1. “I’m ten times better than the Standard system of measurement!”
The Metric System
“I’m ten times better than the Standard system of measurement!”

2. Metric System Many laboratory activities require measurements.
Science uses the S.I. (Metric System) of measurements.

3. Measurements in Experiments Metric System
Developed by the French in the late 1700’s.
Based on powers of ten, so it is very easy to use.
Used by almost every country in the world, with the notable exception of the USA.
Especially used by scientists.
Called the International System of Units or in French the Le Système International d'Unités abbreviated SI.

4. Metric Prefixes
Regardless of the unit, the entire metric system uses the same prefixes.
Common prefixes are:
kilo = 1000
centi = 1/100th
milli = 1/1000th
pico = 1/1000,000,000,000 or 1 x
1 meter = 100 centimeters =1000 millimeters

5. Length The SI base unit for length is the meter (m)
Tool: meter stick, ruler
Common units for length – millimeter, centimeter, meter or kilometer
Abbreviated (mm, cm, m, km)

6. Mass Electronic Balance The SI unit for mass is the kilogram (kg)
Balances are used to determine mass.
Common units of mass: gram (g), milligram (mg),
kilogram (kg)
Your mass in Kg?
1 kg / 2.2 lbs
Electronic Balance
Triple Beam Balance

7. Temperature The Kelvin (K) is the SI unit for temperature
Celsius (0C) is the metric unit for temperature
O 0 Celsius = 273 K
Know the temperature at which water freezes and boils in the
3 different temperature scales:
temperature
kelvin
degree Celsius
degree Fahrenheit
symbol K °C °F
boiling point of water
373
100.
212
melting point of ice
273 32
absolute zero 0.
-273
-459

8. Volume Units of volume are derived from units of length. Formula:
Volume = length x width x height
The metric units of volume are cubic centimeters (cm3)
A box 2 cm x 3 cm x 5cm has a volume of __________ ?
30 cm3

9. Liquid Volume Graduated Cylinder used to measure volume
1 cm3 of water is equal 1 milliliter (ml) of water and 1 ml of water will always have a mass of one gram.
1 cm3 of anything = 1 mL of anything
1 cm3 water = 1 mL of water = 1 gram
Meniscus – the ‘bubble’ that form on the wall of the glass. Always read from the bottom of the meniscus

10. Water Displacement
Water displacement is used to find the volume of objects that are not boxed shaped. (irregular shaped objects)
Example: 50-mL of water is placed in a graduated cylinder.
If a rock causes the level to rise to 73-mL, the rock must have a volume of 23-mL.
73 – 50 = 23 mL

11. A Metric Cheat Sheet Measuring Tool Unit to Use Mass Length Volume
Copy and fill in the following chart to help you remember the different parts of the metric system
Measuring Tool
Unit to Use
Mass
Length
Volume
Temp

12. To Convert Measurements use Dimensional Analysis by multiplying by a conversion factor: a factor equal to one.
Example: To convert 56 m to km --
56 m x 1 km = km
1000 m
Example: Convert 65 miles per hour (mph) to km/hr
65 mi/hr x km/hr
1 mi /hr
= 104 km/hr

13. High Accuracy High Precision
Accuracy and Precision
Accuracy – describes how close a measurement is to the true value of the quantity measured.
Precision – the exactness of a measurement
Example: m is more precise than 45.0 m
Low Accuracy High Precision
High Accuracy Low Precision
High Accuracy High Precision
So, if you are playing soccer and you always hit the left goal post instead of scoring, then you are not accurate, but you are precise!

14. Significant Figures Used to show the precision of a measured quantity
Include all digits that are actually measured plus one estimated digit.
Rules:
1) All non zero number are significant
= 3 sig figs
= 5 sig figs
2) Zeros located between non-zero digits are significant
= 4 sig figs
This measurement should be read as 4.95 cm. This measurement has 3 significant figures.

15. 3) Trailing zeros (at the end) are significant only if the number contains a decimal point; otherwise they are insignificant (they don’t count)
= 3 sig figs
= 6 sig figs
= only 3 sig figs
4) Zeros to the left of the first nonzero digit are insignificant (they don’t count); they are only placeholders.
= 3 sig figs
= 2 sig figs

16. Rules for addition/subtraction problems
The number of decimal places in the result equals the number of decimal places in the least precise measurement
Example: =
Answer = sig figs (rounded up)
Rules for multiplication/division problems
The number of sig figs in the result equals the number in the least precise measurement used in the calculation
Example: (27.2 x ) ÷ =
Answer = sig figs (rounded down)

17. Estimating the last digit in a measurement
This measurement should be read as 4.95 cm. This measurement has 3 significant figures.

18. Reading a metric ruler correctly:
This point can be read as 1.65 cm. or 16.5 mm.

19. Density Example: Density of Gold = 19.30 g / ml
Density - the amount of matter (mass) compared to the amount of space (volume) the object occupies.
Density – Is a Physical Property of matter - it is a constant, a number that does not change.
Example: Density of Gold = g / ml
Question: If you cut a brick of gold in half would the Density still be g/ml?
Yes…. Why?

20. so the units for Density are g/mL, or g/cm3
Formula
Density = mass/volume D = M / V
The unit for mass is grams (g), and the unit for volume is mL or cm3 usually,
so the units for Density are g/mL, or g/cm3

21. Density Formula Wheel Mass
Formula wheels make it easy to solve density problems.
Cover the property you are trying to find, and do what is left over.
To find density, cover the word density. You have mass over volume remaining. So divide mass by volume to find density!
Mass
density
volume

22. Density Formula Wheel Mass
To find mass, you cover the word mass. You now have density times volume remaining.
To find volume, cover volume. You have mass over density remaining, so divide mass by density to find volume.
Mass
density
volume

23. Understanding Density
In the following illustrations, each will represent 1 cm3.
Each g will represent 1 gram.
Mass = 24g
Volume = 8 cm3
Density = 3g/cm3
g g g

24. In other words, there are 3 grams in every cm3.
g g g
In other words, there are 3 grams in every cm3.

25. Density Problem 2
g g
Mass = grams
Volume = 6 cm3
Density = 2 g/cm3
In English we say the density of the object is 2 grams in every cubic centimeter.

26. Density Problem 3 g g g g g g g g g g g g g
Our previous problems were materials of uniform density. They were the same stuff throughout. But many materials are not. Gravel is a great example.
Mass = 16 grams
Volume = 8 mL
Density = 2 g/mL

28. Powers of Ten Interactive Tutorial

29. How to Convert Metric Units
See link below for an online calculator
To convert to larger unit (example: meter to a kilometer), move the decimal point to the left or divide.
To convert to a smaller unit (example: meter to centimeter), move the decimal point to the right or multiply.
Example: to convert 100 g to kilograms move the decimal place 3 places to the left (or divide by 1000).
Answer: kg