Temperature Conversions
Even though the kelvin is the SI base unit of temperature, the degree Celsius
will be the unit you use most often in your science studies. The formulas below
show the relationships between temperatures in degrees Fahrenheit (ºF),
degrees Celsius (ºC), and kelvins (K).
5
ºC = 9 (ºF – 32)
Examples of Temperature Conversions
9
ºF = 5 ºC + 32
Condition
K = ºC + 273
See page R42 for help
with using formulas.
Degrees Fahrenheit
0
32
Cool day
10
50
Mild day
20
68
Warm day
30
86
Normal body temperature
37
98.6
Very hot day
40
104
100
212
Freezing point of water
Boiling point of water
Converting Between SI and U.S. Customary Units
Use the chart below when you need to convert between SI units and U.S.
customary units.
SI Unit
From SI to U.S. Customary
Length
When you know
multiply by
to find
When you know
kilometer (km) = 1000 m
kilometers
0.62
miles
miles
1.61
kilometers
meter (m) = 100 cm
meters
3.28
feet
feet
0.3048
meters
centimeter (cm) = 10 mm
centimeters
0.39
inches
inches
2.54
centimeters
millimeter (mm) = 0.1 cm
millimeters
0.04
inches
inches
25.4
millimeters
Area
When you know
multiply by
to find
When you know
multiply by
to find
square kilometer (km2)
square meter (m2)
square kilometers
0.39
square miles
square miles
2.59
square kilometers
square meters
1.2
square yards
square yards
0.84
square meters
square centimeter (cm2)
square centimeters
0.155
square inches
square inches
6.45
square centimeters
Volume
When you know
multiply by
to find
When you know
liter (L) = 1000 mL
liters
1.06
quarts
quarts
0.95
liters
liters
0.26
gallons
gallons
3.79
liters
liters
4.23
cups
cups
0.24
liters
liters
2.12
pints
pints
0.47
liters
milliliters
0.20
teaspoons
teaspoons
4.93
milliliters
milliliters
0.07
tablespoons
tablespoons
14.79
milliliters
milliliters
0.03
fluid ounces
fluid ounces
29.57
milliliters
Mass
When you know
multiply by
to find
When you know
multiply by
to find
kilogram (kg) = 1000 g
kilograms
2.2
pounds
pounds
0.45
gram (g) = 1000 mg
grams
0.035
ounces
ounces
28.35
milliliter (mL) = 0.001 L
From U.S. Customary to SI
multiply by
multiply by
to find
to find
kilograms
grams
Lab Handbook R21
LAB HANDBOOK
Degrees Celsius