SI base units

Base quantity
Name of base quantity

SI base unit
Symbol

Name of SI base
unit

Symbo
l

length

l, x,
r, etc.

metre

mass

kilogram

kg

time, duration

second

electric current

I, i

ampere

thermodynamic
temperature

kelvin

amount of substance

mole

mol

luminous intensity

candela

cd

Examples of coherent derived units in the SI expressed in terms of base

units
Derived quantity
Name

SI coherent derived unit

Symbol

Name

Symbol

area

square metre

m2

volume

cubic metre

m3

speed, velocity

metre per second

m s-1

acceleration

metre per second squared

m s-2

wavenumber

reciprocal metre

density, mass density

kilogram per cubic metre

kg m-3

surface density

kilogram per square metre

kg m-2

specific volume

cubic metre per kilogram

m3kg-1

current density

ampere per square metre

A m-2

magnetic field strength

ampere per metre

A m-1

amount concentration, concentration

mole per cubic metre

mass concentration

m-1

mol m-3

kilogram per cubic metre

kg m-3

luminance

Lv

candela per square metre

cd m-2

refractive index

(the number) one

relative permeability

(the number) one

Coherent derived units in the SI with special names and symbols

SI coherent derived unit

Derived quantity

Name

Symb
ol

Expressed in
terms of other SI
units

Expressed in
terms of SI base
units

rad

m m-1

m2 m-2

plane angle

radian

solid angle

steradian

sr

frequency

hertz

Hz

s-1

force

newton

m kg s-2

pressure, stress

pascal

Pa

N/m2

m-1 kg s-2

energy, work, amount of heat

joule

Nm

m2 kg s-2

power, radiant flux

watt

J/s

m2 kg s-3

electric charge, amount of electricity

coulomb

electric potential difference, electromotive

force

volt

W/A

m2 kg s-3 A-1

capacitance

farad

C/V

m-2 kg-1 s4 A2

electric resistance

ohm

V/A

m2 kg s-3 A-2

electric conductance

siemens

A/V

m-2 kg-1 s3 A2

magnetic flux

weber

Wb

Vs

m2 kg s-2 A-1

magnetic flux density

tesla

Wb/m2

kg s-2 A-1

inductance

henry

Wb/A

m2 kg s-2 A-2

Celsius temperature

degree
Celsius

luminous flux

lumen

lm

cd sr

cd

luminance

lux

lx

lm/m2

m-2 cd

activity referred to a radionuclide

becquerel

Bq

absorbed dose, specific energy (imparted),

gray

Gy

sA

s-1
J/kg

m2 s-2

kerma
dose equivalent, ambient dose equivalent,
directional dose equivalent, personal dose
equivalent

sievert

Sv

catalytic activity

katal

kat

J/kg

m2 s-2
s-1 mol

Examples of SI coherent derived units whose names and symbols

include SI coherent derived units with special names and symbols
SI coherent derived unit
Derived quantity

Name

Symbol

Expressed in terms of SI
base units

dynamic viscosity

pascal second

Pa s

m-1 kg s-1

moment of force

newton metre

Nm

m2 kg s-2

surface tension

newton per metre

N/m

kg s-2

angular velocity

radian per second

rad/s

m m-1 s-1 = s-1

angular acceleration

radian per second

squared

rad/s2

m m-1 s-2 = s-2

heat flux density, irradiance

watt per square metre

W/m2

kg s-3

heat capacity, entropy

joule per kelvin

J/K

m2 kg s-2 K-1

specific heat capacity, specific

entropy

joule per kilogram kelvin

J/(kg K)

m2 s-2 K-1

specific energy

joule per kilogram

J/kg

m2 s-2

thermal conductivity

watt per metre kelvin

W/(m K)

m kg s-3 K-1

energy density

joule per cubic metre

J/m3

electric field strength

volt per metre

V/m

m kg s-3 A-1

electric charge density

coulomb per cubic metre

C/m3

m-3 s A

surface charge density

coulomb per square

metre

C/m2

m-2 s A

electric flux density, electric

displacement

coulomb per square

metre

C/m2

m-2 s A

permittivity

farad per metre

F/m

m-3 kg-1 s4 A2

permeability

henry per metre

H/m

m kg s-2 A-2

molar energy

joule per mole

J/mol

m2 kg s-2 mol-1

molar entropy, molar heat capacity

joule per mole kelvin

J/(mol
K)

