1. Measurement Must have a standard. A standard is an exact quantity people agree to use for comparison. A standard means two people using the same object should get close to the same results. Variability – how much a measurement can differ when measurements are made.

2. 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

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

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

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

6. Scientists give the English system the thumbs down Scientists needed an exact and uniform system of weights and measurements

7. 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. During the18th century scientists measured the distance from the earth’s equator to its North Pole and divided it into ten million parts. This is how they came up with the length of the standard meter. This is how they came up with the length of the standard meter.

8. The Meter The standard for the meter is kept in a safe in France. The standard for the meter is kept in a safe in France. The meter stick is a replica of that standard The meter stick is a replica of that standard A meter is made up of 100 centimeters and 1000 millimeters A meter is made up of 100 centimeters and 1000 millimeters

9. 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 The liter is the size of 10 cm(3) 10cm x 10 cm x 10 cm Length x Width x Height = Volume The liter is used to measure liquids

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 (OOPS!) MARS MARS

13. This made scientists very upset. This made scientists very upset. It cost the space program 125 million dollars It cost the space program 125 million dollars It cost the scientists their time It cost the scientists their time

14. Metric chart Kilo means thousand (1000) Kilo means thousand (1000) Hecto means hundred (100) Hecto means hundred (100) Deca means ten (10) Deca means ten (10) Deci means one-tenth (1/10) Deci means one-tenth (1/10) Centi means one-hundredth (1/100) Centi means one-hundredth (1/100) Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000) Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000)

15. Copy This Down The Meter- Measures length Length is the distance between two points The Liter –Measures Volume Volume is how much space something takes up The Gram- Measures mass Mass is how much matter is in an object

16. How the metric system works kilo hecto deca UNIT deci centi milli (meter, gram or liter) kilo hecto deca UNIT deci centi milli (meter, gram or liter) 100cm = ___ m100cm = ___ m 100cm = 1.0 m100cm = 1.0 m 6.9mm = ___cm6.9mm = ___cm 6.9mm =.69 cm6.9mm =.69 cm

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

18. KILO 1000 Units HECTO 100 Units DEKA 10 Units DECI 0.1 Unit CENTI 0.01 Unit MILLI 0.001 Unit Meters Liters Grams Ladder Method How do you use the “ladder” method? 1 st – Determine your starting point. 2 nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point. 3 rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction. 4 km = _________ m 1 2 3 How many jumps does it take? Starting Point Ending Point 4. 1 __. 2 3 = 4000 m

19. Try these conversions using the ladder method. 1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL160 cm = _______ mm 14 km = _______ m109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km Conversion Practice Compare using, or =. 56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

20. Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit. 1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____ 2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____ 3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____ Try these conversions, using the ladder method. 10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ mL 20) 16 cm = _______ mm 11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km 12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg 13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm 14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g Metric Conversion Challenge

21. 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