Metric System PART II August 2014

What is the metric system? System of measures using a base 10 International System of Units (SI)—formal name Length = meter Temperature = Celsius or Kelvin Mass = gram Volume = liter Time = second

History of the Metric System Began around the French Revolution (late 1700’s) Meter Convention on May, Metric Conversion Act. Federal agencies have begun to adapt to the metric system (Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act)

Why use the metric system? 1. Easier conversions 2. Easy to pronounce and write 3. Based on natural standards 4. World standard 5. No long rows of zeros *If you end up working for Honda someday you will be required to learn it!

Prefixes I K ingKilo- (10 3 )K  H enryHecto- (10 2 )HMove decimal D iedDeka- (10 1 )Dleft B yBase (10 0 ) D rinkingdeci- (10 -1 )dMove decimal C hocolatecenti- (10 -2 )cright M ilkmilli- (10 -3 )m 

Prefixes II Giga- (10 9 )G  Mega- (10 6 )M Move decimal …left Base …Move decimal micro- (10 -6 )µ right nano- (10 -9 )n 

Example conversion I 3.72 Hectometers = ______________ decimeters 3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be moving your decimal 3 places Which direction ? RIGHT! 3.72 Hectometers = 3,720 decimeters

Example Conversion II You have a computer file and it takes up 117 KB of space. How many MB is this? 3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be moving your decimal 3 places Which direction ? LEFT! 117 KB = MB

Example Conversion III How many nanometers are in 45.2 millimeters? 45.2 mm = _________________ nm 3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be moving the decimal 3 spaces 45.2 mm = 45,200 nm

Problems – please jot down and work on 8.27 nm = _______________  m Gl = ______________ l 6.78 dg = ________________ cg 4.45 GB = _______________ MB 3.24 x m = ___________  m Times Up

Answers to problems 8.27 nm = __ ______  m Gl = _88,220,000,000__ l 6.78 dg = ____67.8_________ cg 4.45 GB = ___4,450________ MB 3.24 x m = ___3.24_____  m