Metric System

Scientific Measurements

Metric System

Developed by the French in the late 1700’s.

Based on powers of ten, so it is very easy to use.

Used by almost every country in the world, with the notable exception of the USA.

Especially used by scientists.

Abbreviated SI, which is French for Systeme International.

Metric Prefixes

Regardless of the unit, the entire metric system uses the same prefixes.

Common prefixes are:

kilo = 1000

centi = 1/100th

milli = 1/1000th

1 meter = 100 centimeters= 1000 millimeters

Length

Length is the distance between two points.

The SI base unit for length is the meter.

We use rulers or meter sticks to find the length of objects.

Mass Mass is the amount of matter that makes up an object.

A golf ball and a ping pong ball are the same size, but the golf ball has a lot more matter in it. So the golf ball will have more mass.

The SI unit for mass is the gram. A paper clip has a mass of about one gram.

The mass of an object will not change unless we add or subtract matter from it.

Measuring Mass We will use a triple beam balance scale to

measure mass.

Gravity pulls equally on both sides of a balance scale, so you will get the same mass no matter what planet you are on.

Weight

Weight is a measure of the force of gravity on an object.

Your weight can change depending on the force of gravity. The gravity will change depending on the planet you are on.

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

The English unit for weight is the pound.

Gravity

Gravity is the force of attractionbetween any two objects with mass.

The force depends on two things:

more distance = less gravity = less weight

less distance = more gravity = more weight

more mass = more gravity = more weight

less mass = less gravity = less weight

Weight and Mass

Jill Earth

1 gravity

Moon

1/6th

gravity

Jupiter

2.5

gravities

On orbit

0 gravity

mass 30kg 30kg 30kg 30kg

weight 300N 50N 750N 0 Newtons

Notice that Jill’s mass never changes. Her mother will not allow us to take

parts off her, or add parts to her, so her mass stays the same. Jill is 30kg of

little girl no matter where she goes!

Volume

Volume is the amount of space contained in an object.

We can find the volume of box shapes by the formula Volume = length x width x height

In this case the units would be cubic centimeters (cm3).

So a box 2 cm x 3 cm x 5cm would have a volume of 30 cm3

V = L x W x H

Base Units

The base unit for volume is the Liter.

We measure volume with a graduated cylinder.

Graduated Cylinders

Liquids form curved, upper surfaces when poured into graduated cylinders

To correctly read the volume, read the bottom of the curve called the meniscus

Liquid Volume

When the metric system was created, they decided that 1 cm3

of water would equal 1 milliliter of water and the 1 mL of water will have a mass of one gram.

1cm3 water =1 ml of water = 1 gram

Water Displacement

We can use water displacement to find the volume of objects that are not boxed shaped.

We can put water in a graduated cylinder. If a rock causes the level to rise from 7 to 9 ml, the the rock must have a volume of 2-mL.

Water Mass and Volume

1 cm3 water = 1 mL of water = 1 gram

So what would be the mass of 50 mL of water be?

50 grams So what would be the mass of 1 liter of

water be? 1 L = 1000 mL so its mass would be 1000 grams or a kilogram.

Density Density is the amount of matter (mass)

compared to the amount of space (volume) the object occupies.

We will measure mass in grams and volume in ml or cm3

Density Formula

Density is mass divided by volume.

Density = mass/volume

Remember, all fractions are division problems.

Since the unit for mass is grams, and the unit for volume is ml or cm3, then the unit for density is g/ml, or g/ cm3

Density Formula Wheel

Formula wheels make it easy to solve density problems.

Cover the property you are trying to find, and do what is left over.

To find density, cover the word density. You have mass over volume remaining. So divide mass by volume to find density!

Mass

density volume

Density Formula Wheel

To find mass, you cover the word mass. You now have density times volume remaining.

To find volume, cover volume. You have mass over density remaining, so divide mass by density to find volume.

Mass

density volume

Understanding Density

In the following illustrations, each will represent 1 cm3.

Each g will represent 1 gram. Mass = 24g Volume = 8 cm3

Density = 3g/cm3g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

g g

g

•In other words, there are 3 grams in every cm3.

Density Problem 2

g g g g g g

g g g g g g

•Mass = 12 grams

•Volume = 6 cm3

•Density = 2 g/cm3

•In English we say the density of the object

is 2 grams in every cubic centimeter.

Density Problem 3

g g g

g

g g g

g g

g

g g g g

g

g

•Our previous problems were materials of uniform density. They were the same stuff throughout. But many materials are not. Gravel is a great example.

•Mass = 16 grams

•Volume = 8 mL

•Density = 2 g/mL

Water and Density

Since 1-gram of water has a volume of 1-mL, then the density of water will always be 1 gram/ml.

5o-mL of water will have a mass of 50 grams, so again the density of pure water will be 1 g/ml.

A kg of water will have a volume of 1000-mL, so it’s density will be 1 gram/ml.

Floating and Sinking Less dense

materials will float on top of more dense materials.

Objects with a density of less than 1-g/mL will float on top of water.

Objects with a density greater than 1 g/mL will sink in water.

Neutral Buoyancy

Objects with a density equal to the density of water will float in mid water, at what ever level you place the object.

Fish and submarines control their depth by changing their density.

Objects that Sink!

Objects with a density greater than 1 g/mL will sink in water.

Titanic Sails the Ocean Blue

The Titanic is sailing on its maiden voyage.

What is the density of this enormous, steel hulled ship, full of machinery, coal, people, and all sorts of heavy things?

It’s floating, so it’s density must be less than 1 g/mL.

How can this be? The Titanic is a hollow

vessel full of air!

Titanic verses Iceberg

After HMS Titanic struck the iceberg, she started to fill with water.

What happened to her density?

As she took on more and more water, her density got closer and closer to 1 g/mL.

The denser the ship became, the lower she settled into the water.

Wreck of the Titanic

What is the density of the Titanic resting on the ocean floor?

Must be greater than 1 g/mL, as her steel hull is full of water instead of air.

Comparing Densities

•Where is the most dense object?

•Where is the least dense object?

Density Review

We don’t actually count g’s to find the mass of objects. How would you find the mass of a rock?

Use a balance scale.

In real life, how would you find the volume of a rock?

Use a graduated cylinder and see how much water the rock displaces.