Prefixes and Other Systems of Units
SI
prefixes precede a basic unit of measure to indicate a multiple or fraction of
the unit.
LEARNING OBJECTIVE
·
Apply prefixes to units and
distinguish between SI and customary units
KEY POINTS
·
The twenty standardized prefixes for use in the International System of Units are
derived from multiples of 10.
·
The kilogram is the only SI unit with
a prefix as part of its name and symbol; as such, SI unit prefixes are
prepended to the unit gram.
·
The United States customary units
define measurements based on the English, or Imperial, unit standards.
TERM
That which is prefixed; especially one or more letters or syllables
added to the beginning of a word to modify its meaning; as, pre- in prefix,
con- in conjure.
FULL TEXT
Prefixes
A metric prefix, or SI prefix, is a unit prefix that
precedes a basic unit of measure to indicate a multiple or fraction of the
unit. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to the unit symbol. The
prefix kilo-, for example, may be added to gram to indicate multiplication by
one thousand; one kilogram is equal to one thousand grams (1 kg = 1000 g). The
prefix centi-, likewise, may be added to meter to indicate division by one
hundred; one centimeter is equal to one hundredth of a meter (1 cm = 0.01 m). Prefixes
in varying multiples of 10 are a feature of all forms of the metric system,
with many dating back to the system's introduction in the 1790s. Today, the
prefixes are standardized for use in the International System of Units (SI) by
the International Bureau of Weights and Measures.There are twenty prefixes officially
specified by SI .
It is important to note that the
kilogram is the only SI unit with a prefix as part of its name and symbol.
Because multiple prefixes may not be used, in the case of the kilogram the
prefix names are used with the unit name "gram" and the prefix
symbols are used with the unit symbol "g. " With this exception, any
SI prefix may be used with any SI unit, including the degree Celsius and its
symbol °C.
Other Systems of Units
The SI
Unit system, or the metric system, is used by the majority of countries in the
world, and is the standard system agreed upon by scientists and mathematicians.
Colloquially, however, other systems of units are used in many countries. The
United States, for example, teaches and uses the United States customary units. This system of units was developed
from the English, or Imperial, unit standards of the United Kingdom.The United
States customary units define measurements using different standards than those
used in SI Units. The system for measuring length using the United States customary system is based
on the inch, foot, yard, and mile. Likewise, units of area are measured in
terms of square feet, and units of capacity and volume are measured in terms of
cubic inches, cubic feet, or cubic yards. Units of mass are commonly defined in terms of ounces and pounds,
rather than the SI unit of kilograms.Other commonly used units from the United
States customary system include the fluid volume units of the teaspoon, tablespoon, fluid
ounce, US cup, pint, quart, and gallon, as well as the degrees Fahrenheit used
to measure temperature.
Some
units that are widely used are not a part of the International System of Units
and are considered Non-SI Units. These units, though not officially part of SI
Units, are generally accepted for use in conjunction with SI units. These can include the minute, hour, and day used in
temporal measurements, the liter for volumetric measurements, and the degree,
minute, and second used to measure angles.
Source,credits and courtesy: boundless.com
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