Transcript The Metric System

THE METRIC SYSTEM!!
The universal language of science
(meters, liters, and grams)
www.classjump.com/stegmaier/documents/metric%20system.ppt
Background information on
the Metric System


The metric system first came about in the
1790’s when the French Academy of Science
was asked to construct a new system of units
for use throughout the world.
The metric system evolved over the years
and in the 1960’s was named the
International System of Measurement (SI for
short). To get the meter, they divided a line
from the north pole to the equator into 10
million parts!
What is the difference
between metric and standard
(English) System of measure?
 The English system uses a base 12 to
make conversions and gets very
complicated
 The Metric system uses a base 10 (just
like the fingers on your hand) to make
conversions and is VERY easy
Don’t most countries use the
English system?
 No…in fact, beside the United States,
the only other country that uses the
English system is…………….
(Take a guess)
You Guessed it…..
 Myanmar , officially the Union of
Myanmar is the largest country in
geographical area in mainland
Southeast Asia . Also known as Burma
or the Union of Burma
Why does the United States
still use the English system?
 Convenience? Maybe we just don’t want to
change because we would have to learn
some new stuff
 Cost? It would cost a lot of money: Think
about roadsigns, containers, cars, foods, etc
Probably a little of both…but in this class, the
English system of measure does not exist
SO WHY MUST I LEARN
THE METRIC SYSTEM?!
BECAUSE….
It is the universal language of
science
(even our scientists use it!)
www.classjump.com/stegmaier/documents/metric%20system.ppt
WHY MUST I LEARN
THE METRIC SYSTEM?!
BECAUSE….
a basic understanding of metric units and
usage is a necessary part of being educated
and literate. In many circles it is a necessary
part of being conversant. While traditional
units of measure are still in widespread use
in the United States and certain other places,
metric is the standard.
Common Measurements:
 Length/Distance
 Volume
 Mass
Length/Distance:
 A meter (m) is the basic unit of measurement
for length in the metric system.
 A meter is about as far apart ( a little more)
as you would hold your hands for a yard
or the width of a door.
 Use meters when
measuring medium sized
lengths/distances (like your
height).
Length/Distance:
Other common metric units used to
measure length are:
 Kilometer (km)
 Centimeter (cm)
 Millimeter (mm)
 Micrometer (μm)
Kilometers:
 A kilometer is about six city blocks
or 10 football fields.
 Kilometers are used
when measuring large
lengths/distances
(like between cities or
planets).
Centimeters:
 One centimeter is about the width
of a large paper clip
 Or the width of your fingernail
 Use centimeters when you
need to measure small things
(like the length of a mouse).
Millimeters:
 One millimeter is about the thickness of
a dime.
 Use millimeters when you
need to measure really small things
(like the length of a flea).
Micrometers:
 One micrometer is about the
width of a typical bacterium.
 Use micrometers when you
need to measure microscopic things
(like the length of a cell).
Volume
 A liter (l) is the basic unit of
measurement for liquid volume in
the metric system.
 1 liter is half of a 2 liter bottle of
Coke or other soda.
 Use liters when
measuring medium sized
volumes (like an aquarium).
Volume
Other common metric units
used to measure liquid volume
are :
 Kiloliters (kl)
 Milliliters (ml)
 Microliter (μl)
Kiloliters
 A kiloliter would be about 500
2-liter bottles of pop
 Use kiloliters when measuring
large volumes (like in a pond)
Milliliters
 1 milliliter is about the amount of a few
drops
 Use milliliters when measuring
small volumes (like in a test tube)
Microliters:
 One microliter is about the same
volume of a typical bacterium.
 Use microliters when you
need to measure microscopic things
(like the volume of a cell).
Mass
 A gram (g) is the basic unit of
measurement for mass or weight
in the metric system.
 1 gram weighs about as much as a small
paper clip or penny.
 Use grams when measuring medium weights
(like the mass of a kitten or penny)
Mass
Other common metric units
used to measure mass are :
 Kilograms (kg)
 Milligrams (mg)
 Micrograms (μg)
Kilograms
 1 kilogram (kg) weighs about as
much as 6 apples or 2 pounds.
 Use kilograms when measuring
heavier things like people or boulders.
Milligrams
 1 milligram (mg) weighs about as
much as a grain of salt.
 Use milligrams when measuring very
small things (like a pin or a grain
of sand).
Micrograms:
 1 microgram weighs about the
same a typical bacterium.
 Use micrograms when you
need to measure microscopic things
(like the mass of a cell).
Quick Review
 When measuring larger objects use kilo:
kilometers, kiloliters, kilograms.
 When measuring medium sized objects use
the basic unit: meters, liters, grams
 When measuring smaller objects use milli (and
centi):
millimeters, centimeters,
milliliters, milligrams
 When measuring microscopic objects use
micro: micrometers, microliters, micrograms
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of this bicycle?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a penny?
µm
g
ml
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the water in an aquarium?
L
m
kL
µL
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a feather?
g
mL
µg
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a student
desk?
kg
g
kL
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of a neuron?
µm
µg
cL
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of an egg?
kg
g
mm
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure a can of soup?
kL
L
mm
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure this glass of milk?
kL
L
cL
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure the distance across
Kansas?
km
m
cm
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure the height of a tree?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of a bracelet?
km
m
cm
mm
Wa-Hoooooooo!
 You are a Metric-Maniac!!!!!!
Changing Metric Units
• To change from one unit to another in the
metric system you simply multiply or divide
by a power of 10.
To change from a larger unit to a
smaller unit, you need to multiply.
1 km x 1000 = 1000 m
1 m x 100 = 100 cm
1 cm x 10 = 10mm
Place Values of Metric Prefixes
Move the decimal point
to the right to multiply.
dm
dL
dg
cm
cL
cg
Thousandth
m
L
g
Hundredth
Tenth
dkm
dkL
dkg
One
hm
hL
hg
Ten
Hundred
Thousand
km
kL
kg
mm
mL
mg
Place Values of Metric Prefixes
dm
dg
dL
cm
cg
cL
Thousandth
m
g
L
Hundredth
Tenth
dkm
dkg
dkL
One
hm
hg
hL
Ten
Hundred
Thousand
km
kg
kL
mm
mg
mL
To change from smaller units
to larger units you divide by a
power of ten.
1000mm ÷ 10 = 100cm
100cm ÷ 10 = 10dm
10dm ÷ 10 = 1m
Place Values of Metric Prefixes
Move the decimal point
to the left to divide.
dm
dL
dg
cm
cL
cg
Thousandth
m
L
g
Hundredth
Tenth
dkm
dkL
dkg
One
hm
hL
hg
Ten
Hundred
Thousand
km
kL
kg
mm
mL
mg
Place Values of Metric Prefixes
km
kg
kL
hm
hg
hL
dkm
dkg
dkL
m
g
L
dm
dg
dL
cm
cg
cL
mm
mg
mL
3km
30hm
300dkm
3000m
30000dm
300000cm
3000000mm
4L
12cm
Sorry!
• That is not the BEST choice!