1. Measurement & Scientific Tools
NOS L2
How to convert within the metric system
Ms. Ladron De Guevara
© Copyright   M. J. Krech. All rights reserved.

2. The Metric System
The metric system is a measurement system based on our decimal (base 10) number system.
Other countries and all scientists and engineers use the metric system for measurement.

3. Do you remember…
King
Henry?

4. The pneumonic: Memorize this! King Henry Died Unexpectedly
Drinking Chocolate Milk
Memorize      this!

5. SI Base Units Quantity Measured Unit (Symbol) Length Meter (m) Mass
Kilogram (kg)
Time
Second (s)
Electric Current
Ampere (A)
Temperature
Kelvin (K)
Substance Amount
Mole (mol)
Light Intensity
Candela (cd)

6. Metric Prefixes Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word Kilo- k 1000
Metric Units
The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.
Prefix
Symbol
Factor Number
Factor Word
Kilo- k
1000
Thousand
Hecto- h
100
Hundred
Deca-
da or D 10
Ten
Unit
m, l, or g 1
One
Deci- d .1
Tenth
Centi- c
.01
Hundredth
Milli- m
.001
thousandth

7. You must also know…
…how to convert within the Metric System. Here’s a good device:
On your paper draw a line and add 7 tick marks:

8. Next:
Above the tick marks write the abbreviations for the King Henry pneumonic:
k h d u d c m m l g
Write the units in the middle under the “U”.

9. Let’s add the meter line:
k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm L g

10. Let’s add the liter line:
k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm
kL hL daL L dL cL mL g
Deca can also be dk or da

11. Let’s add the gram line:
k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm
kl hl dal l dl cl ml
kg hg dag g dg cg mg

12. How to use this device:
Look at the number given. Check if it has a decimal. If it does use that decimal & proceed to step 2. If it does not place a decimal at the end of the number. Ex: 400.
Look at the unit that the number has. Locate it on the number line and circle the unit.
3. Locate the unit that you want to covert to and circle it.
Move to new unit, counting jumps and noticing the direction of the jump.
Move decimal in original number the same # of spaces and in the same direction.

13. Example #1: Look at the problem. 56 cm = _____ mm
Look at the unit that has a number. 56 cm
On the device put your pencil on that unit.
k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm

14. Example #1: Move to new unit, counting jumps and
noticing the direction of the jump!
k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm
One jump to the right!

15. Example #1:
Move decimal in original number the same # of spaces and in the same direction.
56 cm = _____ mm
56.0.
One jump
to the right!
Move decimal one jump to the right.
Add a zero as a placeholder.

16. Example #1:
56 cm = _____ mm
56cm = 560 mm

17. Example #2: Look at the problem. 7.25 L = ____ kL
Look at the unit that has a number L
On the device put your pencil on that unit.
k h d u d c m
kl hl dal L dl cl ml

18. Example #2: Move to new unit, counting jumps and
noticing the direction of the jump!
k h d u d c m
kl hl dal L dl cl ml
Three jumps to the left!

19. .007.25 Example #2: Move decimal to the left three jumps.
(3) Move decimal in original number
the same # of spaces and in the same direction.
7.25 L = ____ kL
Three jumps
to the left!
Move decimal to the left three jumps.
Add two zeros as placeholders.

20. Example #2:
7.25 L = ____ kL
7.25 L = kL

21. Example #3: Try this problem on your own: 45,000 g = ____mg
k h d u d c m
kg hg dag g dg cg mg

22. 45,000.000. Example #3: Three jumps to the right! k h d u d c m
kg hg dag g dg cg mg
Three jumps to the right!
45,

23. Example #3:
45,000 g = 45,000,000 mg
Three jumps to the right!

24. Example #4: Try this problem on your own: 5 cm = ____ km k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm

25. .00005. Example #4: Five jumps to the left! k h d u d c m
km hm dam m dm cm mm
Five jumps to the left!

26. Example #4:
5 cm = km
Five jumps to the left!

27. Examples #5-9:
Solve these five problems on your own. Show your answers to your teacher.
You may choose to use the King Henry Notes.
You may choose the King Henry Staircase.
You may also choose to make a King Henry Slider.

28. Examples #5-9: (5) 35 mm = ____ cm (6) 14,443 L = ____ kL
(7) kg = ____ g
(8)35.4 L = ____ mL
(9)16 mm = ____ km

29. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1) 1000 mg = _______ g 3) 1 L = _______ mL 5) 160 cm = _______ mm
2) 14 km = _______ m 4) 109 g = _______ kg 6) m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
7) 56 cm m 8) 7 g mg

30. Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____
2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____
3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm
11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km
12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg
13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g

31. Compare using <, >, or =.
1) 63 cm m ) 5 g mg 3) 1,500 mL L
4) 536 cm dm 5) 43 mg g 6) 3.6 m cm

32. Accurate
Precision
Validity

33. The Science of Measurement: Accuracy vs. Precision
Accurate means "capable of providing a correct reading or measurement." In physical science it means 'correct'. A measurement is accurate if it correctly reflects the size of the thing being measured.
Precise means "exact, as in performance, execution, or amount. "In physical science it means "repeatable, reliable, getting the same measurement each time."
We can never make a perfect measurement. The best we can do is to come as close as possible within the limitations of the measuring instruments.
Validity refers to measuring what we really need to measure. The truth in the process used to measure.

34. Suppose you are aiming at a bull's eye with each of five darts.
Low Accuracy High Precision
High Accuracy Low Precision
High Accuracy High Precision
This is a precise but not accurate. The darts are together but did not hit the bulls eye.
This is an accurate but not precise. The darts are not clustered, but their 'average' position is the center of the bull's eye.
This pattern is precise and accurate. The darts are clustered and their average position is the center of the bull's eye.

35. Scientific Tools
Science Journal: One of the most important tools in science is where a scientist keeps their plans, procedures and findings.

36. Scientific Tools
Graduated Cylinders - a piece of lab equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid and irregularly shaped objects.
Units used are Liters (L)

37. Scientific Tools
Beakers - simple container for stirring, mixing and heating liquids commonly used in many laboratories.
Unit used is Liters (L), (mL)

38. Scientific Tools
Flasks - can be used for making solutions or for holding, containing, collecting, or sometimes volumetrically measuring chemicals, samples, solutions, etc.

39. Scientific Tools
Petri Dish - a shallow glass or plastic cylindrical lidded dish that biologists use to culture cells or small moss plants.

40. Scientific Tools Triple Beam Balance - typical mechanical balance.
Units measured are Grams (g)

41. Scientific Tools Thermometer: measures temperature of substances.
Compound Microscopes: allow people to observe objects that are normally too small to see with just your eyes.
Computer: process, gather and decipher information.

42. The End