1. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
The Metric System
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

2. Why do we need one system of measurement?
Many measurements are made all around the world.
Think about how confusing it would be if you sent measurements to someone on another continent and they couldn’t understand them.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

3. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
The Metric System
Le Systeme International d’Unites (SI system) hails from France.
In 1960 it became the standard system of measurements used worldwide.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

4. Metric Units of Measurement
Symbol
Length
meter m
Mass
kilogram kg
Force (weight)
Newton N
Volume
Liter L
Temperature
degree Celsius oC
Time
second s
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

5. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Bigger or smaller?
We would never measure a football field in inches, and for the same reason we need different lengths in the metric system.
In the English System we use inches, feet, yards, or miles depending on the distance being measured.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

6. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Bigger or smaller?
In the metric system we can make any measurement bigger or smaller by multiplying it or dividing it by 10.
We add a prefix to show how many times the unit has been multiplied or divided by 10.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

7. Metric Prefixes Larger Measurements Smaller Measurements BASIC UNIT
kilo
(k)
hecto
(h)
deca
(da)
deci
(d)
centi
(c)
milli
(m)
BASIC UNIT
gram
liter
meter
Here’s how the chart looks with grams.
gram
(g)
kilogram
(kg)
hectogram
(hg)
decagram
(dag)
decigram
(dg)
centigram
(cg)
milligram
(mg)
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

8. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
A Trick to Remember…
To remember the correct order of the prefixes, use this sentence:
King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk.
What does the first letter of each word stand for?
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

9. Using units and prefixes
When a car is driving from Scranton to Plains what unit would be used to measure the distance that it traveled?
Choose: millimeters, centimeters, meters, or kilometers.
You should use kilometers because that would give you a number which is smaller and easier to work with.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

10. Using Prefixes (Converting)
In the English System it is much more difficult to move between units.
For example you need to know how many inches are in a foot and how many feet are in a yard, or mile.
In metric you just need to know how many times to use 10.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

11. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Metric Prefixes
Larger Measurements
Smaller Measurements
BASIC UNIT
kilo
(k)
hecto
(h)
gram
liter
meter
deca
(da)
deci
(d)
centi
(c)
milli
(c)
Because we use multiples of ten, when you change units you only need to know to move the decimal point one place left or right for each prefix you move on this chart.
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

12. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Metric Prefixes
BASIC UNIT
kilo
(k)
kilometer
(km)
hecto
(h)
hectometer
(hm)
deca
(da)
decameter
(dam)
deci
(d)
decimeter
(dm)
centi
(c)
centimeter
(cm)
milli
(m)
millimeter
(mm)
meter
Convert: 5mm into m
Step 1: locate the decimal Step 2: find mm Step 3: find m Step 4: move the decimal point one place for each column you move through in the direction you move.
5mm = 0.005m
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

13. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Metric Prefixes
BASIC UNIT
kilo
(k)
kiloliter
(kL)
hecto
(h)
hectoliter
(hL)
deca
(da)
decaliter
(daL)
deci
(d)
deciliter
(dL)
centi
(c)
centiliter
(cL)
milli
(m)
milliliter
(mL)
liter
Convert: 27daL into cL
Step 1: locate the decimal Step 2: find daL Step 2: find cL Step 3: move the decimal point one place for each column you move through in the direction you move.
27 daL = 2700 cL
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

14. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Sample Problems:
Perform these conversions in your notebook
7.3 L _______ mL
6.3 g  _______ cg
8 000g  ______ kg
23.56 cm ____ mm
170 m  ______ km
450 mm  _____ cm
365 kg ________ mg
4701 mL  _____ L
hm  _____ cm
1 km  __________ m
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

15. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Scientific Notation
In science sometimes we deal with very large numbers and very small numbers.
Scientific notation is using the power of 10 to shorten a number and make it easier to write.
5,000,000,000 = 5 X 109
= 6.7 X 10-13
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

16. Here’s how it works (Large Numbers)
34,000,000 – This number is thirty-four million.
Step 1 – Locate the decimal. (34,000,000.)
Step 2 – Move the decimal in-between the first 2 numbers ( )
Step 3 – Count the number of spaces you moved the decimal. (34,000,000. to is 7 spaces )
Step 4 – Take your new number and re write it in Scientific Notation (3.4 X 107)
It is 10 to the positive 7th power because you moved the decimal 7 places to the left
Large numbers are positive
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

17. How about a very small number
This number is 34 ten millionths
Step 1 – locate the decimal ( )
Step 2 – Move the decimal between the first two numbers ( )
Step 3 – Count the number of spaces you moved the decimal ( to is 7 spaces )
Step 4 – Re write in Scientific Notation (3.4 X 10-7)
It is 10 to the negative 7th power because you moved the decimal 7 places to the right
Small numbers are negative
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

18. Lets try some problems together
74,000. Move decimal ______________
Always remember you need to multiple your new decimal by 10
Rewrite in Scientific Notation __________
4 places  (7.4)
7.4 X 104
Move decimal __________
Multiple by 10, but because it is small number, the exponent will be negative
Rewrite in Scientific Notation_________
3 places (5.9)
5.9 X 10-3
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

19. Practice some on your own
51,000 = ____X 10__
7,900,000 = ____ X 10__
89,000,000 = ____ X 10__
600 = ____ X 10__
= ____ X 10__
= ____ X 10__
= ____ X 10__
0.002 = ____ X 10__
5.1 4 6
7.9
Don’t forget always use positive integers for large numbers and negative integers for small or decimal numbers 7
8.9 2
6.0
4.8 -4
3.0 -6 -8
6.4 -3
2.0
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Solomon/Plains Science Dept.

20. Solomon/Plains Science Dept.
Homework
7,400,000
81,000
90,000,000
450
6,300
850,000,000
3,450
79,000
0.004
0.012
11/21/2018
Solomon/Plains Science Dept.