Integrating Technology into an
Using a spreadsheet to convert data
In order to compare data it may be necessary to convert information between various English and Metric units for length, area, volume, weight, temperature, pressure, and force. A spreadsheet may be programed to do conversions between English and Metric units.
For example, if you know fluid ounces to get milliliters you must multiply the fluid ounces by 29.57. A spreadsheet conversion table that converts fluid ounces to milliliters is shown below. Notice the formula on the top line, =PRODUCT(B4,C4). This is the formula in cell D4 that tells the spreadsheet to multiply the number in cells B4 and C4. Changing the number in the Fluid Ounces cell B4 will automatically change the number in D4.
Obtaining Conversion Data on the WWW
Conversion calculators are posted on the WWW. Listed below are several web sites with conversion calculators.
- Unit Conversion Calculator (Length, area, volume, weight, temperature, pressure, force)
- Unit Conversion Calculator (Temperature, distance, weight)
- Unit Conversion Calculator (Distance, speed, weight)
- Unit Conversion Calculator (Temperature)
Obtaining Geographical Data on the WWW
You may want to have students find the elevations of various cities and then predict the boiling point in those cities using the data they have obtained. If you need help finding an elevation or latitude and longitude, the sites listed below provide geographic information.
- Geographic Name Server Mostly U.S. cities but some foreign cities
- USGS database for U.S. cities
- GEOnet name server for some foreign cities (under "Access GEOnet"). However, not all cities have elevation data included.
- How Far is It? Entering the place name in the "From" section will give latitude and longitude for most world locations; elevation mostly for U.S. cities.
Obtaining Boiling Point Data on the WWW
Many schools from around the world participated in the Boiling Point Project. To see the data other schools collected go to Fall 1998 Checked Data on the Stevens Institute of Technology web site. This data will help students compare the boiling point of water at various elevations from around the world.
The Boiling Point
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