1. The Metric System
When a man's knowledge is not in order, the more of it he has the greater will be his confusion.
-Herbert Spencer

2. Why use the metric system?
Developed in the 1790’s during the French Revolution
Scientists and educated scholars needed to come up with a uniform (same) system of measurement that could be used worldwide
To prevent confusion!

3. What do we use today? Système International (SI)
The SI is a more modern form of the metric system.
Both the metric system and SI are based on units of ten.
A unit is an amount used to measure something.

4. Why is the Metric System Important?
Helps scientists share and compare observations and results.
All units are based on 10, which makes conversions from one unit to another easy.

5. When Do We Use The Metric System?
Measurement

6. Examples of Metric Basic Units of Measurement
Mass
Grams
Amount of matter
Length
Meters
Linear size in space (how long an object is)
Volume
Liters
Amount of 3-D space an object takes up
Time – measured in seconds and hours
These are the suffixes *at the end of the word

7. Examples of Metric Basic Units of Measurement
Temperature
Kelvin (K)
Celsius (°C)
How hot/cold something is
Area
Area =
Length X Width
Measure of the surface of an object
Density
Density =
Mass/Volume
How much matter is in a given volume
Time – measured in seconds and hours
These are the suffixes *at the end of the word

8. Basic Unit
Meter
Liter
Grams

9. Metric Prefixes These prefixes go before the basic unit Kilo- King
Hekto- Henry
Deka- Dances
M/G/L [Merrily]
Deci- Down
Centi- Central
Milli- Main Street

10. Numerically speaking…
1000
100 10 1
0.1
0.01
0.001
= Kilo
= Hekto
= Deka
= No Prefix (Basic Unit)
= deci
= centi
= milli

11. To climb the metric ladder:
move the decimal point to the left for each step you go up.
Move the decimal to the right for each step you go down.

12. Smaller Unit? Move Right Or divide
Kilo
1000 Units
Larger Unit? Move Left
Or multiply
Hecto
100 units
Deka
10 Units
Basic Unit
Deci
0.1 Units
Centi
0.01 Units
Smaller Unit? Move Right
Or divide
Milli
0.001 Units

13. Weight Vs. Mass Mass – the amount of matter (stuff) in an object
Weight – the mass of the object multiplied by the acceleration of gravity OR
W = m x g
How does your mass and your weight change in outer space?
Weight does, depends on gravity.
MASS REMAINS THE SAME!