Unit of Measure Conversions
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Health
Alcohol Units
Alcohol intake is measured in units. One unit is 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol.
The following quantities of drink contain about 1 unit:
- Half a pint of regular beer, lager or cider
- One small glass (125ml) of wine
- One single measure of spirits
- One small glass of sherry or port
Alcohol Consumption
The average adult body takes about one hour to remove one unit of alcohol from the bloodstream.
The table below is a rough guide to the blood alcohol concentration 30 minutes after consuming
the indicated quantity of alcohol:
| Units Alcohol | Concentration (mg per 100 ml)* |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 30 |
| 3 | 50 |
| 6 | 100 |
Drink/Drive Limits in the UK
| Test type | E, W, NI* | Scotland |
|---|---|---|
| Micrograms/100 ml breath | 35 | 22 |
| Milligrams/100 ml blood | 80 | 50 |
Blood Pressure
| Range | Systolic* | Diastolic* |
|---|---|---|
| Low | <90 | <60 |
| Ideal | 90-120 | 60-80 |
| Raised | 120-140 | 80-90 |
| High | >140 | >90 |
Body Mass Index
A person's BMI is calculated as follows:
Divide their weight (in kilograms) by the square of their height (in metres).
Note that the range values shown apply to adults.
| Range | Description |
|---|---|
| Below 18.5 | Underweight |
| 18.5 - 24.9 | Normal |
| 25.0 - 29.9 | Overweight |
| Above 29.9 | Obese |
Composition of Common Alloys
| Alloy | Main Constituent Elements | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ag | C | Cr | Cu | Fe | Hg | Ni | Pb | Sb | Sn | Zn | |
| Brass | • | • | |||||||||
| Bronze | • | • | |||||||||
| Constantan | • | • | |||||||||
| Dental Amalgam | • | • | • | • | |||||||
| Gunmetal | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Invar | • | • | |||||||||
| Elinvar | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Nickel Silver | • | • | • | ||||||||
| *Pewter | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Soft Solder | • | • | |||||||||
| Steel | • | • | |||||||||
| ^High-speed Steel | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Stainless Steel | • | • | • | • | |||||||
| Type Metal | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Silver | Carbon | Chromium | Copper | Iron | Mercury | Nickel | Lead | Antimony | Tin | Zinc | |
Cookery
UK Accepted Liquid Measures
| Item | Capacity* |
|---|---|
| Teaspoon | 5 ml |
| Dessertspoon | 10 ml |
| Tablespoon | 15 ml |
| Cup | 250 ml |
UK Gas Marks and Corresponding Oven Temperature
| Gas Mark | Fahrenheit | Celsius* | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ | 225 | 105 | Very Cool/Very Slow |
| ½ | 250 | 120 | |
| 1 | 275 | 135 | Cool/Slow |
| 2 | 300 | 150 | |
| 3 | 325 | 165 | Warm/Moderate |
| 4 | 350 | 175 | |
| 5 | 375 | 190 | Moderately Hot |
| 6 | 400 | 205 | |
| 7 | 425 | 220 | Hot |
| 8 | 450 | 230 | |
| 9 | 475 | 245 | Very Hot |
| 10 | 500 | 260 |
Number Representation in UPC Barcodes
As can be seen in the examples below, UPC barcodes are made up of two groups of numbers, separated in the middle by two slightly longer vertical black bars.
