Metric Units SI Units and How to Convert Them

Countries that don’t use the metric system.

Measuring Units and Tools Distance = meter (m) = ruler or meterstick Volume (liquids) = Liter (L) = graduated cylinder Mass (weight) = gram (g) = balance Time = second (s) = clock/ stopwatch Temperature = degree Celsius or Centigrade (C) = thermometer

Metric Prefixes MUST KNOW: Kilo - (k) = 1000 (thousand) Hecto – (H) = 100 (hundred) Deca – (dc) = 10 (ten) Base unit = 1 Deci – (d) = 0.1 (tenth) Centi- (c) = 0.01 (hundredth) Milli- (m) = (thousandth)

Basic Unit g L m Deci d Centi- c Milli- m Deka- Da or D Hecto- H Kilo- K

Conversions 1.Find decimal. 2.Decide how many steps on the ladder and in which direction. 3.Move the decimal the same number of steps and in the same direction. 4.Fill in the zeros if needed.

Conversions Convert 1 m to cm. Distance = meters (m) Move decimal two places to the right 1 m = 100 cm

Convert 500 cg to kg Base Unit = Mass = grams (g) Move decimal 5 places to the left 500 cg = Kg

Practice Conversions 50 Hg to cg 120 mL to L 3.5 cL to kL 34 Dg to g