Occasionally one will come across a chart, graph or nomograph which provides a unique perspective on some particular unit-of-measure. An example is "Feynman's Distance Perspective Chart" shown on the homepage of this site. Typically the particular illustration will be focused more on one individual scientific or technological field of endeavor. Hence, on this page, these illustrations are organized in a two-tier approach. First the unit-of-measure heading or tier which is then followed by the "field of endeavor" heading or tier. For a list of the units-of-measure and "fields of endeavor" covered go to the "Perspective Block Introduction" page of this site.
The sources for these illustrations are varied. Typically the link will direct the user to the web-based source of the illustration. If the illustration is out of a book, a second link providing access to purchase of the original book the illustration is found in is also provided. If the source of the illustration is a journal or magazine article, again, a second link providing access to purchase a reprint of the article the illustration is found in is also provided.
If you are aware of any unique perspective providing charts, graphs or nomographs, that you think should be included here, please forward that information to admin@units-of-measure.com. Please title the email: "New Graphics."
Distance/Length
Distance/Length - Physics/Astronomy
*"The Filtration Spectrum." This classic particle size chart produced by Osmonics, originally in 1984, colorfully charts over 30 particle & object sizes ranging from 1 angstom to 100 microns in size.
Distance/Length - Electro-Optics
*"Laser Wavelength Chart." This Exciton, Inc. graphic shows the wavelength of laser light generated for the combination of a particular laser dye and excitation light source.
Pressure (Stress & Modulus of Elasticity)
Database of Charts, Graphs & Nomographs
Last Updated: October 8, 2006
Pressure (Stress & MOE) - Materials
* "Relative Position of Materials Comparing Young's Modulus with Density." This is a classic chart for any mechanical engineer selecting materials for a new design. Materials such as corks, foams, woods, ceramics, alloy metals and diamond are illustrated. The range of modulus' covered go from 0.01 GPa (1450 psi) to 1000 GPa (1.45x10^8 psi) with the range of densities covered being from 0.1 Mg/m^3 (6.25 lb/ft^3) to 30 Mg/m^3 (1875 lb/ft^3).
Distance/Length - Data Storage
*"Track, Areal, Linear Density Perspective." Ed Grochowski of Hitachi and previously of IBM for 40 years has charted the evolution of magnetic hard drive technology. This graphic plots the contraction in data bit size on the disks from 1991-2004. We see from this chart that the bits on some magnetic hard disks today (2004) are about 200 nanometers wide (track width) by 40 nanometers long (linear length along data track). Remember a hair on your heads is about 75,000 nm in diameter!
*"The Incredible Shrinking Slider." This simple graphic illustrates the evolution in size of magnetic disk drive read/write heads or sliders. The units displayed are in inches. Source: Unknown. Generations beyond these will include the Pemto (1.25 mm x 0.7 mm x 0.23 mm) and Femto (0.85 x 0.7 x 0.23) sliders.
*"How small is a micro-inch?" Graphical illustration of small objects (human hair, dust particle, smoke particle & finger print) scaled in micro-inches. From website of Magnecomp a magnetic hard drive suspension company. Neat graphic.
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Distance/Length - Biology/Medicine
*"2-20 years: Boys Stature-for-Age Percentiles." This graphic was produced by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2001. It gives a good perspective on the distribution of boys heights in the U.S.
*"2-20 years: Girls Stature-for-Age Percentiles." This graphic was produced by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2001. It gives a good perspective on the distribution of girls heights in the U.S.
units of measure
meters
unit of measure
seconds
units of measure
kilograms
unit of measure
fred thomas
units of measure
kelvin degrees
unit of measure
candela
units of measure
gauss
unit of measure
pascal
units of measure
watt
unit of measure
newtons
units of measure
joule
unit of measure
volt
units of measure
unit of measure
henery
ogden utah
units of measure physics unit of measure astronomy units of measure biology unit of measure medicine units of measure chemistry unit of measure chemical engineering units of measure fred thomas unit of measure architecture units of measure civil engineering units of measure materials unit of measure mechanical engineering units of measure humanities unit of measure information technology units of measure geology unit of measure geography units of measure electro-optics unit of measure photonics carol boyce thomas transportation units of measure fred c thomas III unit of measure automation units of measure tribology unit of measure animals units of measure zoology unit of measure data storage units of measure weather unit of measure meteorology units of measure nano science units of measure mems unit of measure micro mechanical systems units of measure optical unit of measure aviation units of measure space unit of measure integrated circuits units of measure electrical arts unit of measure defense units of measure lethal arts units of measure laser unit of measure design units of measure innovation unit of measure patents units of measure inventor unit of measure dynamics units of measure outside the box unit of measure resume units of measure invention units of measure lessons unit of measure home school units of measure assignments unit of measure learning units of measure education unit of measure teaching units of measure grade school unit of measure high school units of measure college units of measure database unit of measure nomographs units of measure graphs unit of measure charts units of measure unit of measure units of measure unit of measure units of measure units of measure unit of measure units of measure free technical software free graphical software fred charles thomas III chemistry mechanical engineering optical science ao-dvd ng-dvd subwavelength optical data storage
unit of measure
distance
subwavelength optical data storage
time
unit of measure
frequency
subwave.info
transfer rate
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mass
units of measure
electrical current
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temperature
units of measure
luminance
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distance
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time
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frequency
hardness scale
transfer rate
hardness scale
mass
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electrical current
hardness scale
temperature
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luminance
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bucknell University
TrueLuminous
durometer
foam rubber
shore A Shore B
Shore C
Shore 00 Shore oo Shore D
Shore 0 Shoreo
nonmetalic materials
soft hard squishy
rubbers foam characterize
Source
Hardness
Hardness - Materials
* "Approximate Relationship between various Hardness Scales." This graphic illustrates the relative magnitude and range of applicability of the 5 major hardness scales. These being the Brinell, Rockwell, Vickers, Shore and Mohs hardness scales. Materials such as diamond, alumina, quartz, calcite, plastics, aluminum, brass, steel and file hard steel are juxtaposed on the graphic for the viewer to obtain some perspective.
*"Feynman's Distance Perspective Chart" This chart is from The Feynman Lectures on Physics. A simple but informative chart on what is small and what is big in our world and universe.
Source
Source
Find over 26 classic science & engineering graphic illustrations below.
Charts, graphs and nomographs
that provide new insights.
Print one out and post it on your office wall. No better way to gain perspective.
* "Typical Properties of Some Research Materials." A handy one page chart covering about 35 different ferrous metals, nickel alloys, aluminum alloys, copper alloys, unalloyed metals, plastics, ceramics and woods. Properties listed include density, yield strength, tensile strength, modulus of elasticity, shear modulus, hardness and coefficient of thermal expansion. One to keep always handy.
Source
Temperature
Temperature - Physics/Astronomy
* "Visual Perspective on the Range of Temperatures Throughout the Universe." Colorfully illustrated graphic out of an interesting high school physics text. An illustrated logrithmic scale shows the temperature (degrees Kelvin) of interstellar space, liquid helium, flames, the surface of the sun, the center of the sun, a nuclear explosion, a super nova explosion and many other items spanning the limits of the universe's realm of hot and cold.
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*"Mountains & Rivers." I stored this beautiful graphic on my computer a year or so ago. It illustrates over 40 of the world's longest rivers and probalbly 30 or so of the world's highest mountains. I located a source for it recently at a poster art website. The link is to the right.