Convert 50ml Honey Volume to Meters

[Davidmb19]

Using a graduated cylinder I measured the volume of honey to be 50ml. How do I convert this into meters for the volume to be in meters because it's currently in ml?

 

[robphy]

Here's a start: $1 mL=1 (cm)^3$

 

[Davidmb19]

Ahh thank you. Given what you just said (just checking to be sure) this means that,

1ml= 1(cm)^3
50ml=x
x=50(cm)^3
in meters
x=50x10-^6 ?

 

[scientific601]

Correct. As 1 cm is 1/100 meter (linear measurement), then for cubic measurements everything is cubed. 100^3 = 1 million or its reciprocal.

 

[berkeman]

Ahh thank you. Given what you just said (just checking to be sure) this means that,

1ml= 1(cm)^3
50ml=x
x=50(cm)^3
in meters
x=50x10-^6 ?

Yes. The easiest way to get unit conversions right is by "multiplying by 1"

50cm^3 {(\frac{1m}{100cm})^3} = {50*10^{-6}m^3}

 

[Davidmb19]

I'll remember. Thanks, much appreciated XD.

 

[berkeman]

I'll remember. Thanks, much appreciated XD.

Yeah, that trick made a big difference for me at the start of undergrad. That and learning to carry units along in all of my equations and manipulations -- really helped me to avoid (or find) errors.

 

[robphy]

While multiplying by the "useful expression for 1" is how I used to explain that method of unit conversion,
I think substitution is better:
$50mL=50(1 (cm)^3))=50(1 (10^{-2} m)^3))=50(10^{-6} m^3)$

Probably the biggest problem is that many students incorrectly interpret $cm^3$ as $c(m^3)=(10^{-2})(m^3)$.

 

[Mark44]

Using a graduated cylinder I measured the volume of honey to be 50ml. How do I convert this into meters for the volume to be in meters because it's currently in ml?

Ahh thank you. Given what you just said (just checking to be sure) this means that,

1ml= 1(cm)^3
50ml=x
x=50(cm)^3
in meters
x=50x10-^6 ?

The volume won't be in meters, which is a measure of length -- it will be in cubic meters, or m³.