CONVERSION

FACTORS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERS

CONVERSION
FACTORS FOR
ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERS
FRANCIS J. HOPCROFT

MOMENTUM PRESS, LLC, NEW YORK

Conversion Factors for Environmental Engineers

Copyright Momentum Press, LLC, 2017.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored
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brief quotations, not to exceed 400 words, without the prior permission
of the publisher.
First published by Momentum Press, LLC
222 East 46th Street, New York, NY 10017
www.momentumpress.net
ISBN-13: 978-1-94561-252-7 (print)
ISBN-13: 978-1-94561-253-4 (e-book)
Momentum Press Environmental Engineering Collection
Collection ISSN: 2375-3625 (print)
Collection ISSN: 2375-3633 (electronic)
Cover and interior design by Exeter Premedia Services Private Ltd.,
Chennai, India
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America

Abstract
This reference manual provides a list of approximately 4,400 unit conversion factors useful to Environmental Engineers (and probably others). It
includes common conversions, such as feet to meters, miles to feet, and
gallons to liters, but it also includes more obscure units that show up in old
reports, old land surveys, and historic site records, such as chains and links
(Gunters and Ramdens), barns, perches, quintals, and ares. The book
provides conversions for each unit to a variety of other units and back
again with direct multiplier factors.

KEYWORDS
conversion factors, units, unit conversions

Contents
List of Tables

ix

1 Introduction

2 How to Use This Book

3 Glossary of Unit Terminology

4 Conversion Factors

15

Type of units
Common use factors
Acceleration
Area
Concentration (fluids)
Concentration (mass)
Density
Force
Length
Mass
Power
Pressure
Temperature
Velocity
Volume
Work

15
15
17
24
39
40
41
64
65
80
100
137
147
148
156
176

Index

183

List of Tables
Table 1.1.Definitions of dimensions in SI and U.S. customary
measurement systems

Table 1.2. Standard symbols for use with units

CHAPTER 1

Introduction
The measurement of things is a major factor in how people communicate.
It is possible to ask someone to build a boat, or a house, or a garage, for
example, but without some measurements to work with, it is not possible
to effectively communicate to the builder exactly what the buyer wants.
Moreover, those measurements have two components: a dimension and a
unit. Both components are necessary for the effective communication of
the task.
A dimension is a fundamental characteristic of the artifact. There are
several measurement systems in use in the world today, but the most common systems are the SI system, or what is commonly called the metric
system, and the U.S. customary system. In both measurement systems the
fundamental dimensions are length (L), mass (M), time (t), temperature
(T), electrical current (I), the amount of a substance (N), and luminous
intensity (i). All other dimensions can be derived from a combination of
these seven base dimensions.
Dimensions alone, however, are of limited value without some numerical attribution that defines the magnitude of the dimension. In addition,
the base dimensions can be cumbersome if they are not subdivided into
smaller, or more convenient dimensions, for various calculations. Those
dimensional subdivisions are called units and those numerical attributes
are called values. In the expression 7 feet, for example, the dimension
is feet and the value is 7. In this case, the dimension feet is also the
unit of measurement being used. In some cases, it may be preferable
to use 84 inches, rather than 7 feet. The inches are a subdivision of
the dimension feet (equal to feet divided by 12) and they become the
units, while the numerical value is increased in direct proportion so that
the 84 inches is exactly equal to the 7 feet.
Both dimensions and units are necessary to define an artifact
completely.

2 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS

The seven base dimensions described here are defined differently in

each of the various dimension systems. This book is concerned only with
dimensions defined for the SI system and the U.S. customary system of
measurements. Table 1.1 provides a convenient list of the definitions of
the base dimensions in these two measurement systems.
All other dimensions, such as area, volume, velocity, acceleration,
and so forth, can all be derived from these seven base dimensions. Area
is L2, volume is L3, velocity is L/t, and acceleration is L/t2, for example.
It is customary to assign specific shorthand symbols for the various
units in a dimension. It is important to use the correct symbol each time
a unit is used and to always use a symbol with every value being used.
Table1.2 provides a list of the symbols used with various units in each of
the two base measurement systems. Note that units are never pluralized;
two seconds are described as 2 sec, not 2 secs, for example. Note,
also, the space between the numerical value and the unit symbol.
Table 1.1. Definitions of dimensions in SI and U.S. customary
measurement systems
Base Dimension
Length
Mass
Time
Temperature
Electrical current
Amount
Luminous intensity

SI Measurement
System
Meter
Kilogram
Second
Kelvin
Ampere
Mole
Candela

U.S. Customary
Measurement System
Foot
Pound mass
Second
Fahrenheit
Ampere
Mole
Candela

