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Discover the why scientists use metric units - precise, easy to use, globally adopted, with specific units for mass, length, volume, and temperature. Learn about the metric system's advantages and explore measurement guidelines.
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Metrics The scientific units of measurement
Why do scientists use metric units? • Easy to use • Based on the decimal system (each unit is 10 times larger than the next) • Precise/Accurate measurements smaller than an inch so you don’t have to use fractions • No memorization of conversion facts e.g. 1 mile= 5,280 feet • Globally used so no conversion is needed from one country to the next
Metric measurement of mass • Mass: measure of the amount of matter in an object….an object’s mass never changes! • Weight: measure of the gravitational pull acting on the object…an object’s weight depends on its mass and location…On Mars a person weighs less than on Earth because the pull of gravity on Mars is weaker than on Earth. • Units of mass: kilogram (kg), gram (g), milligram (mg)
Metric measure of length • Meter (m) is the basic measurement of length. • Metric units of length: kilometer (km), meter (m), centimeter (cm), millimeter (mm)
Metric measurement of volume • Volume: how much space something occupies or takes up. • Metric units of volume: liter (L), milliliter (mL)
Metric measurement of Temperature • Celsius scale is used • Basics: Water freezes at 0 degrees C and boils at 100 degrees C (compared to Fahrenheit scale water freezes at 32 degrees F and boils at 212 degrees F at sea level)
Guidelines to using metrics • 7 basic units or stair steps • Conversions…”monkey butts” • King Henry Doesn’t Usually Drink Chocolate Milk. • The Middle box contains the base units…left and right are prefixes that are attached to the base units (km,kg,kL…mm,mg,mL)