2. Metric System Basics
Only a few areas of the world still use the English measurement system
U.S.
Myanmar
Liberia

3. Problems Metric mishap caused loss of NASA orbiter
September 30, 1999 CNN
NASA lost a $125 million Mars orbiter because a Lockheed Martin engineering team used English units of measurement while NASAs team used the metric system for a key spacecraft operation.
The units mismatch prevented navigation information from transferring between the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft team in at Lockheed Martin in Denver and the flight team at NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
Lockheed Martin helped build, develop and operate the spacecraft for NASA. Its engineers provided navigation commands for Climate Orbiters thrusters in English units although NASA has been using the metric system predominantly since at least 1990.

4. Metric (SI) vs. American Measurements
Metric (SI) System
Grams
Meters
Liters
Celsius
nited_States_customary_units
American System
Pounds
Ounces
Feet
Inches
Yards
Miles
Gallons
Cups
Teaspoon
Quarts
Pints
Fahrenheit

5. Most of the world uses the metric system (95%)
Metric System Basics
Most of the world uses the metric system (95%)
Why use the metric system?
1. To have a single unit for every physical quantity
2. MUCH EASIER: Based on units of 10

6. Metric System Basics
The metric system is based on a base unit that corresponds with a certain type of measurement
Length = meters (m)
Volume = liters (L)
Mass or weight = grams (g)

7. Which is bigger?

8. Prefixes k: kilo = 1 thousand base units (x1000)
h: hecto = 1 hundred base units (x100)
D: deca = ten base units (x10)
d: deci = 1 tenth of a base unit (÷10)
c: centi = 1 hundredth of a base unit (÷100)
m: milli = 1 thousandth of a base unit (÷1000)

9. Metric Conversions

10. Metric Conversions

11. Metric Olympics Categories
Frisbee Toss (meters)
Guess your partner’s weight (in kg )
Bean grab (grams)
Volume guess (milliliters)
Ball Roll (meters)
Popsicle Stick Flip (meters)

12. Measuring Volume Volume: the amount of space occupied by an object
Rectangle: length x width x height
Liquid Volume: 1 liter = decimeter cubed (dm³)

13. Measuring Matter
Density: a measure of how tightly packed molecules are in an object
d = mass / volume

14. Measuring Temperature
Temperature: a measure of how hot or cold something is
Celsius Scale
Freezing point of water is 0º C
Boiling Point of water is 100º C
Kelvin Scale (SI unit of temperature)
Usually used in astronomy
Absolute Zero (0K) = -273 K: the coldest possible temperature