Name: unit conversion steps and real-world errors
Uploaded: 2023-04-30T10:48:05.000Z
Duration: 1 min 36 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

Physical Science

PS.1

PS.1.b

Conversion of Units

La conversión de unidades es el proceso de conversión de unidades de una unidad a otra.
El sistema de unidades SI son las unidades estándar universalmente aceptadas para cantidades físicas. Pero algunos países, incluidos los EE. UU., a veces usan un conjunto diferente de unidades conocidas como unidades inglesas.
A menudo, una sola cantidad física puede expresarse en unidades diferentes pero equivalentes. Por ejemplo, la longitud de un objeto se puede expresar en metros o centímetros, donde 1 metro representa la misma cantidad de longitud que 100 centímetros o la masa de un objeto se puede expresar en gramos o kilogramos, donde 1 kilogramo equivale a 1000 gramos.
La conversión entre dichas unidades equivalentes se facilita mediante un factor de conversión unitario.
Por ejemplo, la longitud en metros o centímetros se puede interconvertir, utilizando factores de conversión: 1 metro por 100 centímetros y 100 centímetros por 1 metro. La proporción de elección depende de la unidad deseada en el resultado.
Piensa en una jirafa de 500 centímetros de altura. Para expresar su altura en metros, tanto los números como las unidades deben multiplicarse por el factor de conversión apropiado.
Los números dan la cantidad del producto, 5, y las unidades se anulan entre sí, excepto los metros. Por lo tanto, la altura de la jirafa es igual a 5 metros.

conversión de unidades

A veces, es necesario convertir de una unidad a otra. Por ejemplo, al leer un libro de cocina en el que las cantidades se expresan en litros u onzas, puede ser necesario convertir las cantidades a tazas, o al buscar indicaciones sobre cómo llegar a un lugar, nos puede interesar saber cuántas millas vamos a caminar. En este caso, tendríamos que convertir las unidades de pies o metros a millas. El primer paso en la conversión de unidades es enumerar las unidades dadas y las unidades requeridas para la conversión. El segundo paso es determinar un factor de conversión que relacione la unidad dada y la unidad requerida. El factor de conversión se define como la razón que expresa qué cantidad de una unidad es igual a la otra unidad. Por ejemplo, hay 1.000 metros en 1 kilómetro. Al hacer una conversión, asegúrate de que las unidades en la conversión de unidades se cancelen correctamente. Un ejemplo bien conocido de la importancia de la conversión de unidades es el Orbitador Climático de Marte. La NASA lanzó esta sonda el 11 de diciembre de 1998. Sin embargo, el 23 de septiembre de 1999, la NASA perdió contacto con la sonda mientras intentaba guiarla hacia su órbita planeada alrededor de Marte. Investigaciones posteriores revelaron que las unidades en los dos programas utilizados para registrar y guiar el propulsor estaban desincronizadas. Este error hizo que la exploración siguiera una trayectoria muy diferente a la proyectada por la NASA, lo que ocasionó que se quemara en la atmósfera marciana o se desplazara hacia el espacio. Esta falta de atención a las conversiones de unidades costó cientos de millones de dólares, sin mencionar el tiempo invertido en el proyecto por científicos e ingenieros. Este texto está adaptado de <a href="https://openstax.org/books/university-physics-volume-1/pages/1-3-unit-conversion">Openstax, University Physics Volume 1, Section 1.3: Unit Conversion</a>.

Conversión de Unidades

A veces, es necesario pasar de una unidad a otra. Por ejemplo, leer un libro de cocina en el que las cantidades se expresan en unidades de litros ...

Education

Educación

JoVE Core

Physics

Física

Unit 1

Unidad 1

Units, Dimensions, and Measurements

Unidades, dimensiones y mediciones

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TÉRMINOS Y CONCEPTOS CLAVE

unit conversion steps and real-world errors

Unit conversion lets you change a measurement from one unit to another. It is useful in everyday life, such as when a cookbook gives amounts in liters or ounces and you need cups instead. It also helps when directions use feet or meters, but you want to know the distance in miles.

