---The Universal Language of Measurement--- The Metric System ---The Universal Language of Measurement--- Metric System – scientists & engineers use this language to communicate The metric system is often referred to as the International System of Units (abbreviated “SI”) The metric system is based on the number 10 and multiples of 10.

Length The distance between two points Meter – the basic unit of length in the metric system 1 meter = 1 m Centimeter – one hundredth of a meter 1 cm = 1/100 m = 0.01 m 100 cm = 1 m Millimeter – one thousandth of a meter 1 mm = 1/1000 m = 0.001 m = 1/10 cm = 0.1 cm 1000 mm = 1m Kilometer – one thousand meters 1 km = 1000m 1 m = 1/1000 km Light year –the distance light travels in one year Speed of light = 300,000 km/s

Volume The amount of space an object takes up Liter – is the basic unit of volume in the metric system 1 Liter = 1 L Milliliter – is one thousandth of a Liter 1 mL = 1/1000 L = 0.001 L Milliliters and Liters are used to measure the volume of Cubic centimeters – is the metric unit used to measure the volume of A cubic centimeter is equal to the volume of a cube that measures 1 cm by 1 cm by 1 cm (cm3). A volume of a cubic centimeter (cm3) is exactly equal to the volume of one milliliter. liquids solids 1cm = 1 cm3 = 1 mL 1cm 1cm

Mass a measure of the amount of matter in an object Kilogram – the basic unit of mass in the metric system 1 kg = 1000 grams Gram – one thousandth of a kilogram 1 g = 1/1000 kg = 0.001 kg 1000 g = 1 kg Milligram – one thousandth of a gram 1 mg = 1/1000 g = 0.001 g 1000 mg = 1 g

Temperature a measure of how hot or cold something is Celsius = a unit of temperature in the metric system Water freezes at 0° C. Water boils at 100° C. Normal body temperature is 37° C Room temperature is 21° C.

Temperature (continued) Kelvin = another unit of temperature in the metric system. The lowest possible temperature is 0 Kelvin (-273 ° C). This is Absolute Zero. To convert from Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273°

Metric Prefixes Prefix Symbol Meaning kilo- k 1000 thousand hecto- h hundred deka- da 10 ten deci- d 0.1 tenth centi- c 0.01 hundredth milli- m 0.001 thousandth

King Henry Doesn’t Usually Dig Converting Metrics kilo hect deca Unit deci centi milli When moving right on the chart, move the decimal to the right so: 3.54 kilometers = 3540 meters 1437 mm = ______ m 15 decimeters = ____ mm 10 cm = _____ mm