- Each number is composed of four adjacent vertical bars, being either "white-black-white-black" or "black-white-black-white"
- Each bar is one of four widths, from 1 (thinnest) to 4 (thickest)
- Bar width sequences for each number are shown in the table below. Note that the sequence can also be the reverse of that shown - for example zero can be represented either as 3 2 1 1 or as 1 1 2 3
- Note that, for each number, the four widths always add up to seven
| Number | Bar Widths |
|---|---|
| 0 | 3 2 1 1 |
| 1 | 2 2 2 1 |
| 2 | 2 1 2 2 |
| 3 | 1 4 1 1 |
| 4 | 1 1 3 2 |
| 5 | 1 2 3 1 |
| 6 | 1 1 1 4 |
| 7 | 1 3 1 2 |
| 8 | 1 2 1 3 |
| 9 | 3 1 1 2 |
- Left Hand group of numbers: reading from left to right, the first significant bar is the white bar immediately to the right of the two longer leftmost black bars
- Right Hand group of numbers: reading from left to right, the first significant bar is the black bar to the right of the two longer central black bars
Paper and Envelope Sizes
Main Paper Sizes
| British Imperial Cut Paper | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Alternate Names | W x H (in) | W x H (mm) |
| Albert | 4 x 6 | 102 x 152 | |
| Duchess | 4½ x 6 | 114 x 152 | |
| Small Post Octavo | SPO | 4½ x 7 | 114 x 178 |
| Large Post Octavo | LPO | 5 x 8 | 127 x 203 |
| Duke | 5½ x 7 | 140 x 178 | |
| Foolscap Quarto | FQ, King | 6½ x 8 | 165 x 203 |
| Small Post Quarto | SPQ, Imperial | 7 x 9 | 178 x 229 |
| Large Post Quarto | LPQ, Quarto | 8 x 10 | 203 x 254 |
| Foolscap Folio | FF, Foolscap | 8 x 13 | 203 x 330 |
| American Paper | |||
| Name | Alternate Names | W x H (in) | W x H (mm) |
| Junior Legal | 5 x 8 | 127 x 203 | |
| Half Letter | Memo, Statement | 5½ x 8½ | 140 x 216 |
| Letter | American Quarto | 8½ x 11 | 216 x 279 |
| Legal | 8½ x 14 | 216 x 356 | |
| Tabloid | 11 x 17 | 279 x 432 | |
| Ledger | 17 x 11 | 432 x 279 | |
| International Paper (ISO 216) | |||
| Name | Ideal Envelope | W x H (in) | W x H (mm) |
| A10 | 1.0 x 1.5 | 26 x 37 | |
| A9 | 1.5 x 2.0 | 37 x 52 | |
| A8 | C8 | 2.0 x 2.9 | 52 x 74 |
| A7 | C7 | 2.9 x 4.1 | 74 x 105 |
| A6 | C6 | 4.1 x 5.8 | 105 x 148 |
| A5 | C5 | 5.8 x 8.3 | 148 x 210 |
| A4 | C4 | 8.3 x 11.7 | 210 x 297 |
| A3 | C3 | 11.7 x 16.5 | 297 x 420 |
| A2 | C2 | 16.5 x 23.4 | 420 x 594 |
| A1 | 23.4 x 33.1 | 594 x 841 | |
| A0 | 33.1 x 46.8 | 841 x 1189 | |
Main Envelope Sizes
| Imperial Envelopes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Size (in) | Size (mm) | Holds |
| Post Quarto | 3½ x 7⅓ | 89 x 187 | SPO/Duke folded once; King/SPQ concertina folded into thirds |
| DL* | 4⅓ x 8⅔ | 110 x 220 | A6 unfolded; A5 folded once; A4 concertina folded into thirds; Albert unfolded; Duchess/SPO/LPO/Duke/King folded once |
| DL+ | 4½ x 9 | 114 x 229 | A6 unfolded; A5 folded once; A4 concertina folded into thirds; Albert unfolded; Duchess/SPO/LPO/Duke/King folded once; Foolscap concertina folded into thirds |
| DL++ | 4½ x 9¼ | 114 x 235 | A6 unfolded; A5 folded once; A4 concertina folded into thirds; Albert unfolded; Duchess/SPO/LPO/Duke/King/SPQ folded once; Foolscap concertina folded into thirds |
| International Envelopes (ISO 216) | |||
| Name | Size (in) | Size (mm) | Holds |
| C8 | 3.2 x 2.2 | 81 x 57 | A8 unfolded; A7 folded once; A6 folded twice |
| C7 | 4.5 x 3.2 | 114 x 81 | A7 unfolded; A6 folded once; A5 folded twice |
| C7/C6 | 6.4 x 3.2 | 162 x 81 | A7 unfolded; A6 folded once; A5 concertina folded into thirds |
| C6 | 6.4 x 4.5 | 162 x 114 | A6 unfolded; A5 folded once; A4 folded twice |
| C6/C5 | 9.0 x 4.5 | 229 x 114 | A6 unfolded; A5 folded once; A4 concertina folded into thirds |
| C5 | 9.0 x 6.4 | 229 x 162 | A5 unfolded; A4 folded once; A3 folded twice |
| C5+ | 9.3 x 6.4 | 235 x 162 | A5 unfolded; A4 folded once; A3 folded twice |
| C5++ | 9.4 x 6.4 | 238 x 162 | A5 unfolded; A4 folded once; A3 folded twice |
| C4 | 12.8 x 9.0 | 324 x 229 | A4 unfolded; A3 folded once; A2 folded twice |
| C4+ | 13.0 x 9.5 | 330 x 240 | A4 unfolded; A3 folded once; A2 folded twice |
| C3 | 18.0 x 12.8 | 458 x 324 | A3 unfolded; A2 folded once; A1 folded twice |
| C2 | 25.5 x 18.0 | 648 x 458 | A2 unfolded; A1 folded once; A0 folded twice |
By convention, the side containing the flap is always given as the last dimension, for example:
- 110 x 220 mm describes a wallet- or banker-style envelope
- 220 x 110 mm describes a pocket-style envelope
In the envelope table above, imperial envelopes are shown as wallet-style and international envelopes are shown as pocket-style.