The first step is to list the given unit and the unit you need. The second step is to choose a conversion factor, which is a ratio that shows how many of one unit equal another unit. For example, 1,000 meters equal 1 kilometer.

During the conversion, the units must cancel correctly. This keeps the calculation organized and gives the right final unit. Unit conversion is important in science and engineering because small unit mistakes can lead to major problems.

A well-known example is the Mars Climate Orbiter. NASA launched the probe on December 11, 1998, and lost contact with it on September 23, 1999 while trying to place it in orbit around Mars. Investigators found that the two programs used different units for recording and driving the thruster. That mismatch sent the probe on the wrong path, where it burned up in the Martian atmosphere or flew out into space. The error cost hundreds of millions of dollars and much time for the scientists and engineers involved.

Unit Conversion Steps and Real-World Errors

unit-conversion-steps-and-real-world-errors

the scope of physics

How Physics Shapes Science and Technology

Physics studies the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time. It looks for the basic mechanisms that explain natural phenomena. The word physics comes from the Greek word physis, which means nature. Physics helps us understand the natural world at its most fundamental level. It relies on quantitative laws, or rules written in numbers and measurements, to describe how things behave. That approach can also help other fields improve the limits of current technology. Physics matters in...

orders of magnitude

Estimating Scale with Powers of 10

Orders of magnitude help estimate the scale of a number using powers of 10. It is a simple way to round values to the nearest power of 10. This makes it easier to compare very large and very small numbers. To find the order of magnitude of a number, take its base-10 logarithm and round to the nearest integer. The result gives the power of 10 that most closely matches the original value. This method gives a consistent estimate of size without using exact digits. Orders of magnitude are useful...

/files/media/science-education/science-education-thumbs/12596.jpg

models, theories, and laws

Scientific Models, Theories, and Laws

Scientific models, theories, and laws help physicists describe natural phenomena. A model is a simplified version of a physical system that is too complex to study in full. It acts as a rough mental or visual picture of what may be happening. Good models keep the important parts and simplify the rest so the problem becomes workable. The light wave model is one example. Light waves are usually invisible, so they cannot be seen in the same way as water waves. Even so, it is useful to think of...

/files/media/science-education/science-education-thumbs/14686.jpg

units and standards of measurement

SI Units for Physical Quantities

SI units give a standard way to measure physical quantities. A physical quantity can be defined by how it is measured or by how it is calculated from other measurements. For example, the mass and dimensions of a metallic cube can be found with a weighing machine and a meter scale. Some quantities are built from others. The volume of a cube is the cube of its side length. The density of the cube is then found by dividing mass by volume. Measurements are written in units, which are standardized...

estimation of the physical quantities

Fermi Estimation for Physical Quantities

Fermi estimation helps physicists, scientists, and engineers make rough calculations for physical quantities. These estimates are also called guesstimates, order-of-magnitude approximations, back-of-the-envelope calculations, or Fermi calculations. Enrico Fermi was known for making these kinds of estimates with surprising precision. Estimation is not random guessing. It uses prior experience and sound physical reasoning to get a rough value for a quantity. This kind of reasoning helps build...

/files/media/science-education/science-education-thumbs/14734.jpg

base quantities and derived quantities

SI Base Units Behind Measured Quantities

SI base units are the starting point for measuring physical quantities. In any system of units, some quantities must be defined through direct measurement. These are called base quantities, and their units are base units. Other physical quantities are built from these base values by algebraic combinations. These are called derived quantities, and their units are derived units. For example, area comes from two lengths multiplied together. It is a derived quantity and is written in SI base units...

conversion of units

Unit conversion lets you change a measurement from one unit to another. It is useful in everyday life, such as when a cookbook gives amounts in liters or ounces and you need cups instead. It also helps when directions use feet or meters, but you want to know the distance in miles. The first step is to list the given unit and the unit you need. The second step is to choose a conversion factor, which is a ratio that shows how many of one unit equal another unit. For example, 1,000 meters equal 1...

accuracy and precision

Repeated Measurements in Science

Repeated measurements help scientists check the quality of their results. They are used to judge both precision and accuracy. These two ideas are related, but they do not mean the same thing. Measurements are precise when repeated trials give very similar results. Precision shows how closely the values agree with one another. Measurements are accurate when the result is very close to the true value or the accepted value. Accuracy shows how closely the values agree with the real target. High...

