Metric System

What is the Metric System

Developed by the French in the late 1700’s.

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

Especially used by scientists.

Based on units of ten

1 x 10 = 10

10 x 10 = 100

10 x 100 = 1000

What’s Wrong with the English System?

It’s based on random numbers

that are weird and confusing!

Feet… was the length of some guy’s foot

Inch… length of some other guy’s

thumb

A gallon in England is different from the gallon in America… Confusing????

Metric Prefixes

No matter what you are measuring we use the same prefixes:

Kilo – Hecto- Deca – UNIT – deci – centi – milli

1000 – 100 - 10 1/10 – 1/100 – 1/1000

(King) (Henry) (Died) (drinking) (chocolate) (milk)

1 meter = 100 centimeters = 1000 millimeters

Length Definition: The distance between

two points.

INSTRUMENT: Metric Ruler

Meter Stick

UNIT: Meter (m)

Centimeter (cm) Millimeter (mm)

How long is the line? How tall is the tree? How far did they run?

Reading a Metric Ruler

Definition: The amount of

matter in an object

INSTRUMENT: Triple Beam Balance

UNIT: Gram (g) Kilogram (kg) Milligram (mg)

Mass

How big is the elephant?

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.

Reading a Triple Beam Balance

Liquid Volume

Definition: The amount of

space occupied by a liquid substance.

INSTRUMENT: Graduated cylinder

UNIT: Milliliter (mL) Liter (L)

How much soda is in the glass? How much milk does the recipe say

goes in the pancake batter?

Liquid Volume

When reading liquid volume you must always read from the bottom of the MENISCUS

Meniscus – curve

in liquid caused by the force of gravity