Metric Measurement

International System The metric system is a part of the international system (SI) of measurement. We do not always use this system in the U.S. This can make measuring tricky for us. For example: inches, feet, yards, miles, etc.

So many numbers to remember!!! 1 US cup = 8 US fluid ounces 1 foot = 12 inches 1 pound = 16 ounces 1 mile = 5280 feet 1 miles = 1760 yards 1 US gallon = 16 US cups 1 yard = 3 feet

Luckily we’ll only focus on numbers that are in multiples of ten. Example in meters. 1 centimeter (cm) = 10 mm 1 meter (m) = 100 cm 1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 m

We will cover the following types of measurement: Length (m) Area (m2) Volume (solid m3, liquid L) Mass (g) Density (g/cm3) Temperature (oC)

Conversions To convert metric measurements, into a bigger or smaller units, all you must do is: move the decimal point add or remove zeros A helpful way to know the direction and the amount of times to move the decimal point is by using the Metric Staircase.

When converting a Bigger unit into a smaller unit, you multiply and move down the staircase. When converting a smaller unit into a Bigger unit, you divide and move up the staircase.

You move the decimal point in the whichever direction you move on the staircase. You move the decimal point however many times you move the decimal point on the staircase.

Examples (show work) 5 centiliters = _______ dekaliters. 12 kilometers = _______ meters. 346 grams = ________ miligrams. 1.7 liters = ________ hectoliters. 23.9 decigrams = ________ centigrams.

Length SI unit of measurement is in meters (m). We measure the length of 1D things such as lines or edges of objects. We will use a ruler, meter stick, and measuring tape to measure the length of things around us. By finding the length of things, we will later be able to determine the area and volume of what we measure.

Answer will be in mm, m, cm, km, etc.

Area We find the area of 2D objects such as shapes on paper, floors, walls, etc. We will find the area by multiplying length x width. Answer will be in units squared. mm2, cm2, m2 etc.

Volume (cubes) We find the volume of 3D objects with definite shapes such as books, boxes, cans, etc. We find volume by multiplying length x width x height Answer will be in units cubed mm3, cm3, m3, etc.

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Liquid Volume To measure the volume of liquids, we use a graduated cylinder. Units are written in milliliters (mL).

Volume of Oddly-Shaped solids To measure the volume of objects with irregular shapes, we use a method called water displacement. This is when you begin with no water in a graduated cylinder, then measure how much it increases once you add the object to it. You will use a displacement tin to measure larger objects. Answers in cm3 (1mL=1cm3)

Mass We find the mass of 3D objects. Mass is how much matter (stuff) is in an object. We use a triple beam balance to find the mass of objects in grams (g). Mass is similar to weight, but should not be confused with weight.

Our weight on Earth is different from our weight on the moon. Gravitational pull and mass determines weight.

Our mass is the same no matter where we are. We are made up of the same amount of matter wherever we are.

Density Density refers to how closely packed or crowded something is. We must divide mass by the volume in order to find out the density of an object Density = mass volume Answer unit in g/cm3

Temperature The SI unit for temperature is in Celsius. We use the Fahrenheit scale in the U.S. Fahrenheit: Water boils at 212 oF Water freezes at 32 0F Celsius: Water boils at 100 oC Water freezes at 0 oC

So, which scale do you think would be easier for an alien to remember???

We will learn how to convert the Fahrenheit scale to Celsius and the Celsius scale to Fahrenheit. Finding Fahrenheit formula: Finding Celsius formula:

Side note: 9/5 = 1.8 5/9 = 0.555556