1. The Metric System Take out a sheet of paper and pen or pencil.
Title your paper “Metric System Notes”
Copy only the portion of the powerpoint that is written in red.

2. What is the Metric System?
The metric system is a system of measurement which was developed over many years, and traces its origin to a 1585 book entitled "The Tenth", by Simon Stevin, who suggested that a decimal system be used for weights and measures.

3. The Metric System
Metric System is a common language of measurement in science used all over the world.

4. The Metric System
The US Congress amended the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and designated the metric system as the preferred system of weights and measures for United States trade and commerce.

5. The Metric System
Today, some business and technology companies in the USA use the metric system, and many products specify both .
But most people have decided that the inconvenience of switching outweighs the benefits.

6. The Metric System Map of Nations that don't use The Metric System
All countries colored in red choose not to use the metric system as their system of weights and measurements.
Myanmar (Burma)
Liberia
The United States

7. The Metric System The Metric System is … - based on 10
- based on only three units of measure: the meter, liter, and gram

8. The Metric System
Meter-distance (instead of inch, foot, yard, or mile)
Liter-volume of liquids (instead of ounce, cup, pint, quart, & gallon)
Gram-mass (“weight”) (instead of ounces, pounds, and tons)

9. The Metric System
Prefixes are used to convert to smaller or larger units.
Prefixes are the same for liters, grams, and meters.
milli /1000 or .001
centi /100 or .01
kilo ,000
1 meter = 100 centimeters
1 meter = 1000 millimeters
1 kilometer= 1000 meters

10. T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Lesson 1: Length
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11. English vs. Metric Units
Which is longer?
A. 1 mile or 1 kilometer
B. 1 yard or 1 meter
C. 1 inch or 1 centimeter
1.6 kilometers
1 mile
1 yard = meters
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
Left Image: Right Image:

12. Metric Units km m cm mm
The basic unit of length in the metric system in the meter and is represented by a lowercase m.
Standard: The distance traveled by light in absolute vacuum in 1⁄299,792,458 of a second.
Metric Units
1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters
1 Meter = 100 Centimeters (cm)
1 Meter = 1000 Millimeters (mm)
Which is larger?
A. 1 meter or 105 centimeters
B. 4 kilometers or 4400 meters
C. 12 centimeters or 102 millimeters
D millimeters or 1 meter

13. Measuring Length How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?
What is the length of the line in centimeters? _______cm
What is the length of the line in millimeters? _______mm
What is the length of the line to the nearest centimeter? ________cm
HINT: Round to the nearest centimeter – no decimals.
Ruler:

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Lesson 2: Mass
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15. English vs. Metric Units
1 pound = grams
Which is larger?
1. 1 Pound or 100 Grams
2. 1 Kilogram or 1 Pound
3. 1 Ounce or 1000 Milligrams
100 kilogram = 220 pounds
1 ounce of gold = 28,349.5 milligrams

16. Kilogram Prototype Image - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kilogram
Metric Units kg g cg mg
Mass refers to the amount of matter in an object.
The base unit of mass in the metric system is the gram and is represented by g. Since a gram is so small, we usually use kilograms, represented by kg.
Standard: 1 kilogram is equal to the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram (IPK), a platinum-iridium cylinder kept by the BIPM at Sèvres, France.
Kilogram Prototype
Metric Units
1 Kilogram (kg) = 1000 Grams (g)
1 Gram (g) = 1000 Milligrams (mg)
Which is larger?
A. 1 kilogram or 1500 grams
B milligrams or 1 gram
C. 12 milligrams or 12 kilograms
D. 4 kilograms or 4500 grams
Kilogram Prototype Image -

17. Measuring Mass
Find the mass by weighing the object on the digital scale.
Or, find the mass by using the balance.

18. Using a balance Place the object in one tray.
Add the heaviest weight in the other. If it tips, add the next heaviest weight.
Continue adding weights until the scale balances.
Add all the weights up. The total is the weight of the object.

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Lesson 3: Volume
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20. English vs. Metric Units
Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 fl oz = ml
1 12-oz can of soda would equal approximately 355 ml.
1 gallon = 3.79 liters
It would take approximately 3 ¾ 1-liter bottles to equal a gallon.
1 quart = liters

21. Metric Units kL cL mL L
Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.
The base unit of volume in the metric system in the liter and is represented by L or l.
Standard: 1 liter is equal to one cubic decimeter
Metric Units
1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)
1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3 (or cc) = 1 gram*
Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1500 milliliters
B. 200 milliliters or 1.2 liters
C. 12 cm3 or 1.2 milliliters*
* When referring to water Liter Image:

22. Measuring Volume
We use graduated cylinders to find the volume of liquids and other objects.
Read the measurement based on the bottom of the meniscus (the curve). When using a real cylinder, make sure you are eye-level with the level of the water.
What is the volume of water in the cylinder? _____mL
What causes the meniscus?
A concave meniscus occurs when the molecules of the liquid attract those of the container. The glass attracts the water on the sides.
Top Image: Bottom Image:

23. Measuring Liquid Volume
What is the volume of water in each cylinder?
Images created at A B C
Pay attention to the scales for each cylinder.

24. Measuring Solid Volume
10 cm
9 cm
8 cm
We measure the volume of regular object using the formula length x width x height.
_____ X _____ X _____ = _____
We measure the volume of irregular object using water displacement.
Amount of H2O with object = ______ About of H2O without object = ______ Difference = Volume = ______
Click here for an online activity about volume. Choose Lessons  Volume & Displacement

25. Metric Conversions Ladder Method
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26. How many jumps does it take?
Ladder Method 1 2 3
KILO 1000 Units
HECTO 100 Units
DEKA 10 Units
DECI 0.1 Unit
Meters Liters Grams
CENTI 0.01 Unit
MILLI Unit
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take? 4. 1
__. 2
__. 3
__.
= 4000 m

27. Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ mL 160 cm = _______ mm
14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm m 7 g mg