International System

of Units - SI
By many triumphs of diplomacy and horse trading the A shorthand system of prefixes was agreed as part of SI
world agree to adopt an International System of Units (SI) system. All prefixes are related to each other by the power
so that they could work together. of 10 making it very easy to use.

Prefixes used for multiples of units

Prefix Symbol Decimal Power
of 10
yotta Y 1000000000000000000000000 1024
zetta Z 1000000000000000000000 1021
exa E 1000000000000000000 1018
peta P 1000000000000000 1015
tera T 1000000000000 1012
giga G 1000000000 109
mega M 1000000 106
kilo k 1000 103
The SI is at the centre of all modern science and technology hecto h 100 102
and consists of the following seven base units. deca da 10 101
deci d 0.1 10-1

SI base units centi c 0.01 10-2

milli m 0.001 10-3
Quantity SI unit Symbol Example micro 0.000001 10-6
Length metre m Height of double-decker nano n 0.000000001 10-9
bus: about 4.5 m pico p 0.000000000001 10-12
Mass kilogram kg Large loaf of bread: about femto f 0.000000000000001 10-15
0.8 kg atto a 0.000000000000000001 10-18
Time second s Time between heart-beats zepto z 0.000000000000000000001 10-21
(at rest):
yocto y 0.000000000000000000000001 10-24
about 0.8 s
Electric ampere A Kettle: about 10 A
current
Throughout the SI system, the same prefixes are used for
Temperature kelvin K Human body: about
the same multiples, no matter what the unit - except for the
310 K kilogram and time.
Luminous candela cd Candle: about 1 cd We dont refer to a thousandth of a kilogram as a
intensity
millikilogram!
Amount of mole mol Water molecules in a
substance cupful: about 14 mol
Time uses an older internationally agreed
Absolutely any measurement can be expressed using system
combinations of the seven base units (and angle if needed). Name Symbol Quantity Equivalent SI unit
These combinations are called derived units.
minute min time 1 min = 60 s

Examples of derived SI units hour h time 1 h = 3600 s

day d time 1 d = 86400 s
Quantity Unit 1 such unit equals:
Area square 1 metre x 1 metre
Measurement is a pragmatic science so the following
metre traditional units are accepted for use with the SI.
Volume cubic metre 1 metre x 1 metre x 1 metre
Speed metre per 1 metre 1 second
Internationally recognised non-SI units
second
Name Symbol Quantity Equivalent SI unit
Acceleration metre per 1 metre 1 second 1 second
second per degree of arc angle 1 = (/180) rad
second minute of arc angle 1 = (/10800) rad
Force newton 1 kilogram x 1 metre 1 second 1 second of arc angle 1 = (/648000) rad
second hectare ha area 1 ha = 10000 m
Energy joule 1 kilogram x 1 metre x 1 metre 1 litre l or L volume 1 l = 0.001 m3
second 1 second
tonne t mass 1 t = 1000 kg
Power watt 1 kilogram x 1 metre x 1 metre 1
second 1 second 1 second

To find out more read the Beginners Guide to Measurement

www.npl.co.uk/publications/beginners-guide-to-measurement
www.npl.co.uk