Unit Conversion Troubleshooting: Identifying and Correcting Common Errors

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around unit conversions involving various measurements, including light years, carats, parsecs, furlongs, and their respective conversions to SI units. Participants are attempting to identify errors in their calculations and clarify the correct conversion methods.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Problem interpretation

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • Participants are sharing their attempts at converting units and questioning the correctness of their calculations. There are discussions about the nature of the units involved, such as distinguishing between velocity and intensity, and the proper application of conversion factors.

Discussion Status

Some participants have provided feedback on the original poster's calculations, pointing out potential errors and suggesting a need for careful attention to unit definitions and conversion factors. There is an ongoing exploration of the correct methods and interpretations, but no consensus has been reached.

Contextual Notes

Participants are working under the constraints of homework rules, which may limit the information they can provide or the methods they can use. There is also a noted confusion regarding the correct application of unit conversions and the definitions of the units involved.

badtwistoffate
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:devil:
I have 3 unit conversions and they are not coming out right... what am I doing wrong if you can spot it:
1)1.64ly/min to SI Units:
1ly/min=697.5W/m^2
1144.6W/m^2 but how do you get it with just the oringinal SI units...


2)2.3E27carats/parsec^3 to SI:
2.3E27carats/parsec^3 * (1kg/.0002carats) *( 1 parsec^3/2.938e49 m^3) = 3.91E-19 but is nothing like what google says !


3)642 furlongs per fortnight to SI:
642 furlongs/fortnight * (201.2m/1furlong)*(1/[24*60*60])*(201.2m/1furlong)=.107m/s?
 
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Wait, light years/min? That's a unit of velocity and W/m^2 is a unit of intensity.
 
langleys/min
 
You want the units to be basic SI-units? Well, Watt is J/s and Joule is Nm and Newton is kg m/s^2.

You calculated the second one wrong. I got 1.566*10^(-26) kg/m^3. Pay attention to what you do when you change units. Remember that 1 carat = 0.0002 kg, not 1kg = 0.0002 carat.
 
badtwistoffate said:
642 furlongs per fortnight to SI:
642 furlongs/fortnight * (201.2m/1furlong)*(1/[24*60*60])*(201.2m/1furlong)=.107m/s?

That's just one day, not a fortnight.

And why twice 201.2m/1 furlong?
 

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