Metric System Prefixes “Yes, I got you ten roses. I believe that the strongest relationships are based on the metric system.” Mike Jones Pisgah High School Canton NC Revised 021012

Metric System Prefixes mega- kilo- deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- M Mm kilo- k km deci- d dm centi- c cm milli- m mm micro- m mm nano- n nm pico- p pm

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- milli- micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico-

Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

Metric System Prefixes mega- M Mm 1x106 (1 million) kilo- k km 1x103 (1000) deci- d dm 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- c cm 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- m mm 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- m mm 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- n nm 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- p pm 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)

Megahertz Mega- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Megahertz Mega-

Megahertz Mega- resistor Megohm Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Megahertz Mega- Megohm resistor

Kilo- Metric System Prefixes A “kilo” of cocaine is a kilogram mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) A “kilo” of cocaine is a kilogram Kilo-

Kilo- Metric System Prefixes A “kilo” of cocaine is a kilogram mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) A “kilo” of cocaine is a kilogram kilometer Kilo-

Deci- Metric System Prefixes Deci … just like in “decimal”… 10 mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Deci- Deci … just like in “decimal”… 10

Deci- Metric System Prefixes A cubic decimeter is a liter mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) A cubic decimeter is a liter Deci- Deci … just like in “decimal”… 10

Centi- Metric System Prefixes Same root as “century” or 100 years mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Centi- Same root as “century” or 100 years

Centi- Metric System Prefixes How many centimeters to an inch? mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) How many centimeters to an inch? 2.54 cm Centi- Same root as “century” or 100 years

Milli- Metric System Prefixes “Phelps by a millimeter” mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Phelps by a millimeter” Milli-

Milli- Metric System Prefixes “Phelps by a millimeter” mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Phelps by a millimeter” Milli- Has nothing to do with a “million”.

Milli- Metric System Prefixes “Phelps by a millimeter” mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Phelps by a millimeter” Milli- Has nothing to do with a “million”.

Milli- Metric System Prefixes “Phelps by a millimeter” mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Phelps by a millimeter” Milli- Has nothing to do with a “million”.

Micro- Metric System Prefixes “Micro” means more than just “small”. mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Micro” means more than just “small”. “Micro” is what refers to a millionth, not “milli”. Micro-

Micro- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Micro- The sizes of bacteria are measured in micrometers.

Micro- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) A microwave oven uses radio waves with wavelengths measured in micrometers. Micro-

Micro- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) A microwave oven uses radio waves with wavelengths measured in micrometers. Micro-

Nano- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) “Nano” means more than just “really small”. Nano-

Nano- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) The wavelengths of visible light in are in the hundreds of nanometers. Nano-

Nano- Metric System Prefixes Viruses are in the 10 nm to 200 nm range. mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Nano- Viruses are in the 10 nm to 200 nm range.

Pico- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Pico- The sizes of atoms are measured in picometers.

Pico- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Pico- The sizes of atoms are measured in picometers.

Femto- Metric System Prefixes 1x10-15 mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Femto- 1x10-15 The sizes of the nuclei of atoms are measured in femtometers.

Femto- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Femto- Consider an atom which may be 400 pm across, but the nucleus is less than 20 fm in diameter. 1x10-15

Femto- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Femto- Consider an atom which may be 400 pm across, but the nucleus is less than 20 fm in diameter. 1x10-15 The nucleus is 20,000 times smaller than an atom!

Femto- Metric System Prefixes mega- = 1x106 (1 million) kilo- = 1x103 (1000) deci- = 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- = 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- = 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- = 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- = 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- = 1x10-12 (1 trillionth) Femto- If we put a dime on the floor to represent the diameter of the nucleus, then the edge of the atom would be about 200 meters away. 1x10-15 17.91 mm

Metric System Prefixes mega- M Mm 1x106 (1 million) kilo- k km 1x103 (1000) deci- d dm 1x10-1 (1/10) centi- c cm 1x10-2 (1/100) milli- m mm 1x10-3 (1/1000) micro- m mm 1x10-6 (1 millionth) nano- n nm 1x10-9 (1 billionth) pico- p pm 1x10-12 (1 trillionth)