Metric System (SI Units) “I’m ten times better than the Standard system of measurement!”

Metric System (SI Units)“I’m ten times better than the

Standard system of measurement!”

Metric System

The metric system is based on a base unit that corresponds to a certain type of

measurement.

BASE UNIT MEASURES

Meter Length

Liter Volume

Gram Mass

Metric System

Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system!

PREFIX …PLUS BASE UNIT

Kilo - Kilo+gram = Kilogram

Hecto - Hecto+liter = hectoliter

Deka - Deka+gram = dekagram

Deci - Deci+liter = deciliter

Centi - Centi+meter = centimeter

Milli - Milli+meter = milliliter

Metric System

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-

BASE UNITMeterGramliter

Deci- Centi- Milli-

Metric SystemThe three prefixes that we will use the most are:

– Kilo = i.e. - kilometer, kilogram– Centi = i.e. - centimeter, centigram– Milli = i.e. - milliliter, milligram

Metric SystemSo, if you needed to measure length you would choose ? as your base unit

meter– Length of a tree branch

• 1.5 meters – Length of a room

• 5 meters – Length of a ball of twine stretched out

• 25 meters

Metric SystemBut what if you need to measure a longer distance, like from your house to school?

– Let’s say you live approximately 1 mile from school• 1 mile = 1609 meters

– 1609 is a big number, but what if you add a prefix to the base unit, you make it easier to manage:• 1609 meters = 1.609 kilometers

Metric SystemThe prefixes are based on powers of 10.

What does this mean?From each prefix every “step” in the chart is either:

• 10 times larger (to the right) than the base unit or

• 10 times smaller (to the left) than the base unit

1 10

100 1000

.10.01.001

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

Metric SystemBecause all of the unit relationships in the metric

system are based on multiples of ten, it is easy to convert between units; just multiply or divide by

10!For example:

• Centimeters are 10 times larger than millimetersSo..• 1 centimeter = 10 millimeters

1 10

100 1000

.10.01.001

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

Metric System

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 SystemFor example, let’s go from a base unit to centi-• For each “step” to right, you are multiplying by

10.

1 liter(base) = 10 deciliters = 100 centiliters( 1 x 10 = 10) = (10 x 10 = 100)

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10

Metric SystemLets Try:2 grams = 20 decigrams = 200 centigrams

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

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10

Metric SystemAnother way to move within the metric system is by moving the decimal point

one place for each “step” desired.

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10

Metric SystemExample: change meters to millimeters

1.0 meter =

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10


1.0 m = 10.0 decimeters

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10


1.0 m = 10.0 dm

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10


1.0 m = 10.0 dm = 100 centimeters

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10


1.0 m = 10.0 dm = 100.0 centimeters

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10


1.0 m = 10.0 dm = 100.0 cm = 1000 millimeters

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10

Metric SystemSo for every “step” from the base unit

to milli, we moved the decimal1 place to the right.

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000

Metric SystemNow let’s try converting meters to kilometers.We’ll use our previous example: the distance

traveled from your house to school…..1609 meters = ? kilometers

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

Metric System1609 meters = ? Kilometers

For every “step” from the base unit to kilo, we moved the decimal 1 place to the left.

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001



1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

1609.



1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

1609.

160.9



1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

1609.

160.9

16.09



1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

1609.

160.9

16.09

1.609

Metric System1609 meters = 1.609 Kilometers


1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

1609.

160.9

16.09

1.609

Metric SystemIf you move to the left (in the “steps” chart), move the decimal to the left

If you move to the right (in the “steps” chart), move the decimal to the right

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

Metric SystemNow, let’s start from centimeters and convert to kilometers

400000 centimeters = ?

400000. centimeters = 4.00000 kilometers

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

Metric SystemSummary

– 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 conversion chart below, converting to the

right, moves the decimal to the right and vice versa.

1 100

Kilo- Hecto- Deka-


Deci- Centi- Milli-

10 1000.1.01

.001

Metric System (SI Units) “I’m ten times better than the Standard system of measurement!”

Documents

Transcript of Metric System (SI Units) “I’m ten times better than the Standard system of measurement!”