m2 kg s-2 K-1 mol-1

exposure (x- and -rays)

coulomb per kilogram

C/kg

kg-1 s A

absorbed dose rate

gray per second

Gy/s

m2 s-3

radiant intensity

watt per steradian

W/sr

m4 m-2 kg s-3 = m2 kg s-3

radiance

watt per square metre

steradian

W/
(m2sr)

m2 m-2 kg s-3 = kg s-3

catalytic activity concentration

katal per cubic metre

kat/m3

m-3 s-1 mol

-1

kg s-2

Non-SI units accepted for use with the International System of Units
Quantity

time, duration

Name of unit

minute

Symbol for unit

min

Value in SI units

1 min = 60 s

hour

1 h = 60 min = 3 600 s

day

1 d = 24 h = 86 400 s

degree

1 = (/180) rad

minute

'

1' = (1/60) = (/10 800) rad

second

"

1" = (1/60)' = (/648 000) rad

area

hectare

ha

1 ha = 1hm2 = 104 m2

volume

litre

L, l

1 L = 1 dm3 = 10-3 m3

mass

tonne

plane angle

1 t = 103 kg

Non-SI units whose values in SI units must be obtained experimentally

Quantity

Name of unit

Symbol for
unit

Value in SI units

Units accepted for use with the SI

energy

electronvolt

eV

1 eV = 1.602 176 53(14)1019

J

mass

dalton

Da

1 Da = 1.660 538 86(28)1027

kg

unified atomic mass unit

1 u = 1 Da

ua

1 ua = 1.495 978 706

91(6)1011m

natural unit of speed (speed of light in

vacuum)

co

299 792 458 m s-1

action

natural unit of action (reduced Planck

constant)

1.054 571 68(18)10-34 Js

mass

natural unit of mass (electron mass)

me

9.109 382 6(16)10-31 kg

length

astronomical unit
Natural units (n.u.)

speed,
velocity

time,
duration

natural unit of time

/(meco2)

1.288 088 667 7(86)10-21 s

Atomic units (a.u.)

charge

atomic unit of charge, (elementary

charge)

1.602 176 53(14)10-19 C

mass

atomic unit of mass, (electron mass)

me

9.109 382 6(16)10-31 kg

action

atomic unit of action, (reduced Planck

constant)

1.054 571 68(18)10-34 Js

length

atomic unit of length, bohr (Bohr radius)

ao

0.529 177 210 8(18)10-10 m

energy

atomic unit of energy, hartree (Hartree

Eh

4.359 744 17(75)10-18 J

energy)
time,
duration

atomic unit of tim

/Eh

2.418 884 326 505(16)1017

s

Other non-SI units

Quantity

pressure

Name of unit

bar
millimetre of mercury

Symbol for unit

bar

Value in SI units

1 bar = 0.1 MPa = 105 Pa

mmHg

1 mmHg 133.322 Pa

length

angstrm

1 = 0.1 nm = 10-10 m

distance

nautical mile

1 M = 1852 m

area

barn

1 b = 100 fm2 = 10-28 m2

speed, velocity

knot

kn

1 kn = (1852/3600) m s-1

logarithmic ratio quantities

neper

Np

bel
decibel

B
dB

Non-SI units associated with the CGS system of units

Quantity

Name of unit

Symbol for unit

Value in SI units

energy

erg

erg

1 erg = 10-7 J

force

dyne

dyn

1 dyn = 10-5 N

dynamic viscosity

poise

1 P = 1 dyn s cm-2 = 0.1 Pa s

kinematic viscosity

stokes

St

1 St = 1 cm2 s-1 = 10-4 m2 s-1

luminance

stilb

sb

1 sb = 1 cd cm-2 = 104 cd m-2

illuminance

phot

ph

1 ph = 1 cd sr cm-2 = 104 lx

acceleration

gal

Gal

1 Gal = 1 cm s-2 = 10-2 m s-2

magnetic flux

maxwell

Mx

1 Mx = 1 G cm2 = 10-8 Wb

magnetic flux density

gauss

magnetic field

rsted

G
Oe

1 G = 1 Mx cm-2 = 10-4 T
1 Oe (103/4) A m-1

Fundamental Quantities

SI unit

English Unit

Conversion

Time

second (s)

second (s)