random and systematic errors

How Measurement Errors Affect Results

Measurement errors can change how accurate and precise a result appears. Scientists try to record measurements as carefully as possible, but errors can still happen. These errors are usually random or systematic. Random errors come from inconsistency or fluctuation in the measuring process. They can also come from changes in the quantity being measured. In repeated measurements, random error may make a value appear greater than the true value one time and less than it the next. A simple...

rules for significant figures

Measurement Precision and Significant Figures

Measurement precision depends on the tool used, and significant figures show that precision. A ruler can measure length to the closest millimeter. A caliper can measure length to the nearest 0.01 mm, so it gives a more precise measurement because it can detect very small changes in length. When a value is written from a measurement, the last digit is not exact. The person making the measurement must estimate that digit. For example, a stick that seems to fall between 13.2 cm and 13.3 cm must...

significant figures in calculations

Rounding Rules for Significant Figures

Rounding rules for significant figures help show the right level of certainty in measured results. When a calculation is reported with the correct number of significant figures, it better matches the uncertainty in the measurements. The rounding rule depends on the type of math being done. For addition and subtraction, the result should have the same number of decimal places as the number with the fewest decimal places. For multiplication and division, the result should have the same number of...

dimensional analysis

Dimensional Checks in Physics Equations

Dimensional consistency is a key check in physics equations. It means the dimensions on both sides of an equation must match. The idea helps show whether an equation can represent a real physical law. The first rule is simple: expressions on each side of the equal sign must have the same dimensions. That makes sense because you can only add or subtract quantities of the same type. The second rule says that the input to a standard mathematical function, such as a trigonometric function, a...

problem solving: dimensional analysis

Dimensional Checks for Physics Equations

Dimensional analysis helps check whether physics equations make sense. It compares the dimensions on each side of an equation and shows whether the units are consistent. This method is useful for spotting algebra errors, typos, and for remembering physical laws. A valid equation must follow two rules. First, both sides of an equality must have the same dimension, so only quantities with matching dimensions can be added or subtracted. Second, common math functions such as exponential,...

/files/media/science-education/science-education-thumbs/14687.jpg

solving problems in physics

Physics Problem Solving: Strategy to Check

Physics problem solving uses general physical principles to work out specific situations. It is a key skill in physics, and it can also help with everyday life. The same analytical skills can be used in new situations, while a list of facts can never cover every possible case. Solving physics problems also takes creativity and insight. These skills grow with experience and practice. There is no simple step-by-step method that works for every problem, but a three-stage process can guide the...

key terms and concepts

Learn how to convert units using conversion factors, unit cancellation, and clear steps. See how a unit mismatch helped cause the Mars Climate Orbiter failure.

Unit Conversion Steps and Real-World Errors | JoVE K12

physics

JoVE Core Física presenta la teoría y la aplicación de conceptos físicos fundamentales, como la cinemática, dinámica, mecánica de fluidos, estática, ondas y acústica, mediante animaciones audiovisuales concisas y fáciles de entender. Además, los vídeos de científicos en acción muestran la aplicación de los conceptos relacionados en experimentos de investigación clásicos y originales, realizados en laboratorios de todo el mundo.

PH.1

PH.1.b

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills

High School

Chemistry

CHEM.1

CHEM.1.E

Scientific Method

The scientific method is used to solve problems and explain phenomena. The development of the scientific method coincided with changes in philosophy ...

What is a Hypothesis?

A hypothesis can be a simple sentence or statement about a property or any phenomenon observed or predicted for a population. It is usually a claim about ...

Null and Alternative Hypotheses

The actual hypothesis testing begins by considering two hypotheses. They are termed&#160; the null hypothesis and the alternative hypothesis. These ...

Types of Hypothesis Testing

There are three types of hypothesis tests: right-tailed, left-tailed, and two-tailed.
When the null and alternative hypotheses are stated, it is observed ...

Introduction to Test of Independence

In statistics, the term independence means that one can directly obtain the probability of any event involving both variables by multiplying their ...

