Measurement “Measurement is finding a number that shows the size or amount of something.” We can measure many things, but we mainly focus on length, area, volume, mass, and time.

Units Importance Units are important!!! Units are important!!! One unit can mean something completely different than another unit One unit can mean something completely different than another unit Knowing the units can help avoid mistakes Knowing the units can help avoid mistakes

The Mistake Two different groups of scientists were working on the calculations to send a probe to Mars. The American team did their calculations in the English standard and the other team did it in the metric system and they didn’t convert properly. (OOPS!)

The probe was destroyed when it hit the surface of Mars’ at a high speed. The probe was destroyed when it hit the surface of Mars’ at a high speed. It cost the space program 125 million dollars. It cost the space program 125 million dollars. The Mistake

The English system is very confusing because it has so many different values

America is the only country that still uses the old English system

Scientists give the English system the thumbs down Why? Scientists needed an exact and uniform system of weights and measurements. This is why scientists use the metric system instead.

Main Units Used Meter – Measures Length Meter – Measures Length Length is the distance between two points Liter – Measures Volume Liter – Measures Volume Volume is how much space a liquid takes up Gram – Measures Mass Gram – Measures Mass Mass is how much matter is in an object Seconds – Measures Time Seconds – Measures Time Time is how long something takes

How the metric system works Centi- Milli- Kilo-

Metric chart Giga means billion ( ) Giga means billion ( ) Mega means million ( ) Mega means million ( ) Kilo means thousand (1000) Kilo means thousand (1000) Centi means one-hundredth (1/100) Centi means one-hundredth (1/100) Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000) Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000) Micro means one-millionth (1/ ) Micro means one-millionth (1/ ) Nano means one-billionth (1/ ) Nano means one-billionth (1/ )

How to use the metric chart Rewrite the problem Rewrite the problem Check for the decimal (if no decimal, put at end) Check for the decimal (if no decimal, put at end) Where do we start? Where do we start? Were do we go to? Were do we go to? Count the # of steps and direction Count the # of steps and direction Do the same with decimals Do the same with decimals

US to Metric Help Guide

Cool Background Information if you’d like to learn some more

Standards of the past People used to use parts of their body to determine the length of something. People used to use parts of their body to determine the length of something. The standard would be a part of the king’s anatomy. The standard would be a part of the king’s anatomy. The standard yard was the distance from the king’s nose to his outstretched arm The standard yard was the distance from the king’s nose to his outstretched arm

People would use their feet to measure distance This is how the term foot came about. This is how the term foot came about. Today the standard “foot” in the English system is Today the standard “foot” in the English system is 12 inches = 1 foot

How did the metric system come about? During the18th century scientists measured the distance from the earth’s equator to its North Pole and divided it into ten million parts to make the meter. During the18th century scientists measured the distance from the earth’s equator to its North Pole and divided it into ten million parts to make the meter.

How the Liter came about Scientists needed a way to measure liquids so they took 10 cm and multiplied it by its length x width x height to come up with a standard for measuring volume Scientists needed a way to measure liquids so they took 10 cm and multiplied it by its length x width x height to come up with a standard for measuring volume The liter is the size of 10 cm(3) The liter is the size of 10 cm(3) 10cm x 10 cm x 10 cm 10cm x 10 cm x 10 cm Length x Width x Height = Volume Length x Width x Height = Volume The liter is used to measure liquids The liter is used to measure liquids

How the Gram came about Scientists needed a standard to measure mass. Scientists needed a standard to measure mass. Mass is the amount of matter in an object Mass is the amount of matter in an object They decided to take one cubic centimeter of water and call it a gram They decided to take one cubic centimeter of water and call it a gram

The Time standard During the 15 th century a scientist named Galileo set the standard of time known as the second During the 15 th century a scientist named Galileo set the standard of time known as the second