Thinking Like

an Engineer
An Active
Learning
Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill,
Ohland
Third Edition
Copyright © 2015
Pearson Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Chapter 7
Dimensions and Units
Instructor Slides

Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 7.5 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
Why do we care?

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
7.5

Chapter 7.1
The Metric System
Instructor Slides

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Learning Objectives
 Identify a quantity as a dimension or a unit.
 List the seven fundamental dimensions and
their abbreviation.
 List the seven base SI units, their
abbreviations, and the matching fundamental
dimensions.
 Express units correctly using the official SI
rules.
 Express quantities using correct SI prefixes.
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Concept Check CH 7, Check 1
Circle any FUNDAMENTAL DIMENSIONS.
Underline any BASE SI UNITS.

mass degrees Celsius length megawatt

cubic
second slug foot
centimeter
candela newton lumen joule
potential
gram power electric current
energy
heat efficiency voltage volume
area meter hour temperature
mole mile pound-force pascal
time kelvin
Thinking Like an Engineer volt calorie
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Concept Check CH 7, Check 1

mass degrees Celsius length megawatt

second slug cubic centimeter foot

candela newton lumen joule

electric
gram potential energy power
current
heat efficiency voltage volume

area meter hour temperature

mole mile pound-force pascal

time kelvin volt calorie

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Fundamental Dimensions and Base SI Units

L m
k
I M A
g
Dimensio Uni
ns c
J T d
ts
s
m
N Θ ol
K
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Fundamental Dimensions and Base SI Units

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 SI Prefixes

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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
7.5

Chapter 7.2
Other Unit Systems
Instructor Slides

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Learning Objectives

 Understand how dimensions are

expressed in the three main unit
systems (SI, AES, USCS).
 Recognize non-SI units that are
acceptable for use with the SI system.

Thinking Like an Engineer

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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Comparison of SI, AES, and USCS Unit Systems

ft ft
° lb ° slu
R m R USC g
AES S

° m °
F
s F
s
SI
K [MKS kg
]

°C s
Thinking Like an Engineer
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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Acceptable non-SI Units

am hou
AU day
Length u Mass Time r Time
[m] [g] [s] [s]

lite mi yea
eV n r
Energ r Volum Time Time
y [J] e [m3] [s] [s]

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
7.5

Chapter 7.3–7.5
Conversion Procedure
Instructor Slides

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Learning Objectives
 Convert from one unit to a different unit
within a fundamental dimension.
 Convert from one unit to a different unit
when multiple steps are required.
 Convert from one unit to a different unit
within a fundamental dimension when
presented with units that are "new" or
unfamiliar to the user.

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Conversion Procedure

Define
term to be
converted

Cancel, Write
calculate, conversion
reasonable formula

Make
fraction
Multiply
equal to
Thinking Like an Engineer
one
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Example CH 7.3, Ex 1

The Mariana Trench is one of the

deepest spots in the ocean at 35,837
feet [ft].
Express this length in units of miles
[mi].

1 mi = 5,280 ft
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Example Workspace
Define term
to be
converted

Write
conversion
formula

Make fraction
equal to one

Multiply

Cancel,
calculate,
reasonable
Thinking Like an Engineer
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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Example CH 7.4, Ex 1

Convert 0.01
1 kg = 1 x 10 3 g
kilograms [kg]
to units of
micrograms [μg].

1 μg = 1 x 10 - 6 g
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Example Workspace
Define term
to be
converted

Write
conversion
formula

Make fraction
equal to one

Multiply

Cancel,
calculate,
reasonable
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Example CH 7.4, Ex 2

A typical amount of blood drawn

during a blood donation is 450
milliliters [mL].

Express the volume of 450 milliliters

[mL] in units of cubic inches [in 3].
1 milliliters = 1 cubic centimeters
1 cubic inch = 2.54*2.54*2.54 cubic centimeters

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Example Workspace
Define term
to be
converted

Write
conversion
formula

Make fraction
equal to one

Multiply

Cancel,
calculate,
reasonable
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Example CH 7.4, Ex 3

A typical amount of blood drawn

during a blood donation is 450
milliliters [mL].

