1. Measurements and the Metric System

2. The Metric System A universal measurement system
Also called the International System or SI units
Only three countries worldwide don’t use the metric system
(USA, Burma, and Liberia)

3. The Metric System
Based on multiples of ten (this makes it easy to use)
Uses prefixes to identify larger or smaller units of measure
Common Prefixes
Symbol
Multiple
kilo K
1000
centi c
.01
milli m
.001

4. Metric Conversions - Length
Km m dm cm mm
x x x x 10
÷ ÷ ÷ ÷10

5. Metric Conversions - Volume
Kl l dl cl ml
x x x x 10
÷ ÷ ÷ ÷10

6. Metric Conversions - Mass
Kg g dg cg mg
x x x x 10
÷ ÷ ÷ ÷10

7. Length Metric measurements A measure of linear distance
Basic unit of length is the meter (m)
Measurements made with a meter stick or metric ruler
Metric measurements
The entire meter stick
represents one meter
Each number represents
a centimeter (there are
100 centimeters in a meter)
Each little line is a millimeter
(there are 1000 millimeters
in a meter)

8. Area Metric measurements
The amount of surface included within a set of boundaries
Determined by measuring the length and width of an object, then multiplying
Metric measurements
Length = 14 cm
Width = 7 cm
Area = 14 cm x 7 cm
= 98 cm2
(Area is always expressed
in square units)

9. Volume Metric measurements Volume is the space that an object occupies
Represents the length, width, and height of an object
For solids, measurements are based on units of length (ex. cm3) and can be calculated using specific formulas
Metric measurements

10. Calculating the volume of a rectangular prism
Volume of a rectangular prism = length x width x height (l x w x h)
Metric measurements
Length = 10 cm
Width = 3 cm
Height = 4 cm
Volume = l x w x h
= 10 cm x 3 cm x 4 cm
= 120 cm3
4 cm
3 cm
10 cm

11. Calculating the volume of a cylinder
Metric measurements
Diameter = 10 cm
20 cm

12. Volume of a liquid Metric measurements A graduated cylinder is used to
accurately measure the volume of liquids
in milliliters
Determine the volume in a graduated
cylinder by reading the bottom of the
meniscus at eye level
Once the volume of a liquid is known,
it can be converted to a “solid volume” by
using the formula 1 ml = 1 cm3
Metric measurements

13. Mass Metric measurements
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object
Mass is measured in grams using a balance
Metric measurements
The mass of an object remains the same,
no matter where in the universe it is
measured

14. Weight Metric measurements
Weight is a measure of the gravitational force exerted on an object by a massive body
Metric measurements
Weight is measured in Newtons (N) using a
spring scale
Weight varies from place to place depending
on the strength of the gravitational force
Your weight on Earth = Mass (Kg) X 9.8 m/s² (Earth’s surface gravity)
For a person with a mass of 45 Kg
Weight = 45 Kg X 9.8 m/s²
= 441 N

15. Gravity Metric measurements
Gravity is the force of attraction between objects
The strength of the gravitational force between objects depends on:
- The distance between the objects ( the gravitational force between objects decreases with distance)
-Mass ( the greater the mass
of an object, the greater it’s
gravitational force)
Metric measurements

16. Density Metric measurements
Density is the mass of a specific volume of
an object
Density is calculated by dividing the mass
of an object by its volume
Units for density are usually expressed in
grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm3 )
Metric measurements
Since the density of water is 1 g/cm3
anything with a density less than 1 g/cm3 will
float in water and anything greater will sink

17. Calculating Density A Density = Mass Volume
Volume of Object A = 5 cm x 2 cm x 3 cm
= 30 cm³
Mass of Object A = 150 grams
(measured on a balance)
3 cm
2 cm
5 cm
Density = Mass
Volume
Density of Object A = 150 grams = 5 g/cm³
30 cm³