1. The metric system, science, and You!
Metric Mania
The metric system, science, and You!

2. What is Metrics?
The Metric System is a system of measurement that is used by scientists all over the world.
Most countries only use the metric system.

3. Metric Units Length: Meter (m) Volume: Liter (l) Mass: Gram (g)
There are different metric units depending on what we want to measure:
Length: Meter (m)
Volume: Liter (l)
Mass: Gram (g)
These are called basic units.

4. Prefixes Matter!
When you add a prefix to a basic unit you change it’s value.
Kilo (k) = 1000
Hecta (h) = 100
Deca (da) = 10
BASE UNIT = 1
Deci (d) = .1
Centi (c) = .01
Milli (m) = .001

5. Metric Conversion 1000 100 10 1 .1 .01 .001 Kilo (k) Hecta (h)
Deca (da)
100 10
Deci (d) 1
Centi (c) .1
Milli (m)
.01
.001

6. Length/Distance
The basic unit of length in the metric system is the meter and is abbreviated using a lowercase m.
Metric Units
1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters
1 Meter = 100 Centimeters (cm)
1 Meter = 1000 Millimeters (mm)

7. Measuring Length To measure length, we use a ruler.
How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters

8. Measuring Length 28
What is the length of the line in millimeters? _______mm
What is the length of the line to the nearest centimeter? ________cm ***HINT: Round to the nearest centimeter – NO decimals. 3

9. Measuring Length: Whiteboard Practice

10. Measuring Length: Try It!
37 mm
Length: ________

11. Measuring Length: Try It!
7.2 cm
Length: ________

12. Measuring Length: Try It!
5.1 cm
Length: ________

13. Measuring Length: Try It!
6.2 mm
Length: ________

14. How do you use the Ladder Method?
Deci (d)
Milli (m)
Centi (c)
Deca (da)
Hecta (h)
Kilo (k)
.001 10 1 .1
.01
1000
100
4.___.___.___. = ________ m
4000
How do you use the Ladder Method?
Determine your starting point.
Count the “jumps” to your ending point
Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction
4 km= ________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take?

15. Ladder Method Practice
1000 kg= ________ g

16. Ladder Method Practice
1 L = ________ mL

17. Ladder Method Practice
160 cm = ________ mm

18. Ladder Method Practice
14 km = ________ m

19. Ladder Method Practice
250 m = ________ km

20. Practicing Measuring Skills
Homework
Side 1:
Practicing Measuring Skills
Side 2:
Measuring in cm & mm
Complete sheet using stated directions
Measure each line. On a separate sheet of paper write the measurement for each line in cm and mm. Attach sheet to homework.