Final answer:
To convert from SI units to U.S. customary units, you must use conversion factors that equate a given amount of one unit to the corresponding amount of another unit. By setting up a multiplication with the conversion factors, you can cancel out the original units and obtain your measurement in the desired U.S. customary units.
Step-by-step explanation:
To change a value in SI units to a value in U.S. customary units, you will need to use a conversion factor. A conversion factor is a ratio that expresses how many of one unit are equal to another unit. For example, to convert meters to feet, you use the conversion factor 1 meter = 3.28084 feet. If you have a measure of 10 meters, you multiply 10 by 3.28084 to find the equivalent in feet.
Here's a step-by-step example of using unit conversion factors sequentially:
- Identify the given value and the SI units involved.
- Find the appropriate conversion factor(s) that will convert the SI units into U.S. customary units.
- Set up the calculation so that the units you want to cancel out are diagonally opposite each other when you write down the conversion factors.
- Multiply the given value by the conversion factors, making sure to cancel out the units as you go.
- Your final result should be in the desired U.S. customary units.
An example of converting time could be as follows: We can change units as follows (notice how the units of time cancel out):
1 day × 24 hr/day × 60 min/hr × 60 s/min
Learning Objectives: Converting a value reported in one unit to a corresponding value in a different unit involves the use of conversion factors and a clear understanding of the relationship between the units.