4.22 g/cm to lbs.
The correct answer and explanation is:
To convert 4.22 grams per centimeter (g/cm) to pounds (lbs), the units need to be clarified because “g/cm” is a unit of linear density (mass per length), while pounds (lbs) is a unit of mass.
If the goal is to convert 4.22 grams into pounds, ignoring the per centimeter part, that can be done directly.
Step 1: Understand the units
- 1 gram (g) = 0.00220462 pounds (lbs)
Step 2: Convert grams to pounds
Multiply 4.22 grams by the conversion factor:
4.22 g × 0.00220462 lbs/g = 0.009298 lbs (approximately)
So, 4.22 grams is about 0.0093 pounds.
Explanation of Unit Conversion
Unit conversion is a process where a quantity expressed in one set of units is converted to another set of units. The principle involves multiplying the original value by a conversion factor, which is a ratio expressing how many of one unit equals another unit. This ratio must always be equal to 1 to keep the value unchanged but expressed in different units.
In this example, the conversion factor is between grams and pounds. Since pounds are a unit commonly used in the United States and grams are part of the metric system, converting between these requires a fixed ratio: 1 gram equals approximately 0.00220462 pounds.
The unit “g/cm” indicates grams per centimeter, which is a linear density unit. To convert linear density to pounds, the length unit must also be converted or specified. Without a length value, only the mass portion can be converted.
When converting mass units, the exact conversion factor can depend on the type of pound. The most commonly used is the avoirdupois pound, used in the U.S. and U.K. for everyday purposes. The conversion above assumes this pound.
Precision depends on how many decimal places are kept in the conversion factor and final answer. For practical everyday uses, rounding to four significant digits is sufficient.
In summary, converting 4.22 grams to pounds yields approximately 0.0093 pounds, but converting grams per centimeter to pounds requires additional length information for accurate conversion.