Metric SystemMetric System

Types of Measurements• Length-measure of distance

– Measured with a meter stick or ruler

• Volume-measure of how much space an object takes up– Measured with a graduated

cylinder, by water displacement, or by equation

• cube volume=length X width X height (LXWXH)

• Mass-technically a measure of matter, but here on Earth it is the same thing as weight– Measured with a triple-beam-

balance

Metric System• The metric system is based

on a base unit for each measurement

• Length = meter• Volume = liter• Mass(Weight) = gram• Temperature = Celsius• Time = seconds

• Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system – Example:

• Centi + meter = Centimeter

Metric System• The three prefixes that we will use

the most are:– kilo– centi– milli

kilo hecto deka

Base Units

metergramliter

deci centi milli

Metric System• These prefixes are based on

powers of 10. • From each “step” is either:

• 10 times larger or

• 10 times smaller

kilo hecto deca

Base Units

metergramliter

deci centi milli

Why 10 times larger?

– Units that are 10 times larger or smaller are easier to convert.

1 centimeter = 10 millimeters

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 mm

1 cm

40

41

41

40

Metric System• For each “step” to right,

you are multiplying by 10

1 liter = 10 deciliters = 100 centiliters

2 grams = 20 decigrams = 200 centigrams

kilo hecto deca

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

( 1 x 10 = 10) = (10 x 10 = 100)

(2 x 10 = 20) = (20 x 10 = 200)

Metric System• An easy way to move within the metric

system is by moving the decimal point one place for each “step”

1 meter = 10 decimeters = 100 centimetersor

1.00 meter = 10.0 decimeters = 100. centimeters

kilo hecto deca

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

Metric System• Now let’s try from meters to

kilometers:1600 meters = 160 decameters

16 hectometers 1.6 kilometers

kilo hecto deca

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

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

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

Clicker Question

• How many milliliters are in a 2 liter bottle of soda?

A. 0.002B. 200C. 2000D. 20

kilo hecto deca

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

Clicker Question

• How many kilometers do they run in a 1600 meter relay?

A. 160,000B. 160C. 16D. 1.6

kilo hecto deca

meterliter

gram

deci centi milli

Temperature• Celsius Scale is based on water

– The freezing point of water is 0OC– The boiling point of water is 100OC

Temperature Conversion

• The equations to convert between Fahrenheit and Celsius are:

°F = (1.8 x °C) +32°C = (°F-32) x 0.555

Example

• If it is 80°F outside, what is the temperature in °C?

°C = (°F-32) x 0.555°C = (80-32) x 0.555

°C = (48) x 0.555°C = 26.6

Clicker Question

• If a substance is 80°C, what is the temperature in °F?

°F = (1.8 x °C) +32

°F = (1.8 X 80) + 32 °F = (144) + 32

°F = 176

A.114B.176C.4608D.112

Density• Density is calculated by dividing the

mass of an object by the volume.Density = Mass/Volume

• For example 1mL of water has a mass of 1g.

Density = Mass/VolumeDensity = 1g/1mLDensity = 1g/mL

• Objects with a density less than 1g/mL will float in water and objects with a density greater than 1g/mL will sink in water

Clicker Question

• What is the density of a box with a mass of 40 g and a volume of 50 mL

D = mass/volume D = 40g / 50 mL

D = 0.8 g/mL

A. 0.8 g/mLB. 12.5 g/mLC. 90 g/mLD. Impossible

to Calculate

Clicker Question

• What units would you use to measure the mass of your neighbor?

A. gB. mC. LD. kg

Clicker Question

• What units would you use to measure the length of your pencil?

A. mB. gC. kmD. cm