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APPENDIX C
Some Measurements
Used in Biology
| Measures of | Unit | Equivalents | Metric → English conversion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Length | meter (m) | base unit | 1 m = 39.37 inches = 3.28 feet = 1.196 yards |
| kilometer (km) | 1 km = 1000 (103) m | 1 km = 0.62 miles | |
| centimeter (cm) | 1 cm = 0.01 (10–2) m | 1 cm = 0.39 inches | |
| millimeter (mm) | 1 mm = 0.1 cm = 10–3 m | 1 mm = 0.039 inches | |
| micrometer (µm) | 1 µm = 0.001 mm = 10–6 m | ||
| nanometer (nm) | 1 nm = 0.001 µm = 10–9 m | ||
| Area | square meter (m2) | base unit | 1 m2 = 1.196 square yards |
| hectare (ha) | 1 ha = 10,000 m2 | 1 ha = 2.47 acres | |
| Volume | liter (L) | base unit | 1 L = 1.06 quarts |
| milliliter (mL) | 1 mL = 0.001 L = 10–3 L | 1 mL = 0.034 fluid ounces | |
| microliter (µL) | 1 µL = 0.001 mL = 10–6 L | ||
| Mass | gram (g) | base unit | 1 g = 0.035 ounces |
| kilogram (kg) | 1 kg = 1000 g | 1 kg = 2.20 pounds | |
| metric ton (mt) | 1 mt = 1000 kg | 1 mt = 2,200 pounds = 1.10 ton | |
| milligram (mg) | 1 mg = 0.001 g = 10–3 g | ||
| microgram (µg) | 1 µg = 0.001 mg = 10–6 g | ||
| Temperature | degree Celsius (°C) | base unit | °C = (°F – 32)/1.8 |
| 0°C = 32°F (water freezes) | |||
| 100°C = 212°F (water boils) | |||
| 20°C = 68°F (“room temperature”) | |||
| 37°C = 98.6°F (human internal body temperature) | |||
| Kelvin (K)* | K = °C – 273 | 0 K = –460°F | |
| Energy | joule (J) | 1 J ≈ 0.24 calorie = 0.00024 kilocalorie† |
*0 K (–273°C) is “absolute zero,” a temperature at which molecular oscillations approach 0—
†A calorie is the amount of heat necessary to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water 1°C. The kilocalorie, or nutritionist’s calorie, is what we commonly think of as a calorie in terms of food.