Unit Conversion
Unit conversion is the process of converting a quantity expressed in one set of units to another set of units. This is essential in chemistry and physics to ensure that measurements are consistent and comparable. For example, converting kilometers per second (km/s) to centimeters per second (cm/s) involves multiplying by a conversion factor, as 1 km equals 100,000 cm.
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Metric System
The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement used globally, which includes units such as meters, liters, and grams. Understanding the metric prefixes (like kilo-, centi-, and milli-) is crucial for converting between different scales. For instance, 'kilo-' denotes a factor of 1,000, while 'centi-' denotes a factor of 1/100, and 'milli-' denotes a factor of 1/1,000.
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Dimensional Analysis
Dimensional analysis is a mathematical technique used to convert units by multiplying by conversion factors that equal one. This method ensures that the units cancel appropriately, leading to the desired unit in the final answer. It is particularly useful in solving problems involving multiple unit conversions, as seen in the question where km/s must be converted to cm/s and m/s.
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