What is a unit in science?
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/456025427-56a133915f9b58b7d0bcfcdc.jpg "What Is a Unit in Science? (1)")
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/left_rail_image_science-58a22da268a0972917bfb5cc.png "What Is a Unit in Science? (2)")
By
Chemistry Expert
- Ph.D., Biomedical Sciences, University of Tennessee at Knoxville
- B.A., Physics and Mathematics, Hastings College
Dr. Helmenstine holds a Ph.D. in biomedical sciences and is a science writer, educator, and consultant. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels.
Learn about ourEditorial Process
Updated on October 14, 2019
A unit is any standard used for making comparisons in measurements. Unit conversions allow for measurements of a property that have been recorded using different units—for instance, centimeters to inches.
Examples
The meter is one standard of length. A liter is a standard of volume. Each of these standards can be used to compare with other measurements made using the same units.
Format
mlaapachicago
Your Citation
Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Unit Definition in Science." ThoughtCo, Jun. 25, 2024, thoughtco.com/definition-of-unit-in-chemistry-605934.Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. (2024, June 25). Unit Definition in Science. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-unit-in-chemistry-605934Helmenstine, Anne Marie, Ph.D. "Unit Definition in Science." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/definition-of-unit-in-chemistry-605934 (accessed September 18, 2024).
