Question

State the abbreviation for each of the following units: (a) milligram (b) kilogram (c) meter (d) nanometer (e) angstrom (f) microliter

Short answer

(a) mg, (b) kg, (c) m, (d) nm, (e) Å, (f) µL

Step-by-step solution

Identify the abbreviation for milligram

The abbreviation for milligram is 'mg'. 'Milli' indicates a factor of one-thousandth (10^-3).

Identify the abbreviation for kilogram

The abbreviation for kilogram is 'kg'. 'Kilo' indicates a factor of one thousand (10^3).

Identify the abbreviation for meter

The abbreviation for meter is 'm'. This is the base unit for length in the International System of Units (SI).

Identify the abbreviation for nanometer

The abbreviation for nanometer is 'nm'. 'Nano' indicates a factor of one-billionth (10^-9).

Identify the abbreviation for angstrom

The abbreviation for angstrom is 'Å'. One angstrom equals 10^-10 meters.

Identify the abbreviation for microliter

The abbreviation for microliter is 'µL'. 'Micro' indicates a factor of one-millionth (10^-6).

Key concepts

Metric System

The metric system is an internationally adopted system of measurement. It is based on the powers of ten, making it simple to convert between units. Common prefixes in the metric system include 'milli' (one-thousandth, \(10^{-3}\)), 'kilo' (one thousand, \(10^{3}\)), and 'micro' (one-millionth, \(10^{-6}\)). These prefixes help in accurately specifying the measurements of different quantities.
For example, one kilogram is equal to 1000 grams, and one millimeter is equal to 0.001 meters. This ease of conversion is one of the main advantages of the metric system over other measurement systems.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion is the process of changing the unit of a measured quantity without altering its value. In the metric system, this is straightforward due to the consistent use of base-10.
To convert between units, you typically multiply or divide by powers of ten. For example, converting from millimeters to meters involves dividing by 1000 (since 1 meter = 1000 millimeters).
Here’s how to perform a simple conversion:

• Identify the relation between the units. For example, 1 kilogram is \(10^{3}\) grams.
• Multiply or divide by the conversion factor. To convert 5000 grams to kilograms, divide by 1000: \(5000 \text{ g} \times \frac{1\text{ kg}}{1000\text{ g}} = 5 \text{ kg}\).

The metric system makes these conversions easy due to its decimal-based structure.

SI Units

The International System of Units (SI) is the modern form of the metric system. It is used globally in science, industry, and everyday commerce.
SI units include seven base quantities: meter (m) for length, kilogram (kg) for mass, second (s) for time, ampere (A) for electric current, kelvin (K) for temperature, mole (mol) for amount of substance, and candela (cd) for luminous intensity.
Derived units are formed by combining these base units. For example:

• Newtons (N) for force, which is \(\text{kg} \times \text{m}/\text{s}^2\).
• Joules (J) for energy, which is \(\text{kg} \times \text{m}^2/\text{s}^2\).

Using SI units helps ensure consistency and reproducibility in scientific measurements.

Measurement

Measurement is the process of determining the quantity or extent of something using specific units. Accurate measurement is crucial in science and everyday life
In the metric system, measurements are typically denoted with prefixes that indicate the magnitude of the quantity. Knowing the abbreviations and their meanings is important. For instance:

• 'mg' stands for milligram, \(10^{-3}\) grams.
• 'kg' stands for kilogram, \(10^{3}\) grams.
• 'nm' stands for nanometer, \(10^{-9}\) meters.
• 'µL' stands for microliter, \(10^{-6}\) liters.
• 'Å' stands for angstrom, \(10^{-10}\) meters.

Understanding how to use and convert these units is a fundamental skill in science and engineering.