NAME

units − conversion program

SYNOPSIS

units

DESCRIPTION

Units converts quantities expressed in various standard scales to their equivalents in other scales.  It works interactively in this fashion:

You have:  inch
You want:  cm

∗ 2.540000e+00
/ 3.937008e−01

A quantity is specified as a multiplicative combination of units optionally preceded by a numeric multiplier.  Powers are indicated by suffixed positive integers, division by the usual sign:

You have:  15 lbs force/in2
You want:  atm

∗ 1.020689e+00
/ 9.797299e−01

Units only does multiplicative scale changes; thus it can convert Kelvin to Rankine, but not Centigrade to Fahrenheit.  Most familiar units, abbreviations, and metric prefixes are recognized, together with a generous leavening of exotica and a few constants of nature including:

pi ratio of circumference to diameter,

c speed of light,

e charge on an electron,

g acceleration of gravity,

force same as g,

mole Avogadro’s number,

water pressure head per unit height of water,

au astronomical unit. 

Pound is not recognized as a unit of mass; lb is.  Compound names are run together, (e.g.  lightyear).  British units that differ from their U.S. counterparts are prefixed thus: brgallon.  For a complete list of units, type:

cat /usr/lib/unittab

FILES

/usr/lib/unittab