Metric System

Scientists need a common system of measurement: The metric system. AKA: International system of Units (SI system) The metric system is a decimal system of measurement based on certain physical standards and multiples of ten.

What is measurement? The process by which the amount or quantity of something is calculated.

Metric or SI units include: 1.Length : measured in kilometers, meters, centimeters, and millimeters. Base unit is meter. 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeter (cm) I m = 1000 millimeters (mm) I kilometer (km) = 1000 m

2. Mass: measured in kilograms, grams, tons. Base unit: gram (g) 1 gram = 1000 milligrams (mg) 1 kilogram (kg) = 1000 g 1000 kg = 1 metric ton

3. Volume: measured in liters, milliliters. Base unit: liter (L) 1 L = 1000 milliliters (mL) 1 liter = 1000 cubic centimeters

4. Temperature: usually measure in degrees Celsius (C) O degrees C = freezing point and melting point 100 degrees C = boiling point

What are the advantages of using the metric system? 1.multiple of ten make it so much easier to measure 2. used around the world so we have one common system. (no conversion or extra work).

Remember these prefixes: Kilo - prefix that means 1000 times larger Centi - prefix that means 1/100 (100 times smaller) Milli - prefix that means 1/1000 (1000 times smaller)

PrefixMultiply base unit by mega1,000,000 ex: 1Mg= 1,000,000 g kilo1,000 ex: 1kL =1000L hecto100 ex: 1hg = 100 g Deka /deca10 ex: 1 dam = 10m deci0.1 ex: 1dg = 0.1g centi0.01 ex: 1cm = 0.01m milli0.001 ex: 1mL =0.001L Metric (SI) prefixes to know:

Using a table to make conversions kilo (k) hecto (h) deka (dk) meter (m) liter (L) gram (g) deci (d) centi (c) centi (c) milli (m) 1.Place finger on the prefix of the number you are given to convert 2.Next, move finger to the prefix you want to convert to 3.Count the number of places 4.Know the direction you move (left or right). 5.Move the decimal point the same number of places and in the same direction

Example: kilo (k) hecto (h) deka (dk) meter (m) liter (L) gram (g) deci (d) centi (c) centi (c) milli (m) Ex cm = _______ km Place finger on the centi (c) box and move left to the kilo (k) box. Count the number of spaces you move. Move in same direction. The answer is km This is the same as multiplying 7.37 by or 1/ x =

Try these problems in your notebook A mm = ___________m B dL = ___________ L C km = ___________m D dkg = _________kg E hL = __________dL F cm = _________ dkm

Answers A mm = m B dL = L C km = 9,000,000 m D dkg = kg E hL = 71.7 dL F cm = dkm