1. Why scientists love it so.
The Metric System
Why scientists love it so.

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

6. Basic Units in the Metric System
Metric Base Units
Basic Units in the Metric System
Physical Quantity
Basic Unit
Symbol
Length
meter m
Mass
gram g
Volume
liter L
Time
Energy
Amount of Matter
Second
Joule
Mole s J
mol

7. Basic Units in the Metric System
Metric Base Units
Basic Units in the Metric System
Physical Quantity
Basic Unit
Symbol
Length
meter m
Mass
gram g
Volume
liter L

8. Metric chart Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word Kilo- k 1000
Thousand
Hecto- h
100
Hundred
Deca-
da or dk 10
Ten
Unit
m, l, or g 1
One
Deci- d .1
Tenth
Centi- c
.01
Hundredth
Milli- m
.001
thousandth

9. Metric chart Prefix Symbol Factor Number Factor Word Kilo- k 1000
Thousand
Unit
m, l, or g 1
One
Centi- c
.01
Hundredth
Milli- m
.001
thousandth

10. Meters 1000 mm = 1 m Meters measure length or distance
One millimeter is about the thickness of a dime.
1000 mm = 1 m

11. Meters
One centimeter is about the width of a large paper clip
100 cm = 1 m
or your fingernail.

12. Meters
A meter is about the width of a doorway

13. Meters A kilometer is about six city blocks or 10 football fields.
1000 m = 1 km
1.6 kilometers is about 1 mile

14. Gram
Grams are used to measure mass or the weight of an object.

15. Grams
A milligram weighs about as much as a grain of salt.
1000 mg = 1 g

16. Grams 1000 g = 1 kg 1 gram weighs about as much as a small paper clip.
1 kilogram weighs about as much as 6 apples or 2 pounds.
1000 g = 1 kg

17. Liters
Liters measure liquids or capacity.
2 Liter Soda

18. Liter
1 milliliter is about the amount of one drop
1000 mL = 1 L

19. Liter
1 liter is half of a 2 liter bottle of Coke or other soda

20. Converting Metric Units
Conversion Factors
Length
Mass
Volume
1000 mm = 1m
1000 mg = 1g
1000 mL = 1L
100 cm = 1m
100 cg = 1g
100 cL = 1L
1000 m = 1km
1000 g = 1kg
1000 L = 1kL

21. ( ) Remember units must cancel! ______ How many cm are in 1.32 meters?
equality:
1 m = 100 cm
applicable conversion factors:
______
1 m
100 cm
______
1 m
100 cm or ( )
______
1 m
100 cm
132 cm
1.32 m =
Remember units must cancel!

22. Again, the units must cancel.
How many liters is 8.72 mL?
equality:
1 L = 1000 mL
applicable conversion factors: or
______
1 L
1000 mL ( )
______
1 L
1000 mL L
8.72 mL =
Again, the units must cancel.