Metrics

I. General Metric System Info

A. Common system of measurement1. Units are based on physical standard2. Based on a scale of 10 Why? Much easier to divide or multiply by powers

of 10

B. Also called International System of Units (SI)

1. Almost all countries use it as their everyday means of measurement

2. United States tried converting in the early 1980’s but met resistance from the older generation

II. Common Metric UnitsA. Length = distance from one point to another

1. Base unit - meter (m)

2. Tools - ruler, meter stick, tape measure

B. Mass = amount of matter in an object

1. Base unit - gram (g)

2. Tool - balance

C. Temperature = measure of warmth or coldness

1. Base unit - degree Celsius (oC)

2. Tool - thermometer

D. Volume = amount of space something takes up

1. Base unit - liter (L)

2. Tool - graduated cylinder for liquid

Metric Units Movie

E. Common Metric Prefixes1. nano - (n) 1/1,000,000,000 (one billionth)

2. micro (μ) - 1/1,000,000 (one millionth)3. milli (m) - 1/1000 (one thousandth)4. centi - (c) 1/100 (one hundredth)

5. kilo (k) - 1,000

A. Moving Decimal MethodMoving Decimal Chart DRAW

left - larger

right - smaller

III. Metric Conversions

Moving the Decimal Movie

B. Cancellation Method1 m = 100 cm. Written as a fraction is:

100 cm 1 m

1 m OR 100 cm

Problem: 2700 cm = ______ m ?

2,700 cm X 1

1 m100 cm

= 2,700 m100

= 27 m

Unit Cancellation Method Movie