The Metric System

What is the Metric System? The standard measurement system for science All sciences use the metric system (including this class) Conversions will be a necessary skill not only for this class, but for chemistry and physics This system is much easier to use than the English Imperial System

Common SI Units Measurement Unit Abbreviation _________ Meter m _____ kilogram kg _____ Second s __________ Kelvin K Electric current ampere A __________ liter L

Prefixes for LARGE Measurements Prefix Symbol Meaning Mult. Of Base Power Deca- da ________ 10 10 Hecto- h ________ 100 102 Kilo- k ________ 1,000 103 Mega- M ________ 1,000,000 106 Giga- G ________ 1,000,000,000 109

Prefixes for small Measurements Prefix Symbol Meaning Mult. Of Base Power Deci- __ tenth 0.1 10-1 Centi- __ hundredth 0.01 10-2 Milli- m _________ 0.001 10-3 Micro u _______ 0.000001 10-6 Nano __ billionth 0.000000001 10-9

Conversion Steps 6. Write your final answer with the new unit 1. Rewrite given number, write in decimal (if not present) 2. Find the beginning and ending units on your conversion chart 3. Count how many times you ‘jump’/ Which way do you move? 4. Draw in jumps from beginning decimal/ Draw a new decimal and cross out the beginning decimal 5. Add zeros in the jumps 6. Write your final answer with the new unit

Examples 1. 1.85m = ___________cm 2. 3.5 km = ___________cm 3. 4.6 km = ___________ mm 4. 298 m = ___________ km 5. 455cm = ___________km

More Practice 1. 0.55km = ___________mm 2. 1,549 cm = __________m 4. 22,543 um = ___________cm 5. 72 cm =_______________um