Mass

kilogram (kg)

slug

1 slug = 14.6 kg

Length

meter (m)

foot (ft)

1 ft = 0.305 m

Force

Newton (N)

pound (lb)

1 lb = 4.45 N

Energy

Joule (J) [W-s, N-m]

foot-pound (ft-lb)
British Thermal Unit (BTU)

1 ft-lb = 1.36 J
1 BTU = 1055 J

Power

Watt (W) [J/s]

horsepower (hp)

1 hp = 746 W

Moment of intertia

(kg-m)

(slug-ft)

1 slug-ft = 1.36 N-m

Torque

Newton-meter (N-m)

foot-pound (ft-lb)

Voltage

Volt (V)

Volts (V)

Charge

Coulomb (C)

Coulomb (C)

Current

Amperes (A=C/s)

Amperes (A)

Absolute Temperature

Degrees Kelvin (K)

Degrees Rankine (R)

1 R = 9/5 K

Degrees Fahrenheit (F)

F = Cx9/5+32
C = K-273.15
F = R-459.67

Common
Temperature
Scales

Degrees Celsius (C)

1 ft-lb = 1.36 N-m

Linear Mechanical Systems

Spring Constant

(N/m)

(lb/ft)

Friction Coefficient

(N-s/m)

(lb-s/ft)

Rotating Mechanical Systems

Spring Constant

(N-m/rad)

(ft-lb/rad)

Friction Coeffiicient

(N-m-s/rad)

(ft-lb-s/rad)

Thermal Systems

Thermal Resistance

K/W

s-R/BTU

Thermal Conductance

W/K

BTU/(s-R)

Thermal Capacitance, or
Thermal Mass

J/K

BTU/R

Electrical Systems

Electrical Resistance

Ohm- (V/A)

Ohm- (V/A)

Electrical Conductance

Siemens-S (A/V) (note)

Siemens-S (A/V)

Capacitance

Farad-F (C/V)

Farad-F (C/V)

Inductance

Henry-H (V-s/A)

Henry-H (V-s/A)

 Primary dimensions and units

o In total, there are seven primary dimensions. Primary (sometimes called basic) dimensions are defined as
independent or fundamental dimensions, from which other dimensions can be obtained.
o The primary dimensions are: mass, length, time, temperature, electric current, amount of light, and
amount of matter. For most mechanical and thermal science analyses, however, only the first four of these
are required. The others will not be of concern to most mechanical engineering analyses.
o In order to assign numbers to these primary dimensions, primary units must be assigned. These are listed
in the table below for the three unit systems:
Primary Dimension

Symbol

SI unit

BG unit

English unit

mass

m (sometimes M)

kg (kilogram)

slug

lbm (pound-mass)

length

L (sometimes l)

m (meter)

ft (foot)

ft (foot)

time

t (sometimes T)

s (second)

s (second)

s (second)

temperature

T (sometimes )

K (Kelvin)

oR (degree Rankine)

R (Rankine)

electric current

I (sometimes i)

A (ampere)

A (ampere)

A (ampere)

amount of light
(luminous intensity)

C (sometimes I)

c (candela)

c (candela)

c (candela)

amount of matter

n or N (sometimes )

mol (mole)

mol (mole)

mol (mole)

o All other dimensions can be derived as combinations of these seven primary dimensions. These are
called secondary dimensions, with their corresponding secondary units. A few examples are given in the
table below:
Secondary Dimension

Symbol

SI unit

BG unit

English unit

force

F (sometimes f)

N (Newton = kg m/s2)

lbf (pound-force)

lbf (pound-force)

acceleration

m/s2

ft/s2

ft/s2

pressure

p or P

N/m2, i.e. Pa (Pascal)

lbf/ft2 (psf)

lbf/in2 (psi) (note: 1 ft = 12 in)

energy

E (sometimes e)

