THE METRIC SYSTEM
WHY DO WE USE THE METRIC SYSTEM? Almost all other countries are using the metric system Scientists need a universal way to communicate data (SI Units)
WHAT DOES THE METRIC SYSTEM MEASURE? The gram measures mass or how much something weighs The liter measures volume which is used when measuring liquids The meter measures the length of an object or the distance from place to place
APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS BETWEEN METRIC & US LENGTH UNITS A meter (m) is about three feet long A decimeter (dm) is about four inches long An inch is about 25 millimeters (mm) A foot contains about 30 centimeters (cm) Quick question: Based on the above info, how many decimeter should be in a foot? A foot contains about 3 decimeters
Grams – 1 small paperclip is equal to one gram Liters – a small bottle of water .5 L and a large bottle of soda is 2 liters (Duh! 2 liter of Pepsi!)
THE METRIC CONVERSION CHART (STAIRCASE METHOD) To convert to a smaller unit, move decimal point to the right or multiply. Kilo 1000 units Hecto 100 units Deka 10 units Basic Unit Deci 0.1 units Centi 0.01 units Milli 0.001 units To convert to a larger unit, move decimal point to the left or divide
TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD 1000 mg = ______ g Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder. Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams. Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was determined in steps 1 & 2.
TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD 1000 mg = ______ g 1 Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder. Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams. Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was determined in steps 1 & 2.
TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD .15 L = __________ ml
TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD .15 L = __________ ml 150
Try more… 73 mm = ________cm 7.3
Try more… 63 cm = ____________mm 630
Try more… 7.4 kg = ____________g 7,400
Try more… 6,500,000 mL = __________kL 0.65
http://daphne.meccahosting.com/~a0000e89/metricsystem.htm
Pop Quiz!!! 1. ______ deka- a. one-tenth 2. ______ centi- b. one thousand 3. ______ kilo- c. one-thousandth 4. ______ deci- d. one-millionth 5. ______ milli- e. one-hundredth 6. ______ hecto- f. one hundred g. ten
58.2 cm = ______ mm 38.1 cm = ______ mm 364 mm = _____ cm 450 m = _____ km 435 mm = _____ cm 6172 m = _____ km