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Re: [Phys-l] Fun/cool unit conversion example?



When I'm doing unit conversions, I made up an activity/worksheet for the students to figure out the $/gallon of various items. I start off discussing how expensive gas prices are in comparison to various, every day, items. I went on the Internet and found various items (that contain liquids) and got their price and volume.

For example, a can 16 fl.oz. of Coke sells for $0.89. If a car were to run off of Coke, it would cost $7.12/gal. Euphoria - Calvin Klein perfume sells for $49.96 for 1.7 fl. oz, would cost over $3700/gal.

I also have them convert gas prices in other countries and compare it to local gas prices. So for example, they converted 1.48Euros/liter (last year's average gas price in London) to $/gal.

If anyone is interested in the worksheet, just email me directly and I'll send it to you as an attachment (Word document).

Dwight
Ashland, OH
Crestview HS

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________________________________

From: phys-l-bounces@carnot.physics.buffalo.edu on behalf of David Willey
Sent: Mon 1/18/2010 5:24 PM
To: Forum for Physics Educators
Subject: Re: [Phys-l] Fun/cool unit conversion example?



Jeff Loats wrote:
Hi all,

On the first day of class I do a brief example to illustrate unit conversion
(snore) and I usually spice it up by making it very silly (such as density
measured in gigaslugs per parsec cubed).

I thought I would ask here to see if anyone had a neat unit conversion
example that left you with a sense of "huh, I didn't know that" or "that was
cool!" or something similar.

Cheers,

Jeff
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I personally like

1. The following is taken from "The Japan Times Weekly International
Edition" of May 7-13, 1990.



"The most expensive land in Japan as of last Jan. 1 was located in
Tokyo's downtown areas of Ginza and Marunouchi - worth 37.7 million Yen
per sq. meter in both areas, according to a National Land Agency report
on government-assessed land prices nationwide."



The article then quoted the cost, in dollars, of a piece of land the
size of a postage stamp in either of these areas. Given that a postage
stamp measures 7/8" x 31/32", what price should they have stated?

(Round your answer off to the nearest whole dollar.)



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