Paper Quantities
| Sheets | Quires | Reams | Bundles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Quire is | 25 | |||
| 1 Ream is | 500 | 20 | ||
| 1 Bundle is | 1000 | 40 | 2 | |
| 1 Bale is | 5000 | 200 | 10 | 5 |
Scales
Accuracy of Imperial and Metric Map Scales
| Accuracy | Imperial Description | Scale | Metric Description | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 : 10,000 | 1 cm to 100 m 10 cm to 1 km |
100% | ||
| 100% | 6 inches to 1 mile 1 inch to 0.17 mile |
1 : 10,560 | ||
| 98.6% | 5 inches to 1 mile 1 inch to 0.2 mile |
1 : 12,500 | 1 cm to 125 m 8 cm to 1 km |
100% |
| 99.9% | 3⅓ inches to 1 mile 1 inch to 0.3 miles |
1 : 19,000 | ||
| 1 : 20,000 | 1 cm to 200 m 5 cm to 1 km |
100% | ||
| 98.6% | 2½ inches to 1 mile 1 inch to 0.4 miles |
1 : 25,000 | 1 cm to 250 m 4 cm to 1 km |
100% |
| 98.6% | 1¼ inches to 1 mile 1 inch to 0.8 miles |
1 : 50,000 | 1 cm to 500 m 2 cm to 1 km |
100% |
| 100% | 1 inch to 1 mile | 1 : 63,360 | ||
| 98.6% | ⅝ inch to 1 mile 1 inch to 1.6 miles |
1 : 100,000 | 1 cm to 1 km | 100% |
| 100% | ½ inch to 1 mile 1 inch to 2 miles |
1 : 126,720 | ||
| 99.8% | 0.3 inch to 1 mile 1 inch to 3.15 miles |
1 : 200,000 | 1 cm to 2 km ½ cm to 1 km |
100% |
| 98.6% | ¼ inch to 1 mile 1 inch to 4 miles |
1 : 250,000 | 1 cm to 2.5 km 0.4 cm to 1 km |
100% |
Beaufort Scale of Wind Force
Devised by Admiral Sir Francis Beaufort RN (1774-1857).
| Beaufort Number | Description | Wind Speed (m/sec) | Wind Speed (fps) | Wind Speed (mph) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | Calm | < 0.3 | < 1 | < 1 |
| 1 | Light air | 0.3 - 1.5 | 1 - 5 | 1 - 3 |
| 2 | Light breeze | 1.5 - 3.3 | 5 - 11 | 3 - 8 |
| 3 | Gentle breeze | 3.3 - 5.4 | 11 - 18 | 8 - 12 |
| 4 | Moderate breeze | 5.4 - 7.9 | 18 - 26 | 12 - 18 |
| 5 | Fresh breeze | 7.9 - 10.7 | 26 - 35 | 18 - 24 |
| 6 | Strong breeze | 10.7 - 13.8 | 35 - 45 | 24 - 31 |
| 7 | Near gale | 13.8 - 17.1 | 45 - 56 | 31 - 38 |
| 8 | Gale | 17.1 - 20.7 | 56 - 68 | 38 - 46 |
| 9 | Strong gale | 20.7 - 24.4 | 68 - 80 | 46 - 55 |
| 10 | Storm | 24.4 - 28.4 | 80 - 93 | 55 - 63 |
| 11 | Violent storm | 28.4 - 32.6 | 93 - 107 | 63 - 73 |
| 12 | Hurricane | > 32.6 | > 107 | > 73 |
Mohs Scale of Hardness
Each mineral in the list is softer than, and can be scratched by, all those below it.
| Entry | Mineral | Composition | Chemical Formula |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Talc | Hydrated magnesium silicate | Mg3Si4O10(OH)2 |
| 2 | Gypsum | Calcium sulphate dihydrate | CaSO4⋅2H2O |
| 3 | Calcite | Calcium carbonate | CaCO3 |
| 4 | Fluorite | Calcium fluoride | CaF2 |
| 5 | Apatite | Phosphate mineral group | Ca5(PO4)3(F,Cl,OH) |
| 6 | Orthoclase | Silicate mineral group | KAlSi3O8 |
| 7 | Quartz | Oxide mineral group | SiO2 |
| 8 | Topaz | Silicate mineral group | Al2SiO4(F,OH)2 |
| 9 | Corundum | Aluminium oxide | Al2O3 |
| 10 | Diamond | Carbon | C |