
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= 3. 79 liters
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Mass
1 pound
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Temperature
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-r-
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= 0.145 pound per square inch
Energy
Power
1 horsepower
= 0. 746 kilowatt 1,000 BTU's per hour = 0.293 kilowatt
200
20
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19
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1,000 BTU's = 1.05 megajoules
140
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1 kilowatt hour = 3.6 megajoules
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1 kilowatt
= 3,412 BTU's per hour
1 megajoule
= 0.278 kilowatt hour
0
1 megajoule
0
= 948 BTU's