The Metric System & Conversions

1. The Metric System & Conversions

2. The Metric System • Most countries use the metric system in everyday life. The scientific community throughout the world uses the metric system, thereby providing an easy flow of consistent measurement and information.

3. Base Units & Derived Units • There are several basic units used in measurement, for example: • length - __________ • time - __________ • mass - __________ • temperature - __________ • amount of substance - __________ • luminous intensity - __________ • We will be using meters, kilograms, and seconds for most of the course. • Derived unitsare ________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Prefixes • The table below shows the symbol, prefix, prefix meaning, and the scientific notation corresponding with the prefix.

5. Converting Units Examples • To convert units (like grams to kilograms) use the times sign/straight line method (also called Dimensional Analysis). • The times sign means that you multiply. • The underline sign is an equivalent ratio • i.e. : __________________________________________________________________________________

6. Example 1: Convert 1 km to m • 1 km • Notice that the equivalent ratiohas km on the bottom so that it cancels km from 1km.

7. Example 2: Convert 1 m to km • 1 m or • 1 m

8. Example 3: Convert 1.5 hours to seconds • 1.5 hours • Remember there are 60s in 1 min and 60 min in 1 hr, so 60s x 60 min to get 3600s in 1hr.

9. Example 4: Convert 60 km/hour to m/s. • 60 km hr • Convert km first, then do hr. Notice that the units will cancel so you are left with m/s.