Express the volume of 450 milliliters

[mL] in units of gallons [gal].
1 liter= 1000 milliliters
1 G= 3.78 L

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Example Workspace

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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 How to Convert Units Raised to a Power

What does a volume of 3 cubic

centimeters [cm3] actually mean?

If we want to 1
convert this to cm
units of FEET,
we must
convert each
side to units of
1
feet. 3 Like an Engineer
Thinking
cm
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 How to Convert Units Raised to a Power
Converting to units of feet…

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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Concept Check CH 7.4, Check 1
Rank the following from smallest volume to largest
volume.
A. 1 cubic centimeter A
B. 1 cubic foot D
C. 1 gallon G
D. 1 cubic inch E
E. 1 liter C
F. 1 cubic meter B
G. 1 quart F
Thinking Like an Engineer
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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Visualization Activity
Indicate if quantity on left hand side is less
than, equal to, or greater than the quantity on
right hand side.
Place the units in order from smallest to largest.
If two units of
Quantity are equivalent,
Left Hand place of
Quantity them
RightinHand
the
same blank. Side Side
1 cubic centimeter [1
1 cubic meter [1 m3]
cm3]
1 cubic centimeter [1
1 milliliter [1 mL]
cm3]
1 cubic meter [1 m3] 1 liter [L]
1 liter [L] 1 quart [qt]
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Visualization Activity Answer

Quantity of Left Hand Side Quantity of Right Hand Side

1 cubic centimeter [1 cm3] < 1 cubic meter [1 m3]

1 cubic centimeter [1 cm3] = 1 milliliter [1 mL]

1 cubic meter [1 m3] > 1 liter [L]

1 liter [L] > 1 quart [qt]

1 cm3 = 1 mL < 1 qt <1L

< 1 m3 Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
7.5

Chapter 7.6
Derived Dimensions and Units
Instructor Slides

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Learning Objectives
 Identify a quantity as a derived dimension or derived
unit, in mathematical or shorthand notation.
 Given the base units of a quantity, determine the
fundamental dimensions.
 Given the fundamental dimensions of a quantity,
determine the base SI units.
 Be able to express the five most common derived
quantities (N, J, W, Pa, V) in terms of both
fundamental dimensions and base SI units.
 Identify when a quantity is dimensionless.

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
Fundamental Dimensions and Base SI Units

L m
k
I M A
g
Dimensio Uni
ns c
J T d
ts
s
m
N Θ ol
K
Thinking Like an Engineer
An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Derived Dimensions and Units

Power [=] watt

Energy [=] joule [J]
1 W [W]
≡ 1 J/s
1 J ≡ (1 N) (1
m)
Force [=] newton [N]
 m
1N  1kg  1 2 
 s 

Voltage [=] volt

Pressure = pascal [V]
[Pa] 1W
1N 1V 
1Pa  1A
1m2
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Common Derived, Named Units

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 Ch 7.3 –
Ch 7.1 Ch 7.2 Ch 7.6 Ch 7.7 Ch 7.8
7.5

Chapter 7.7
Equations Laws
Instructor Slides

Thinking Like an Engineer

An Active Learning Approach
Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Learning Objectives
 Given an expression, determine if that
expression is valid using plus law, unit law,
and per law.

 For an expression that is valid using the plus

law, unit law, and per law, determine the
dimensions or units of an unknown quantity.

Thinking Like an Engineer

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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Plus Law

Every term in an equation

must have the
same dimensions.

Surface area = 2 (ab + ac + bc)

L2 = L 2 + L 2 + L 2
Thinking Like an Engineer
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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Unit Law

Every term in an equation

must have the same units
to add or subtract the
terms.
Surface area = 2 (ab + ac + bc)
cm2 = (in)(cm) + (in)(ft) + (in)(m)
Thinking Like an Engineer
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Stephan, Bowman, Park, Sill, Ohland 3rd Edition
 Plus Law, Unit Law

2
L≠M+T+
N
cm ≠ in + m
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 Unit Law Corollary

Dimensional consistency
does NOT equal
unit consistency.

L =L+L+L
cm = in + ft + m
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 Unit Law Corollary

2
L=L+L
cm ≠ in + yd
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