The Metric System

Length

Length is a measurement of distance.

Length is measured using the tools:

•ruler

• meter stick

•tape measure

Length is measured in the basic unit: meter

Volume

Volume is the amount of space taken up, or occupied, by an

object.

The volume of a liquid can be measured easily by reading the

meniscus.

The meniscus is the curve at a liquids surface.

Liquid volume is measured using the tools: beakers,

Erlenmeyer flasks, graduated cylinders, and pipettes

Liquid volume is measured in the basic unit: liter(L)

The volume of a solid can be calculated by measuring the length, width and height of a

solid object.

The equation to calculate the solid volume is length X width X height

V=LxWxH

Solid volume can be measured using the tools: a ruler, a meter

stick, or a tape measure

Solid volume is measured in the units cubic centimeters (cm3)

To convert liquid to solid volume 1mL=1cm3

Mass

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object

Mass is always constant for an object, no matter where it is

located in the universe.

Mass can be measured using the tool: balance.

Mass is measured in the units: grams(g)

Weight

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

Weight varies depending on where the object is in relation to

the Earth.

Weight can be measured using the tool: spring scale

Weight is measured using the units: Newtons (N)

Temperature

Temperature is a measurement of heat in a

substance.

Temperature can be measured using the tool: thermometer

Temperature is measured using the units Celcius (C)

Prefixes for Metric

System Units

• Killo=1000

• Hecto=100

• Deca=10

• 0=basic unit

• deci=1/10

• centi=1/100

• milli=1/1000