1. The Metric System

2. Way Back When . . .
When people first started to measure things, the systems were different in different parts of the world.
Many systems were based on parts of the body.
Foot Inch

3. History of Metric System
Developed by the French in the late 1700’s.
Based on powers of ten.
Used by almost every country in the world, with the notable exception of the USA.
Especially used by scientists.
Abbreviated SI, which is French for Systeme International.

4. Why the Metric System?
NASA still works in imperial units and has had difficulty when needing to work with other groups that use metric
In 1999 the Mars Climate Orbiter was lost because the altitude control system used imperial units (English Standard) and the navigation software used metric.

5. Metric System
Units can be scaled by factors of 10 depending on what you are measuring
So it can be used for small measurements as well as large
Kilo- Hecto- Deca- Base- Deci- Centi- Milli-

6. Mass Mass is the amount of matter that makes up an object.
Unit used: Gram (g)
Tool Used: Balance
A paper clip has the mass of about 1 gram.

7. Length Length is the distance between two points. Unit used: Meter (m)
Tool Used: Ruler or meter stick

8. Volume Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.
Unit used: Liter (l)
Tool Used: graduated cylinder

9. Volume Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.
Unit used: Liter (l)
Tool Used: graduated cylinder
Liquids form a meniscus (curved, upper surface)
To correctly read the volume, read the bottom of the curve.

10. Volume V = Length x Width x Height
We can find the volume of box shapes by the formula:
V = Length x Width x Height
We can use water displacement to find the volume of irregular shaped objects

11. Volume
Ex: We can put water in a graduated cylinder. If a rock causes the level to rise from 7 to 9 ml, the rock has a volume of 2 ml.
1cm3 water =1 ml of water = 1 gram

12. Temperature Unit used: Celsius (C) Tool Used: Thermometer
0o Celsius= freezing
100o Celsius= boiling
32o F= freezing point
212o F= boiling point

13. Metric System Base unit Meter (m) Liter (L) Gram (g) 1 Prefix
Abbreviation
Power of 10
Kilo k
1000
Hecto h
100
Deka da 10
Base unit
Meter (m)
Liter (L)
Gram (g) 1
Deci d
0.1
Centi c
0.01
Milli m
0.001