J (Joule = N m)

ft lbf (foot pound)

ft lbf (foot pound)

power

W (watt = J/s)

ft lbf/s

ft lbf/s

o Note that there are many other units, both metric and English, in use today. For example, power is often
expressed in units of Btu/hr, Btu/s, cal/s, ergs/s, or horsepower, in addition to the standard units of watt
and ft lbf/s. There are conversion factors listed in many textbooks to enable conversion from any of these
units to any other.
Comment about the gravitational conversion constant, g c
o Some authors define a gravitational conversion constant, g c, which is inserted into Newtons second law of
motion. I.e., instead of F = m a, they write F = m a/gc, where gc is defined in the English Engineering
System of Units as
and in SI units as

o The present author discourages use of this constant, since it leads to much confusion. Instead, Newtons
law should remain in the fundamental form in which it was created, without an artificial constant thrown
into the equation, simply for units sake.

o There has been much confusion (and numerical error!) because of the differences between lbf, lbm, and
slug. The use of gc has complicated and further confused the issue, in this authors opinion. The following
is an attempt to clarify some of this confusion:
The relationship between force and mass units
o The relationship between force, mass, and acceleration can be clearly understood with Newtons second
law. The following is provided to avoid confusion, especially with English units.
o SI units:
Relationship

Newtons second law, F = m a. [Note: Bold notation indicates a vector.] By definition of the fundamental units, this
yields 1 N = 1 kg m/s2.

Conversion

Discussion

The above expression is dimensionless and has a value of 1. Thus it is the conversion factor with which to multiply
or divide any equation to simplify the units.

Example

How much force (in Newtons) is required to accelerate a mass of 13.3 kg at a constant acceleration of 1.20 m/s2?

Solution:

to the right, since Fx is the x-component of vector F, and ax is the x-component of acceleration vector a.

Terminology

It is not proper to say that 1.00 kg equals 9.81 N, but it is proper to say that 1.00 kg weighs 9.81 N under standard
earth gravity. This is obtained by utilizing Newtons second law with gravitational acceleration, i.e.
.

o English units:
Relationship

Newtons second law, F = m a. [Note: Bold notation indicates a vector.] By definition of the fundamental units, this
yields 1 lbf = 1 slug ft/s2, or 1 lbf = 32.174 lbm ft/s2.

Conversion
or

Discussion

or

The above expressions are dimensionless and each has a value of 1. Thus any of them can be considered a conversion
factor with which to multiply or divide any equation to simplify the units.

Example

How much force (in lbf) is required to accelerate a mass of 13.3 lbm at a constant acceleration of 1.20 ft/s2?

Solution:

to the right, since Fx is the x-component of vector F, and ax is the x-component of acceleration vector a.

Terminology

It is not proper to say that one lbm equals one lbf, but it is proper to say that one lbm weighs one lbf under standard
earth gravity. This is obtained by utilizing Newtons second law with gravitational acceleration, i.e.
.

The Principle of Dimensional Homogeneity

In any equation, each additive term must have the same dimensions. In simple terms, you cannot add apples and
oranges.
o Example - The area of a rectangle is the product of its width and its height, A = W H. The dimensions of
both terms in this equation are {length2}. The equation A = H is clearly wrong, i.e. it is dimensionally
inconsistent since the dimensions of the left term are {length 2} while those of the right term are {length}.
o The Principle of Dimensional Homogeneity is sometimes useful when checking the algebra of a problem
solution. Namely, dimensional inconsistency in an equation is a sure sign of an algebraic error!

o The Principle of Dimensional Homogeneity also extends to units. The best way to avoid unit errors is to
list the units along with any numbers supplied to an equation. Also, it is best to introduce conversion
factors in the form of ratios. In the above example, suppose the width W of the rectangle is 48.0 inches,
and the Height H is 2.0 feet. The area A is desired in square feet, and is calculated correctly as follows:
A = W H = (48.0 in) (2.0 ft) (1 ft / 12 in) = 8.0 ft 2.

To compare apples to apples, use the imperial unit for mass, the slug. 1 kg = 0.06852 slugs (approx). The weight of one slug can be found by w =
mg --> (1 slug) (32.174 ft/s^2) = 32.174 pounds. In the imperial system, mass is properly measured in slugs. Sure, in common usage, it is also
measured in pounds. To convert, use w = mg. The density of water (mass/volume) is 1000 kg/m^3. Let's convert: 1000kg/m3(0.0685slug1kg)
(1m335.315ft3)=1.940slugs/ft3 . If you want to get pounds per cubic foot, use w = mg to convert from slugs to pounds; you'll get 62.4 lbs/ft^3.
Reference https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/weight-density-and-gravity.49408/