Measuring:Meters, Liters, and

Grams,Oh My!

Yesterday we talked about the confusion that measuring caused in ancient times.

When people tried to measure using the parts of their body they discovered that people aren’t

built the same. Not everyone has the same foot size, arm size, hand size, etc.

To measure weight people tried using stones.

But what problem does this pose?

Stones come in different sizes.

And the same confusion arose when trying to find the volume of a container.

How many seeds does this container hold?

Again, it depends on the size of the seed.

Eventually people began to use the same ruler. Now a foot was a foot whether you

lived in Eastonesia or Westlovakia.

Above is a sample of the ruler we use today in the US, we use units like inches, feet, yards and miles for measuring length and distance.

To measure weight people started using a system of pounds, ounces, and tons

and for Volume… Cups, Pints, Quarts and Gallons were used.

But this system, called the Customary System, was still confusing (to

everyone but the United States)

Because we are one of the only countries to still use the

Customary System of Measurement.

So if the United States is the only country still using the Customary

System to measure, what is everybody else using?

THE METRIC SYSTEMaka The International System of Units (SI)

All metric measures of volume are based on the LITER.

All metric measures of mass are based on the GRAM.

All metric measures of length and distance are based on the METER.

Let me try to clear this up with a table:

Measuring Distances and Lengths Using the Metric System

Small Distances/Lengths

Standard Distances/Lengths

Larger Distances/Lengths

Millimeters (mm)

Centimeters (cm)

Meter (m)Kilometers (km)

Let’s look at a Meter Stick

The space marked off is equal to 1 cm

This tiny space marked off is 1 mm

So let’s add to our notes:

100 cm = 1 m

1,000 mm = 1 m

1,000 m = 1 km

• What kind’s of items might we measure in centimeters?

• Millimeters?

• Meters?

• Kilometers?

Measuring Volume Using the Metric System

Small Volumes Standard Volumes Larger VolumesMilliliters (mL)

Liter (L)Kiloliter (kL)

1000 mL = 1 L

1000 L = 1 kL

Measuring Mass Using the Metric System

Small Mass Standard Mass Larger MassMilligrams (mg)

Gram (g)Kilograms (kg)

1000 mg = 1 g

1000 g = 1 kg

Since there are currently two systems of measuring this can add to the confusion…

And sometimes misunderstandings about measurements can lead to DISASTER!

The engineers and operators who worked on a multimillion dollar spacecraft made such a mistake. Some of them used feet and miles, while others used meters and kilometers…After blastoff the spacecraft

was supposed to orbit Mars, but instead it was lost in space forever.

However, even though the metric system has not been adopted by people in the

US, most Americans use it everyday.

Check your refrigerators, pantries, medicine cabinets and bathrooms.

Measured in grams

Measured in milligrams

Measured in milliliters

Many manufacturers use metric units because they are understood all over the

world.

Weight• Weight is a measurement of force.

• The SI unit for weight is the Newton (N)

• Weight depends on gravity, which can change depending on where the object is located.

A spring scale measures how a planet’s gravitational force pulls on objects.

Temperature• Temperature is related to how hot or cold an object

is.

• Temperature is measure of the energy of motion of the particles that make up matter.

• Temperature is measured in SI with the kelvin (K) scale. Although Fahrenheit and Celsius temperature scales are the two most common scales used on thermometers and in classroom laboratories.

Time and Rates• Time is the interval between two events.

Example: The time it takes to get from your house to Somerset School.

• The SI unit of time is the second (s), but time is also measured in hours (h) and minutes (min)

Could you imagine hearing that a marathon was run in 7,620 s instead of 2 h and 7 min?

• Rate is the amount of change of one measurement in a given amount of time.

Example: The speed of the car through the intersection

was clocked at 70 km/h