Physics Unit Conversions

Introduction

Physics uses a wide range of units to measure quantities like length, mass, time, force, energy, and power. Accurate conversions are essential for solving problems and understanding scientific data.

Key Physics Units

• Length: meter (m), kilometer (km), centimeter (cm), inch (in), foot (ft), mile (mi)
• Mass: kilogram (kg), gram (g), pound (lb), ounce (oz)
• Time: second (s), minute (min), hour (h)
• Force: newton (N), pound-force (lbf)
• Energy: joule (J), calorie (cal), kilowatt-hour (kWh), British thermal unit (BTU)
• Power: watt (W), horsepower (hp)

SI vs Imperial Units

• SI (International System) is the standard in science: meter, kilogram, second, etc.
• Imperial/US units are used in some countries: inch, foot, pound, etc.

Conversion Tables

Length

Mass

Force

Energy

Power

Formulas

• Speed: v = d / t (distance / time)
• Force: F = m × a (mass × acceleration)
• Energy: E = F × d (force × distance)
• Power: P = W / t (work / time)

Example Conversions

• Convert 10 ft to m: 10 × 0.3048 = 3.048 m
• Convert 5 lb to kg: 5 × 0.4536 = 2.268 kg
• Convert 2 hp to W: 2 × 745.7 = 1,491.4 W

Tips

• Always check which unit system your problem uses.
• Use conversion factors for quick calculations.
• Online converters are helpful for complex conversions.

FAQ

• What is the difference between mass and weight? Mass is the amount of matter; weight is the force due to gravity (W = m × g).
• How do I convert between SI and Imperial units? Use the tables above or an online converter for accuracy.