The Metric System The scientific system of measurement The International System of Units (SI) Based on the number 10 and multiples of 10
Length Distance between two points Meter (m) = basic unit of length = 39.4 inches Metric rulers and meter sticks used to measure
Meter stick -- 1 meter or 100 cm or 1000 mm long Metric ruler -- 30 cm or 300 mm long
Volume The amount of space an object takes up Liter = the basic unit of volume (L) Cubic Centimeter (cc or cm3) – used to measure the volume of solids
1 ml = 1 cc = 1 cm3 1000 ml = 1 L
Liquid: Measured with graduated cylinder Meniscus -- the curved surface of a liquid in a graduated cylinder. Read the bottom of the meniscus.
Irregular solid: Measure out some water in the cylinder. This is volume 1. Drop the solid into the liquid causing the water level to go up. This is volume 2. Subtract volume 1 from volume 2 to get the volume of the solid.
Solid: volume = length x width x height
Mass The measure of the amount of matter in an object Kilogram (kg) = basic unit of mass Measured with balance
Density The mass per unit volume of a substance Density = Mass Volume Density of water = 1 g/mL
Objects with density less than 1 g/mL float on water. Objects with density more than 1 g/mL sink in water.
Temperature Celsius scale is usual measurement but SI unit is Kelvin The Kelvin temperature can be found by adding 273 to the Celsius reading
Water freezes at 0oC Water boils at 100oC Body temperature = 37oC Room Temperature = 21oC Temperature is measured with a thermometer
Time The interval between two events Measured in seconds