Metric Conversions Ladder Method T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/

Countries That Do Not Use the Metric System Burma/Myanmar Liberia

The Magic of the Metric System: 10x! k kilo- 1000x smaller Big -> Small 100x BASE UNIT 10x meter(m) gram(g) liter(L) Distance/length Mass 1/10x 0.1x Volume c centi- 0.01x ‘CKats’ hate dogs because dogs can’t meow bigger m milli- 0.001x

kilo- 1.0 # of stair steps = # of decimal places milli- 1. You have 0.33 kilograms of laundry soap; how many grams? 2. Your water bottle is labeled 500mL; how many liters does it hold? 5 0 0 0.3 3 . L g

Measuring Length (m) Measuring Mass (g) How many millimeters in 1 centimeter? How long is the line in cm? in mm? cm Measuring Mass (g) Use ‘tare’ or zero button to ignore the mass of the container Please be careful with the scales!

Measuring Volume mL of a rock!? 1mL =1cm3 = 1cc • Liquids, use L At eye level, read at the bottom of the meniscus • Geometric solids use m3 l x w x h • Irregular solids use water displacement Volume of object mL of a rock!? 1mL =1cm3 = 1cc

Measuring Volume What is the volume of water in the cylinder? What is the volume of the toy? Recall: 1mL = 1 cm3 (1cc)

Practice Convert one value, using the ladder method, then compare 1) 200cg to g 6) 5 L to mL 11) 16 cm to mm 2) 104 km to m 7) 198 g to kg 12) 2500 m to km 3) 480 cm to m 8) 75 mL to L 13) 65 g to mg 4) 5.6 kg to g 9) 50 cm to m 14) 6.3 cm to mm Compare using <, >, or =. 25) 63 cm 6 m 27) 5 g 508 mg 29) 1,500 mL 1.5 L 26) 536 cm 53.6 dm 28) 43 mg 5 g 30) 3.6 m 36 cm

Wait! I measure distance in MILES!

U.S. vs. Metric : Length Which is longer? A. 1 mile or 1 kilometer B. 1 yard or 1 meter C. 1 inch or 1 centimeter 1.6 kilometers 1 mile 1 yard = 0.9444 meters 1 inch = 2.54 centimeters

U.S. v. Metric: Mass Which is larger? 1. 1 Pound or 100 Grams 2. 1 Kilogram or 1 Pound 3. 1 Ounce or 1000 Milligrams 1 pound = 453.6 g 100 kg = 220 pounds 1 ounce of gold = 28.35 g

U.S. v. Metric: Volume Which is larger? A. 1 liter or 1 gallon B. 1 liter or 1 quart C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce 1 fl oz = 29.53mL 1 12-oz can of soda ~ 355 mL 1 quart = 0.946 liters 1 gallon = 3.79L

Converting One Unit to Another • What value & units are you given to convert? Determine these three facts: Your friend runs a 2.5mi route while you typically run a 5km one. Which of you ran the longer distance? • What conversions factor(s) can be used to ‘bridge’ the two? • What unit do you need to convert to? 1mi =1.6km Dimensional analysis 2.5mi 1.6km ------- x -------- 1 1 mi = 4km you rule! Converting One Unit to Another

2.5mi 1.6km ------- x -------- 1 1 mi Conversion factor Set up answer units in the numerator of one fraction Use a conversion factor with the same units in the denominator as the given units 2.5mi 1.6km ------- x -------- 1 1 mi Cancel like terms (units) Multiply across; divide final fraction 2.5 (3.2km) ---------- = finish it! 1 (2) Go Hog Wild! 20oz ------ 1 28.35g x ------- 1 oz 1 kg x ---- = 1000g You feel guilty ordering a 20 ounce steak – think about it in kg instead

Digits plus the power of 10 100 can be restated as 10 x 10 700 is a number 700 can be restated as 7.0 x 100 (700.0 is the same number) Thus, 700 is the same as 7.0 x 102 10 x 10 can be stated as 10 2 Ex: Windsor to Disneyland is 745km, or 7.45 x 102 The moon is more than 384 thousand km from earth. Scientific Notation Digits plus the power of 10