The Metric System

1
The Metric System
2
What is the Metric System?

• The standard measurement system for science
• All sciences use the metric system (including
  this class)
• Conversions will be a necessary skill not only
  for this class, but for chemistry and physics
• This system is much easier to use than the
  English Imperial System

3
Common SI Units

• Measurement Unit Abbreviation
• _________ Meter m
• _____ kilogram kg
• _____ Second s
• __________ Kelvin K
• Electric current ampere A
• __________ liter L

4
Prefixes for LARGE Measurements

• Prefix Symbol Meaning Mult. Of Base Power
• Deca- da ________ 10 10
• Hecto- h ________ 100
  102
• Kilo- k ________ 1,000 103
• Mega- M ________ 1,000,000 106
• Giga- G ________ 1,000,000,000 109

5
Prefixes for small Measurements

• Prefix Symbol Meaning Mult. Of Base Power
• Deci- __ tenth 0.1 10-1
• Centi- __ hundredth
  0.01 10-2
• Milli- m _________
  0.001 10-3
• Micro u _______
  0.000001 10-6
• Nano __ billionth
  0.000000001 10-9

6
Conversion Steps

• 1. Rewrite given number, write in decimal (if not
  present)
• 2. Find the beginning and ending units on your
  conversion chart
• 3. Count how many times you jump/ Which way do
  you move?
• 4. Draw in jumps from beginning decimal/ Draw a
  new decimal and cross out the beginning decimal
• 5. Add zeros in the jumps
• 6. Write your final answer with the new unit

7
Examples

• 1. 1.85m ___________cm
• 2. 3.5 km ___________cm
• 3. 4.6 km ___________ mm
• 4. 298 m ___________ km
• 5. 455cm ___________km

8
More Practice

• 1. 0.55km ___________mm
• 2. 1,549 cm __________m
• 3. 2.1 Mm ___________m
• 4. 22,543 um ___________cm
• 5. 72 cm _______________um