2. ---The Universal Language of Measurement---
The Metric System
---The Universal Language of Measurement---
Metric System – scientists & engineers use this language to communicate
The metric system is often referred to as the International System of Units (abbreviated “SI”)
The metric system is based on the number 10 and multiples of 10.

3. Length The distance between two points
Meter – the basic unit of length in the metric system
1 meter = 1 m
Centimeter – one hundredth of a meter
1 cm = 1/100 m = 0.01 m
100 cm = 1 m
Millimeter – one thousandth of a meter
1 mm = 1/1000 m = m = 1/10 cm = 0.1 cm
1000 mm = 1m
Kilometer – one thousand meters
1 km = 1000m
1 m = 1/1000 km
Light year –the distance light travels in one year
Speed of light = 300,000 km/s

4. Volume The amount of space an object takes up
Liter – is the basic unit of volume in the metric system
1 Liter = 1 L
Milliliter – is one thousandth of a Liter
1 mL = 1/1000 L = L
Milliliters and Liters are used to measure the volume of
Cubic centimeters – is the metric unit used to measure the volume of
A cubic centimeter is equal to the volume of a cube that measures 1 cm by 1 cm by 1 cm (cm3).
A volume of a cubic centimeter (cm3) is exactly equal to the volume of one milliliter.
liquids
solids
1cm
= 1 cm3 = 1 mL
1cm
1cm

5. Mass a measure of the amount of matter in an object
Kilogram – the basic unit of mass in the metric system
1 kg = 1000 grams
Gram – one thousandth of a kilogram
1 g = 1/1000 kg = kg
1000 g = 1 kg
Milligram – one thousandth of a gram
1 mg = 1/1000 g = g
1000 mg = 1 g

6. Temperature a measure of how hot or cold something is
Celsius = a unit of temperature in the metric system
Water freezes at 0° C.
Water boils at 100° C.
Normal body temperature is 37° C
Room temperature is 21° C.

7. Temperature (continued)
Kelvin = another unit of temperature in the metric system.
The lowest possible temperature is Kelvin (-273 ° C). This is Absolute Zero.
To convert from Celsius to Kelvin:
K = C + 273°

8. Metric Prefixes Prefix Symbol Meaning kilo- k 1000 thousand hecto- h
hundred
deka- da 10
ten
deci- d
0.1
tenth
centi- c
0.01
hundredth
milli- m
0.001
thousandth

9. King Henry Doesn’t Usually Dig Converting Metrics
kilo
hect
deca
Unit
deci
centi
milli
When moving right on the chart, move the decimal to the right
so:
3.54 kilometers = 3540 meters
1437 mm = ______ m decimeters = ____ mm
10 cm = _____ mm