1. The Metric System
When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion.
-Herbert Spencer

2. Why use the metric system?
Developed in the 1790’s during the French Revolution
Scientists and educated scholars needed to come up with a uniform (same) system of measurement that could be used worldwide
To prevent confusion!

3. When Do We Use The Metric System?
Measurement

4. Examples of Metric Basic Units of Measurement
Mass
Grams
Amount of matter
Length
Meters
Linear size in space (how long an object is)
Volume
Liters
Amount of 3-D space an object takes up
Time – measured in seconds and hours
These are the suffixes *at the end of the word

5. Metric Prefixes These prefixes go before the basic unit Kilo- King
Hekto- Henry
Deka- Dances
[Merrily]
Deci- Down
Centi- Central
Milli- Mahopac

6. Numerically speaking…
1000
100 10 1
0.1
0.01
0.001
= Kilo
= Hekto
= Deka
= No Prefix (Basic Unit)
= deci
= centi
= milli

7. The metric ladder

8. To climb the metric ladder:
move the decimal point to the left for each step you go up.
Move the decimal to the right for each step you go down.

9. Larger Unit? Move Left Or make the number smaller
Kilo
1000 Units
Larger Unit? Move Left Or make the number smaller
Hecto
100 units
Deka
10 Units
Basic Unit
Deci
0.1 Units
Centi
0.01 Units
Smaller Unit? Move Right Or make the number bigger
Milli
0.001 Units

10. Let’s try some examples
1000 mg = _________ g
1 L = _________ mL
160 cm = _________ mm

11. K H D M d c m

12. K H D M d c m

13. Answers
1000 mg = 1 g
1 L = 1000 mL
160 cm = 1600 mm

14. Weight Vs. Mass Mass – the amount of matter (stuff) in an object
Weight – the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration of gravity OR
W = m x g
How does your mass and your weight change in outer space?
Weight does, depends on gravity.
MASS REMAINS THE SAME!