1. THE METRIC SYSTEM

2. WHY DO WE USE THE METRIC SYSTEM?
Almost all other countries are using the metric system
Scientists need a universal way to communicate data (SI Units)

3. WHAT DOES THE METRIC SYSTEM MEASURE?
The gram measures mass or how much something weighs
The liter measures volume which is used when measuring liquids
The meter measures the length of an object or the distance from place to place

4. APPROXIMATE CONVERSIONS BETWEEN METRIC & US LENGTH UNITS
A meter (m) is about three feet long
A decimeter (dm) is about four inches long
An inch is about 25 millimeters (mm)
A foot contains about 30 centimeters (cm)
Quick question: Based on the above info, how many decimeter should be in a foot?
A foot contains about 3 decimeters

5. Grams – 1 small paperclip is equal to one gram
Liters – a small bottle of water .5 L and a large bottle of soda is 2 liters
(Duh! 2 liter of Pepsi!)

6. THE METRIC CONVERSION CHART (STAIRCASE METHOD)
To convert to a smaller unit, move
decimal point to the right or
multiply.
Kilo
1000
units
Hecto
100
units
Deka 10
units
Basic
Unit
Deci
0.1
units
Centi
0.01
units
Milli
0.001
units
To convert to a larger unit, move
decimal point to the left or divide

7. TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD
1000 mg = ______ g
Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder.
Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to
grams.
Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was
determined in steps 1 & 2.

8. TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD
1000 mg = ______ g 1
Step 1: Determine if you are going to go up or down the ladder.
Step 2: Determine how many steps there are from milligrams to
grams.
Step 3: Move the decimal point the amount of places that was
determined in steps 1 & 2.

9. TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD
.15 L = __________ ml

10. TRY THIS USING THE STAIRCASE METHOD
.15 L = __________ ml
150

11. Try more… 73 mm = ________cm
7.3

12. Try more… 63 cm = ____________mm
630

13. Try more… 7.4 kg = ____________g
7,400

14. Try more… 6,500,000 mL = __________kL
0.65

16. Pop Quiz!!! 1. ______ deka- a. one-tenth
2. ______ centi- b. one thousand
3. ______ kilo- c. one-thousandth
4. ______ deci- d. one-millionth
5. ______ milli- e. one-hundredth
6. ______ hecto- f. one hundred
g. ten

17. 58.2 cm = ______ mm  
38.1 cm = ______ mm  
364 mm = _____ cm  
450 m = _____ km  
435 mm = _____ cm  
6172 m = _____ km