Hypothesis Test for Test of Independence

The test of independence is a chi-square-based test used to determine whether two variables or factors are independent or dependent. This hypothesis test ...

Decision Making: P-value Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the P-value method includes calculating the P- value using the sample data and interpreting it.
First, a ...

Decision Making: Traditional Method

The process of hypothesis testing based on the traditional method includes calculating the critical value, testing the value of the test statistic using ...

empirical-method-to-interpret-standard-deviation

Empirical Method to Interpret Standard Deviation

The empirical rule, also known as the three-sigma rule, allows a statistician to interpret the standard deviation in a normally distributed dataset. The ...

Data Collection by Experiments

Data collection is a systematic method of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing accurate information. An experimental study is a standard method ...

Solving Problems in Physics

Problem-solving is the ability to apply general physical principles to specific situations, usually expressed by equations. It is an essential skill in ...

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by asking questions and defining problems
• ask questions that require empirical evidence to answer
• develop hypotheses indicating relationships between independent and dependent variables
• offer simple solutions to design problems

PS.1.a

What is an Experiment?

An experiment is a planned activity carried out under controlled conditions. The purpose of an experiment is to investigate the relationship between two ...

Study Design in Statistics

A study design is a set of techniques that allow a researcher to collect and analyze data from different variables defined for a specific research ...

Observational Studies

Observational studies are a type of analytical study where researchers observe events without any interventions. In other words, the researcher does not ...

Experimental Designs

An experimental design is a systematic process that allows researchers to evaluate the relationship between dependent and independent variables. There are ...

Randomized Experiments

The randomization process involves assigning study participants randomly to experimental or control groups based on their probability of being equally ...

Crossover Experiments

Crossover experiments, also called the repeated-measurements design, is a study design in which all experimental units are exposed to all treatments in ...

Controls in Experiments

When conducting an experiment, it is crucial to have control to reduce bias and accurately measure the dependent variables. It also marks the results more ...

Bias

Bias refers to any tendency that prevents a question from being considered unprejudiced. In research, bias occurs when one outcome or answer is selected ...

Blinding

Blinding is a commonly used method of not telling participants which treatment a subject is receiving. Blinding is a critical part of a randomized control ...

Clinical Trials

Clinical trials are prospective experimental studies conducted on humans to determine the safety and efficacy of treatments, drugs, diet methods, and ...

Data Collection by Observations

Data collection refers to a systematic way of obtaining, observing, measuring, and analyzing accurate information. Observational studies are one of the ...

Data Collection by Survey

The systematic method of obtaining and analyzing accurate information of a population is called data collection. A survey is a standard method of data ...

Units and Standards of Measurement

A physical quantity is defined either by specifying its measurement method or by stating how it is calculated from other measurements. For example, ...

Estimation of the Physical Quantities

On many occasions, physicists, other scientists, and engineers need to make estimates of a particular quantity. These are sometimes referred to as ...

Base Quantities and Derived Quantities

In any system of units, the units for some physical quantities must be specified through a measurement process. These measurements are the base quantities ...

Sometimes, there is a need to convert from one unit to another one. For instance, reading a cookbook in which quantities are expressed in units of liters ...

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by planning and carrying out investigations
• independently and collaboratively plan and conduct observational and experimental investigations; identify variables, constants, and controls where appropriate and include the safe use of chemicals and equipment
• evaluate the accuracy of various methods for collecting data
• take metric measurements using appropriate tools and technologies
• apply scientific ideas or principles to design, construct, and/or test a design of an object, tool, process or system

Review and Preview

Data are individual items of information obtained from a population or sample. Data may be classified as qualitative (categorical), quantitative ...

What is a Frequency Distribution

A frequency is the number of times a value of the data occurs. The sum of all the frequency values represents the total number of students included in the ...

Ogive Graph

An ogive graph is sometimes called a cumulative frequency polygon. It is one type of frequency polygon that shows cumulative frequency. In other words, ...

Histogram

The histogram is a graphical representation in the x-y form of data distribution in a data set. The horizontal x-axis is labeled with what the data ...

