Metric System & SI Units Measurements Metric System & SI Units

Measurements Measurement is a way to describe the world with numbers. Length, volume, mass, and temperature are used to describe objects and events.

The U.S. still uses the English system of measurement.

Words we DO NOT use in science class.

Metric System Scientists use the metric system which is the International System (SI)Units, of measurement. The metric system is based on units of ten.

Units To help remember the prefixes in order: King Henry Died [By] Drink Chocolate Milk kilo- hecto- deka- [Base unit]  deci-  centi-  milli-

Converting Units To convert to a larger unit move the decimal place to the left. To convert to a smaller unit move the decimal place to the right.

Metric conversion rap https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IhtgKHYZti0

Metric System

Length The meter is the basic SI unit of length. A meter stick is used to measure length.

Length Smaller objects can be measured in centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm). Ex: pencil and textbook To measure long distances, you use kilometers (km). Ex: distance traveled in a car

Mass Mass is the amount of matter in an object. The kilogram (kg) is the SI unit for mass.

Mass You can determine mass with a triple-beam balance.

Weight Weight is a measure of the pull of gravity on an object. WEIGHT AND MASS ARE NOT THE SAME! The weight of the object can change, but the mass remains the same.

Volume Volume is the amount of space an object takes up. The basic SI unit of volume is a liter (L).

Volume A graduated cylinder is used to measure the volume of a liquid. Volume can be measured in cubic centimeters (cm³) or milliliters (mL).

Reading A Graduated Cylinder The curved surface of a liquid is called the meniscus.

Temperature Temperature is a measure of the average kinetic energy of an object. Temperature is measured with a thermometer.

Temperature Scientists use the Celsius scale to measure temperature. Freezing point of freshwater is 0⁰C. Boiling point of freshwater is 100⁰C.

Temperature Zero Kelvin (0K) is called absolute zero. Absolute zero is the lowest possible temperature where nothing could be colder.

Scientific Notation Scientific notation is a way to represent very large and very small numbers. If it moves to the left, then the power is positive. If it moves to the right, then the power is negative.

Scientific notation song http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWof6knvQwE

Write in scientific notation Ex. 1: 0.000467 Ex. 2: 32000000 Ex. 3: 1570000 Express 5.43 x 10-3 as a number.