Table 1.2. Standard symbols for use with units

Unit
Acre-feet
Acre-inches

Symbol
ac-ft
ac-in

Unit
Joules
Kilogram-
calories

Symbol
J
kg-cal

Acres
Angstrom

Ac
A

Kilometer
Kilowatt-hours

km
kw-hr

Ares

Kilowatts

kw

Introduction3

Astronomical
Units
Atmospheres
Barns
Barrel
Bars

au or AU or ua

Knots

kn

Atm
B
Bbl
Bar

league
ly
lk
L-atm

Board feet

fbm or bdft or
bf
Btu
Bsh
Ca

Leagues
Light year
Links
Liter-
atmospheres
Liters
Meter
Micron
Mil

mil

Btu
Bushels
Centares

Centimeter
Chains
Coulomb
Cubic
centimeter

cm
Ch
C
cc or cm3

Miles
Millibars
Millimeter
Millimicron

mi
mb OR mbar
mm
m OR

Cubic centimeter-atmosphere
Cubic feet

cc-atm or
cm3-atm
ft3

Minute

min

Myriameter

mym

Cubic foot-
atmosphere

cf-atm or
ft3-atm

Newtons

Cubic inches

in3

Ounces

oz

Cubic meters

Cubic miles

Parsec

pc

mi

Pascals

Pa

Cubic yards

yd

Pecks

pk

Cups
Daltons
Day

C
Da or u
D

Penny-weight
Perches
Pints

dwt
perch
pt

Decigram

Dg

Decimeter

Dm

Plancks
constant
Ponys

Degrees
Centigrade

Pounds (force)

lbf

Pounds (mass)

lbm

pony

(Continued)

4 CONVERSION FACTORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERS

Table 1.2. Standard symbols for use with units (Continued)

Unit
Degrees
Fahrenheit
Degrees Kelvin
Degrees Rankin
Degrees
Reaumur
Dekagram
Dekameter

Symbol

Unit

Symbol

Quart

qt

K
Ra
Re

Quintal
Rods
Second

cwt
rd
sec

Shots
Square
Centimeters
Square chains
Square feet
Square inches

shot
cm2

Square
kilometers
Square links
Square meters
Square miles
square
Millimeters
Square mils
Square perches
Square rods
Square yards

km2

Torrs
Volt
Volt-coulomb

Torr
V
V-C

Watts
Watt-second
Yards

W
W-sec
yd

Dag
dam

Drams
Dyne
Dyne-
centimeter
Ergs

dr
dyn
dyn-cm

Fathom
Fifths
Foot
Foot-pound

fath
fifth
ft
ft-lb

Gallons
Grains
Gram-calories
Gram-
centimeter
Grams
Hectares
Hectograms

gal
gr
g-cal
g-cm

erg

G
ha

hg
Horsepower
hp
Hour
hr
Hundred-weight cwt
Jiggers
jigger

ch2
sf OR ft2
in2

lk2
m2
mi2
mm2
mil2
perch2
rd2
yd2

Index
A
Acceleration
centimeters/second2, 1718
feet/second2, 18
kilometers/hour/second, 1819
kilometers/second2, 1920
meters/second2, 20
miles, 2124
Acre-feet, 15
Acres, 7, 15, 2425
Angstrom, 7, 65
Are, 7, 2526
Area
acres, 2425
ares, 2526
centares, 26
circular inches, 26
circular millimeters, 2627
circular mils, 27
hectares, 27
square centimeters, 2728
square chains, 2830
square decimeters, 30
square dekameters, 3031
square feet, 3132
square inches, 32
square kilometers, 3233
square links, 3334
square meters, 3435
square miles, 3536
square millimeters, 3637
square mils, 37
square perches, 3738

square rods, 38
square yards, 3839
Astronomical units, 7
Atmospheres, 15
B
Barn, 7
Bars, 7
Board-foot, 7
Bolt, 6566
British thermal unit (BTU), 8
C
Cable length, 8, 66
Centares, 8, 26
Centigrade degree, 8
Centigrams, 80
Centimeter, 8, 15
Centimeters, 6667
Chain (Gunters), 8, 15
Circular inch, 8
Circular mil, 8
Circular millimeter, 8
Concentration (fluids)
grams/cubic foot, 39
grams/liter, 39
kilograms/cubic foot, 40
kilograms/liter, 40
Concentration (mass), 4041
Conversion factor, 56
Cord, 9
Coulomb, 9
Cubits, 9, 68

184 Index

D
Dalton, 9, 8081
Decigram, 9, 8182
Decimeters, 9, 68
Dekagram, 9, 8283
Dekameter, 9, 6869
Density
grams/cubic foot, 4142
grams/cubic inch, 4243
grams/cubic meter, 4344
grams/liter, 4445
kilograms/cubic foot, 4546
kilograms/cubic inch, 4647
kilograms/cubic meter, 4748
kilograms/liter, 4849
micrograms/cubic foot, 4950,
5354
micrograms/cubic inch, 5051,
54
micrograms/cubic meter, 5152,
55
micrograms/liter, 5253
milligrams/liter, 56
ounces, 5760
pounds/cubic foot, 6061
pounds/cubic inch, 6162
pounds/cubic meter, 6263
pounds/liter, 6364
Dimensions
base dimensions, 2
definition, 2
units, 1
values, 1
Dram, 9, 8384
Dynes, 9, 64, 85
E
Engineers chain, 8
Erg, 9
F
Fahrenheit degree, 9
Fathoms, 9, 69

