Length Measurement Notes # Measurements are important to science because they provide important specific information and help observers avoid bias. Measuring is comparing an object or process to standard length. Scientists use a common set of standards, called the International System of Units (SI).

Measuring = comparing an object to standard length. USA = standard English measurement (inches, feet, yards, miles) Metric = millimeters, centimeters, meters,kilometers Scientists and the rest of the world= Metric system b/c easy to use and standard around world.

(2) To measure length, or the distance between two points, the metric unit of measure is the meter. One meter (m) is about the distance of the floor to a doorknob. Long distances, such as the distance between two cities are measured in kilometers (k). Small lengths are measured in centimeters (cm) or millimeters (mm)

(2) Length = the distance between 2 objects Metric length = millimeter, centimeter, meter, kilometer Meter (base unit) is about : a table, from floor to doorknob, blackboard, a desk Centimeter is about: a fingernail, pencil eraser, thimble, width of a book Millimeter is about: pencil or pen tip, thickness of a dime, thickness of a fingernail

(3)The instruments used to measure length distances are rulers, measuring tapes, meter sticks, odometers, and trundle wheels. All metric length measuring tools are broken into millimeters, centimeters, and meters. Odometers measures in kilometers. Ruler: Trundle wheel:

Metric measuring tools: Small lines = millimeters Bigger lines 1,2, 3 = centimeters Meter stick = 1 meter, 100 centimeters, & 1000 millimeters