Metric System PART II

August 2014

What is the metric system? System of measures using a base 10 International System of Units (SI)—formal name Length = meter Temperature = Celsius or Kelvin Mass = gram Volume = liter Time = second

History of the Metric System Began around the French Revolution (late

1700’s) Meter Convention on May, 20 1875 1975 - Metric Conversion Act. Federal agencies have begun to adapt to the

metric system (Omnibus Trade and Competitive Act)

Why use the metric system? 1. Easier conversions 2. Easy to pronounce and write 3. Based on natural standards 4. World standard 5. No long rows of zeros

*If you end up working for Honda someday you will be required to learn it!

Prefixes I

King Kilo- (103) K Henry Hecto- (102) H Move decimal Died Deka- (101) D left By Base (100) Drinking deci- (10-1) d Move decimal Chocolate centi- (10-2) c right Milk milli- (10-3) m

Prefixes II

Giga- (109) G Mega- (106) M Move decimal

… left Base

… Move decimal micro- (10-6) µ right nano- (10-9) n

Example conversion I

3.72 Hectometers = ______________ decimeters

3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be moving your decimal 3 places

Which direction ? RIGHT! 3.72 Hectometers = 3,720 decimeters

Example Conversion II

You have a computer file and it takes up 117 KB of space. How many MB is this?

3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be moving your decimal 3 places

Which direction ? LEFT! 117 KB = 0.117 MB

Example Conversion III How many nanometers are in 45.2

millimeters? 45.2 mm = _________________ nm 3 powers of 10 apart, so you will be

moving the decimal 3 spaces 45.2 mm = 45,200 nm

Problems – please jot down and work on

8.27 nm = _______________ m 88.22 Gl = ______________ l 6.78 dg = ________________ cg 4.45 GB = _______________ MB 3.24 x 10-6 m = ___________ m

Times Up

Answers to problems 8.27 nm = __0.00827______ m 88.22 Gl = _88,220,000,000__ l 6.78 dg = ____67.8_________ cg 4.45 GB = ___4,450________ MB 3.24 x 10-6 m = ___3.24_____ m