Feet, 6970
Fifth, 9
Foot, 9
Force, 64
G
Grains, 9, 8586
H
Hectare, 9, 27
Hectograms, 8788
Hectometers, 70
Horsepower, 10
boiler, 115116
electric, 116117
mechanical, 117119
metric, 119120
water, 120121
Hundred-weights, 8889
J
Joule, 10
K
Kelvin degree, 10
Kilometer, 10
Knot, 10
L
Leagues, 7172
Length
Angstroms, 65
astronomical units, 65
bolt, 6566
cable length, 66
centimeters, 6667
chains, 6768
cubits, 68
decimeters, 68
dekameter, 6869
fathoms, 69
feet, 6970
hectometers, 70

Index 185

inches, 7071
kilometers, 71
leagues, 7172
light years, 72
links, 7273
meters, 7374
microns, 74
miles, 7475
millimeters, 7576
millimicrons, 76
mils, 76
paces, 7677
parsecs, 77
rods, 7778
smoots, 7879
yards, 7980
Light years, 10, 72
Links, 10, 7273
M
Mass
centigrams, 80
Dalton, 8081
decigram, 8182
dekagram, 8283
dram, 8384
dynes, 85
grains, 8586
grams, 8687
hectograms, 8788
hundred-weights, 8889
kilograms, 90
milligrams, 9091
myriagrams, 9192
ounces, 9294
pennyweights, 94
pounds, 9496
quintals, 9697
slugs, 9798
tons, 98100
Meter, 10
Microns, 10, 74
Mile (Nautical), 10

Mile (Statutory), 10
Mile (U.S. Survey), 1011
Millimeter, 11
Millimicron, 11
Mils, 10, 76
Myriagrams, 9192
Myriameters, 11
N
Newton, 11, 64
O
Ounces, 5760, 9294
P
Paces, 11, 7677
Parsecs, 11, 77
Pascal, 11
Peck, 11
Pennyweights, 11, 94
Perch, 11
Plancks constant, 11
Pounds, 9496
Power, 11
Btu/hour, 100101
Btu/minute, 101102
Btu/second, 102103
Ergs/hour, 103104
Ergs/minute, 104106
Ergs/second, 106107
foot-pounds, 107111
gramcalories, 111114
gram-centimeters/second,
114115
horsepower, 115121
joules/hour, 121122
joules/minute, 122123
joules/second, 123124
kilocalories/hour, 124125
kilocalories/minute, 125126
kilocalories/second, 126127
kilogram-calorie/hour, 128
kilogram-calorie/minute, 129

186 Index

kilogram-calorie/second, 130
kilowatts, 131132
liter-atmospheres/hour,
132133
liter-atmospheres/minute,
133134
liter-atmospheres/second,
135136
Watts, 136137
Pressure
atmospheres, 137138
bars, 138139
grams/square centimeter,
140141
grams/square meter, 141
inches of mercury @ 0C,
139140
inches of water @ 4C, 140
kilograms/square centimeter, 142
kilograms/square meter, 142143
millibars, 143
millimeters of mercury @ 0C,
143144
millimeters of water @ 4C,
144145
Pascals, 145
pounds/square foot, 145146
pounds/square inch, 146
torrs, 147
Q
Quintals, 12, 9697
R
Ramsdens chain, 8
Reaumur degree, 12
Rods, 12, 7778
S
Shot, 12
SI measurement system, 2
Slugs, 12, 9798
Smoots, 12, 7879

Stere, 12
Symbol, 24
T
Temperature, 147148
Tons, 12, 98100
U
Units
conversion factors
acceleration, 1724
area, 2439
concentration, 3941
density, 4164
length, 6580
mass, 80100
power, 100137
pressure, 137147
velocity, 148156
volume, 156176
work, 176181
symbols, 24
terminology, 712
U.S. customary measurement
system, 2
U.S. State Plane Coordinate
Systems (SPCSs), 11
V
Velocity
centimeters/hour, 148149
centimeters/minute, 149
centimeters/second, 149150
feet/hour, 150
feet/minute, 150151
feet/second, 151
kilometers/hour, 151152
kilometers/minute, 152
kilometers/second, 152153
knots, 153
meters/hour, 153154
meters/minute, 154
meters/second, 154155

Index 187

miles/hour, 155
miles/minute, 155156
miles/second, 156
Volume
acre-feet, 156157
acre-inches, 157158
barrels, 158160
board-feet, 160
Bushels, 160161
cord, 161
cubic centimeters, 161162
cubic feet, 162
cubic inches, 163
cubic meters, 163164
cubic miles, 164165
cubic yards, 165166
fifths, 166
gallons, 166168
jiggers, 168
liters, 168169
milliliters, 169
ounces, 169170
pecks, 170171
perches, 171172

pints, 172173
pony, 173
quarts, 173175
shots, 175
steres, 175176
W
Work
Btu, 176
cubic centimeter-atmospheres,
176177
cubic foot-atmospheres, 177
dyne-centimeters, 177178
ergs, 178
foot-pounds, 178179
gram-centimeters, 179
joules, 179
kilowatt-hours, 179180
liter-atmospheres, 180
volt-coulombs, 180181
Watt-seconds, 181
Y
Yards, 12, 7980