Overview of Metric System

1. Overview of Metric System • System of measure used by scientists around the world • Uses prefixes and suffixes • Suffixes • Meter – tells us we are measuring distance, L,W,H • Liter – tells us we are measuring liquid volume • Gram – tells us we are measuring mass Prefixes Kilo = 1000 Hecto = 100 Deka = 10 Deci = 1/10 Centi = 1/ 100 Milli = 1 / 1000

2. Distance • Measures length, width, and height • Distance is measured in centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm) • Meter sticks and rulers are tools used for measuring distance • 10 mm equal 1 cm. This allows to quickly change from mm to cm and back. • To move from mm to cm, move decimal one place left. • Example – 10.0 mm = 1.0 cm • To move from cm to mm, move decimal one place right • Example – 1.0 cm = 10.0 mm

3. Volume • Volume measures how much space something occupies • There are three types of volume: • Volume of a liquid – (ml) • Volume of solids – (cm cubed) • Volume of a straight sided solids • Volume of an irregularly shaped solids

4. Liquid Volume • Measures how much space a liquid occupies • Liquid volume is measured in milliliters (ml) • Graduated cylinders and beakers are tools used to measure liquid volume • Graduated cylinders are graduated or marked so that we can measure liquid volume • The top of a liquid in a graduated cylinder will bend slightly. This is called a Meniscus Line. Always read a meniscus line from its lowest point

5. Volume of Straight Sided Solids • Measures how much space a straight sided object takes up • Equation to find volume: • Length x Width x Height • Volume of solid object is always cubed • Volume of the cube below equals: 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 cm cubed

6. Volume of irregularly shaped solids • Displacement Volume • Found by submerging the object in water. • The amount of water that is moved, or displaced, tells us the volume of the object • A graduated cylinder or beaker is required • Equation is: • Final Water Level - Initial Water Level = Volume of object in ml • Convert ml to cm cubed: 1 ml = 1 cm cubed

7. Mass • Measures how much something weighs • Mass is measured in grams • Electronic scales are a tool used to measure mass

8. Density • Defined as the amount of mass in a given volume. • Equation to find density is mass / volume.

9. Perimeter, Area, Volume • P = S + S + S + S • (add all sides of object) • P = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 cm • A = S x S • (always squared) • A = 5 x 5 = 25 cm squared • V = Length X Width X Height • (volume is always cubed for solids) • V = 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 cm cubed

10. Metric Ladder Prefixes can be used with all three measuring base words: meter (distance), liter (liquid volume), gram (mass). Base words are found in the middle of the metric ladder. Example: kilometer, hectoliter, centigram As you move left numbers get larger, as you move right numbers get smaller

11. Metric Conversions • Use the metric ladder as your guide • Find your starting point and your end point on the ladder • Count the number of spaces to move from your starting point to your end point • Decide if you moved right or left on the ladder • Move the decimal the same number of spaces that you moved and in the direction that you moved • Example to convert from millimeter to decimeter you would move the decimal point two places to the left • 100 mm equals 1.00 dm

12. Temperature • Measures how hot or cold something is • Temperature is measured in degrees Celsius or degrees Fahrenheit • Thermometers are a tool used to measure temperature

13. Temperature Scales • Celsius Scale • 0 is freezing and 100 is boiling • Fahrenheit Scale • 32 is freezing and 212 is boiling

14. Temperature Conversions • Celsius to Fahrenheit • F = (C x 1.8) + 32 • Fahrenheit to Celsius • C = ( F - 32 ) / 1.8