Relative Frequency Histogram

The relative frequency depicts the proportion of data points that have each value. The frequency tells the number of data points that have each value. ...

Scatter Plot

The most common and easiest way to display the relationship between two variables, x and y, is a scatter plot. A scatter plot shows the direction of a ...

Time-Series Graph

A time-series graph is a line graph with repeated measurements taken at successive intervals of time. It is also called a time series chart. To construct ...

Bar Graph

A bar graph is also called a bar chart and consists of bars that are separated from each other. It either uses horizontal or vertical bars to show ...

Multiple Bar Graph

As the name suggests, a multiple bar graph is the same as a bar graph but has multiple bars to depict relationships between different data values. One can ...

Pareto Chart

A Pareto chart is a bar graph or a combination of both line and bar graphs. The bar lengths represent the individual values or the frequency, while the ...

Pie Chart

A pie chart (or a pie graph) is a circular graphical chart or a pictorial representation of categorical data. It is divided into slices of pie each ...

What is Central Tendency?

Descriptive statistics describe or summarize relevant characteristics of a sample and aid in the analysis of data of interest. When analyzing large ...

What is Variation?

Apart from the measures of central tendency, distribution, outliers, and the changing characteristics of data with time, an important characteristic of ...

Range

The range is one of the measures of variation. It can be defined as the difference between a dataset&#39;s highest and lowest values. For example, in the ...

Standard Deviation

The most commonly used measure of variation is the standard deviation. It is a numerical value measuring how far data values are from their mean. The ...

Calculating Standard Deviation

The standard deviation is the most common measure of variation. It is a value that tells us how far a data value is from the mean value in a dataset. ...

Variance

&#160;The deviations show how spread out the data are about the mean. A positive deviation occurs when the data value exceeds the mean, whereas a negative ...

Coefficient of Variation

The coefficient of variation measures the dispersion of the data points or distribution around the mean. Using the coefficient of variation, we can ...

Contingency Table

A contingency table provides a way of portraying data that can facilitate calculating probabilities. It is a method of displaying a frequency distribution ...

Statistical Analysis: Overview

An analysis is usually conducted by replicated sampling or repeated measurements on the same sample. This leads to scattered results rather than a single ...

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by pnterpreting, analyzing, and evaluating data
• construct and interpret data tables showing independent and dependent variables, repeated trials, and means
• construct, analyze, and interpret graphical displays of data and consider limitations of data analysis
• apply mathematical concepts and processes to scientific questions
• use data to evaluate and refine design solutions to best meet criteria

PS.1.c

Models, Theories, and Laws

Scientists frequently use models to help them comprehend a specific collection of phenomena. In physics, a model is a condensed version of a physical ...

Inductive Reasoning

Inductive reasoning is a form of logical thinking that uses related observations to arrive at a general conclusion. It is uncertain and operates in ...

Deductive Reasoning

Deductive reasoning, or deduction, is the type of logic used in hypothesis-based science. In deductive reasoning, the pattern of thinking moves in the ...

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by constructing and critiquing conclusions and explanations
• construct scientific explanations based on valid and reliable evidence obtained from sources (including the students' own investigations)
• construct arguments supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning
• generate and compare multiple solutions to problems based on how well they meet the criteria and constraints
• differentiate between a scientific hypothesis, theory, and law

PS.1.d

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by developing and using models
• construct, develop, and use models and simulations to illustrate and/or explain observable and unobservable phenomena
• evaluate limitations of models

PS.1.e

The Scientific Method

Chemistry is an empirical science. Scientists often pose questions to understand the chemistry in everyday life and seek answers to these questions. To ...

The student will demonstrate an understanding of scientific and engineering practices by obtaining, evaluating, and communicating information
• read scientific texts, including those adapted for classroom use, to determine the central idea and/or obtain scientific and/or technical information
• gather, read, and synthesize information from multiple appropriate sources and assess the credibility, accuracy, and possible bias of each publication
• construct, use, and/or present an oral and written argument supported by empirical evidence and scientific reasoning

PS.1.f

Unit Conversion Steps and Real-World Errors

Description

Transcript

Tags

More videos by Standards