Coverting ml to m.

1. May 11, 2015

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?

2. May 11, 2015

robphy

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

3. May 11, 2015

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 ?

4. May 11, 2015

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.

5. May 11, 2015

Staff: Mentor

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

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

6. May 11, 2015

Davidmb19

I'll remember. Thanks, much appreciated XD.

7. May 11, 2015

Staff: Mentor

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.

8. May 11, 2015

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 $c(m^3)=(10^{-2})(m^3)$.

9. May 11, 2015

Staff: Mentor

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