Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
Metric
System
Length
(L)
Mass
(M)
Weight
(W)
Volume
(V)
Density
(D)
Temperature
(T)
1cm
1cm
Meter Stick
Balance
Spring Scale
1cm
Graduated
Cylinder
Sand
Mass/Volume
Thermometer
Metric System
---The Universal Language of Measurement---
• Scientists & engineers use this language to
communicate
• The metric system is often referred to as the
International System of Units (abbreviated “SI”)
• The metric system is based on the number 10 and
multiples of 10.
Metric System
Measurement
Unit
abbrev.
Length
Volume
Mass
Meter m
Liter L
gram g
Prefix
Symbol Multiple
King
Kilo-
k
1000
Henry
Hecto-
h
100
Doesnt
Deca-
da
10
Usually
(Basic Unit) (g, m, l) 1
Drink
Deci-
d
0.10
Chocolate
Centi-
c
0.01
Milk
Milli-
m
0.001
Ladder Method
1
2
3
King
Henry
Doesn’t
Drink
[Usually]
Chocolate
Milk
How do you use the “ladder” method?
1st – Determine your starting point.
2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.
3rd – Move the decimal the same number of
jumps in the same direction.
4 km = _________ m
Starting Point
Ending Point
How many jumps does it take?
4. __. __. __. = 4000 m
1
2
3
Conversion Practice
Try these conversions using the ladder method.
1000 mg = _______ g
1 L = _______ mL
14 km = _______ m
109 g = _______ kg
160 cm = _______ mm
250 m = _______ km
Compare using <, >, or =.
56 cm
6m
7g
698 mg
Metric Conversion Challenge
Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.
1) Kilogram_____
6) Liter_____
2) Meter_____
7) Kilometer _____
3) Gram_____
8) Centimeter _____
4) Milliliter _____
9) Milligram_____
5) Millimeter _____
Metric Conversion Challenge
Try these conversions, using the ladder method.
10) 2000 mg = _______g
11) 104 km = _______ m
12) 480 cm = _____ m
13) 5.6 kg = _____ g
14) 8 mm = _____ cm
15) 5 L = _______ mL
16) 198 g = _______ kg
17) 75 mL = _____ L
18) 50 cm = _____ m
19) 5.6 m = _____ cm
20) 16 cm = _______ mm
21) 2500 m = _______ km
22) 6.3 cm = _____ mm
23) 65 g = _____ mg
24) 120 mg = _____ g
Metric Conversion Challenge
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm
26) 536 cm
27) 5 g
6m
53.6 dm
508 mg
28) 43 mg
29) 1,500 mL
30) 3.6 m
5g
1.5 L
36 cm
3-2-1 Exit Slip
Write
3 steps for using a triple beam balance.
Name
2 lab tools you used or saw in stations yesterday
Name
1 SI unit that you used yesterday and what was
it used to measure. (ex. Mass, time, volume, length,
weight, etc.)