1. Metric System

2. Metric System SI - International System of Units
Based on multiples of 10
Common metric prefixes
mega- (M) x
kilo- (k) x
hecto- (h) 100 x
deca- (da) 10 x
deci- (d) 0.1 x (1/10)
centi- (c) x (1/100)
milli- (m) x (1/1000)
micro- (u) x

3. Metric System
The metric system is based on a base unit that corresponds to a certain kind of measurement.
Length = meter
Volume = liter
Weight (Mass) = gram
Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system .
Example:
Centi + meter = Centimeter
Kilo + liter = Kiloliter

4. Metric System
These prefixes are based on powers of 10. What does this mean?
From each prefix every “step” is either:
10 times larger or
10 times smaller
For example
Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimeters
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
kilo
hecto
deca
Base Units
meter
gram
liter
deci
centi
milli

5. Metric System
So if you needed to measure length you would choose meter as your base unit.
Length of a tree branch
1.5 meters
Length of a room
5 meters
Length of a ball of twine stretched out
25 meters

6. Metric System
But what if you need to measure a longer distance, like from your house to school?
Let’s say you live approximately 10 miles from school
10 miles = meters
16093 is a big number, but what if you could add a prefix onto the base unit to make it easier to manage:
16093 meters = kilometers (or 16.1 if rounded to 1 decimal place)

7. Metric System
Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimeters so it takes more millimeters for the same length.
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
Example not to scale 40 41
1 mm 40 41
1 cm

8. Metric System For each “step” to right, you are multiplying by 10
For example, let’s go from a base unit to centi
1 liter = 10 deciliters = 100 centiliters
2 grams = 20 decigrams = 200 centigrams
(1 x 10 = 10) = (10 x 10 = 100)
(2 x 10 = 20) = (20 x 10 = 200)
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

9. Metric System
An easy way to move within the metric system is by moving the decimal point one place for each “step” desired.
Example: change meters to centimeters
1 meter = 10 decimeters = 100 centimeters or
1.00 meter = 10.0 decimeters = 100 centimeters
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

10. Metric System
Now let’s try our previous example from meters to kilometers:
16093 meters = decameters = hectometers = kilometers
So for every “step” from the base unit to kilo, we moved the decimal 1 place to the left .
(the same direction as in the diagram below)
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

11. Metric System
If you move to the left in the diagram, move the decimal to the left
If you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the right
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

12. Metric System
Now let’s start from centimeters and convert to kilometers.
centimeters = 4 kilometers
centimeters = kilometers
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

13. Metric System Now let’s start from meters and convert to kilometers.
4000 meters = 4 kilometers
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli
Now let’s start from centimeters and convert to meters.
4000 centimeters = 40 meters
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

14. Metric System Now let’s start from meters and convert to centimeters.
5 meters = 500 centimeters
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli
Now let’s start from kilometers and convert to centimeters.
0.3 kilometers = 300 meters
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

15. Metric System
Now let’s start from kilometers and convert to millimeters.
4 kilometers = millimeters or
4 kilometers = 40 hectometers = 400 decameters
= 4000 meters = decimeters
= centimeters = millimeters
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

16. Metric System Volume l x w x h (solid object)
The amount of space a substance occupies.
Units can be L or mL (liquids) and m3 or cm3 (solid objects).
Density is a derived unit (it is made up of other types of measurement).
l x w x h (solid object)
Tools: metric ruler for regular solids or graduated cylinder for liquids.

17. Metric System Volume l= 20.00cm, w=6.00cm, h=2.50cm

18. Metric System
Volume
1 = 20.25ml 2 = 50.00ml
1= 5.02ml =15.55ml

19. Metric System Density How compacted the matter is in a substance.
Units can be g/mL, g/cm3, kg/m3.
Density is a derived unit (it is made up of other types of measurement).
D = m / v
Objects float if their density is less than the density of the fluid they are in.

20. Metric System
Summary
Base units in the metric system are meter, liter, gram.
Metric system is based on powers of 10.
For conversions within the metric system, each “step” is 1 decimal place to the right or left.
Using the diagram below, converting to the right, moves the decimal to the right and vice versa.
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli

21. Quick Review Convert: 5 meters  centimeters
kiloliters  milliliters
10500 centigrams  grams
2.86 grams  kilograms
1000 kiloliters  milliliters
286 centimeters  meters
.0251 kilograms  grams
a. 500cm; b. 12,700ml; c. 105g; d kg; e. 1,000,000,000ml; f.2.86m; g. 25.1g
kilo
hecto
deca
meter
liter
gram
deci
centi
milli