1. The Metric System

2. Systems of Measurement Around the World
Two different Systems
English
Used in the United States
Metric
Used in almost every other country in the world.
Based on powers of ten.

3. Common Units in the English System of Measurement
Inches (in.)  length/height
Feet (ft.)  length/height
Ounces (oz.)  weight/volume
Pounds (lb.)  weight/volume

4. Common Units in the Metric System of Measurement
Meter (m)  length
Liter (L)  volume
Gram (g)  mass

5. What measurement system do we use in science?
The metric system
Easy to convert from one size to another since it is based on multiples of ten.
The rest of the world uses it, so communication of results is easier.

6. Converting from English to Metric
Use Conversion chart pg S177 in book.
If given 5 feet, convert to meters.
How many meters in a foot?
0.305m = 1 foot
You have five feet so multiply the five feet by…
0.305m
Answer = meters

7. Practice Conversion Convert 55 pounds to kilograms. Answer:

8. Common Metric Prefixes and Sizes
Abbreviation
Factor
kilo- k
1,000
hecto- h
100
deka- da 10 1
deci- d
0.1
centi- c
0.01
milli- m
0.001
micro-

9. Converting from one metric factor to another

10. Doing metric conversion is as easy as climbing a flight of stairs.
First find which step represents the units you are starting with.
Then count the number of stairs you need to climb or go down to get to the step that represents the units you want.
Don't count the step you started on. When you climb the steps, the decimal goes to the left.
When you go down stairs the decimal goes to the right. Remember the step marked "g,L,m" represents the unit with no prefix.

11. Example Conversions 123.1 cm equals how many meters?
We start on the step labeled "centi".
You walk up two steps to the step labeled "g,L,m".
Since you went up 2 steps the decimal moves 2 places to the left and the answer is…
1.231 m.

12. Example Conversions 20 kilograms equals how many centigrams?
We start on the step labeled "kilo".
You walk down five steps to the step labeled "centi".
Since you went down 5 steps the decimal moves 5 places to the right and the answer is…
2,000,000 cg.

13. Challenge Problem: Convert 134 inches to meters.
First convert inches to centimeters
Next convert centimeters to meters.
Answer:
meters