1. The Metric System

2. “Why do we use/have to learn about the Metric System?”
Almost all the countries in the world use metric system.
Other countries’ companies are refusing to buy products from the U.S.A. if they are not labeled in metric units.
Scientists need a universal way to communicate data.
1/4

3. Who do we think we are?
United states
Burma
Liberia

4. “What does the Metric System measure?”
Length - meters, m
Mass - kilograms, kg (basic unit g)
Volume - liters, L
Time - seconds, s
Temperature - Celsius, ºC
2/4

5. Volume For solids, use math V = l · w · h  cm3 3/4
For liquids, use a graduated cylinder
Measured in liters (L)
Milliliters are more common (mL)
For solids, use math
Measured in cubic centimeters (cm3)
V = l · w · h  cm3 h l w
3/4

6. Important Conversions for Volume
1 cm3 = 1 mL
A sugar cube has a volume of 1 cm3, which is equal to 1 mL
4/4

7. Metric Conversion (Staircase Method)
To convert to a smaller unit, move
decimal point to the right
Kilo (k)
1000
units
Hecto (h)
100
units
Deka (dk) 10
units
Basic
Unit
(m, g, L)
Deci (d)
0.1
units
Centi (c)
0.01
units
Milli (m)
0.001
units
To convert to a larger unit, move
decimal point to the left

8. For example… 7000 mg = ____ g Kilo (k) 1000 100 10 Basic Unit
units
Hecto (h)
100
units
Deka (dk) 10
units
Basic
Unit
(m, g, L)
Deci (d)
0.1
units
Centi (c)
0.01
units
Milli (m)
0.001
units
Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the staircase.
Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams.
Step 3: Move the decimal that many places.

9. For example… 7 3 7000 mg = ____ g Kilo (k) 1000 100 10 Basic Unit
units
Hecto (h)
100
units
Deka (dk) 10
units
Basic
Unit
(m, g, L)
Deci (d)
0.1
units
Centi (c)
0.01
units
Milli (m)
0.001
units
Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the staircase.
Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to grams. 3
Step 3: Move the decimal that many places.

10. Let’s practice… 150 .2 470,000 20 cm = _________ m
.15 L = _________ mL .2
20 cm = _________ m
470,000
.47 km = _________ mm