+
Metric Conversions
Ladder Method
T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/
+
Countries That Do Not Use the
Metric System
U.S.
Burma/Myanmar
Liberia
+
The Magic of the Metric System: 10x!
k
kilo1000x
smaller
100x
BASE
UNIT
Big -> Small
10x
meter(m) Distance/length
gram(g)
Mass
liter(L)
1/10x
0.1x
Volume
c
‘CKats’bigger
hate dogs
because dogs can’t
meow
centi0.01x
m
milli0.001x
+
kilo-
1.0
# of stair steps =
# of decimal
places
1. You have 0.33 kilograms
of laundry soap; how
many grams?
milli-
2. Your water bottle is
labeled 500mL; how
many liters does it hold?
.5 0 0
0.3 3 0
g
L
+ Measuring
Length (m)
How long is
the line in cm?
in mm?
Measuring
Mass (g)
Please be careful
with the scales!
How many millimeters
in 1 centimeter?
cm
Use ‘tare’ or zero button
to ignore the mass of the
container
+
Measuring
Volume
• Liquids,
use L
At eye level,
read at the
bottom of the
meniscus
• Geometric solids use m3
l xw x h
• Irregular solids use
water displacement
Volume of object
mL of a rock!?
1mL =1cm3 = 1cc
+
Measuring
Volume
What is the volume of
water in the cylinder?
What is the volume
of the toy?
Recall:
1mL = 1 cm3 (1cc)
Practice
+
Convert one value, using the ladder method, then compare
1) 200cg to g
6) 5 L to mL
11) 16 cm to mm
2) 104 km to m
7) 198 g to kg
12) 2500 m to km
3) 480 cm to m
8) 75 mL to L
13) 65 g to mg
4) 5.6 kg to g
9) 50 cm to m
14) 6.3 cm to mm
27) 5 g
29) 1,500 mL
Compare using <, >, or =.
25) 63 cm
26) 536 cm
6m
53.6 dm
28) 43 mg
508 mg
5g
30) 3.6 m
1.5 L
36 cm
+
Wait! I measure
distance in
MILES!
+
U.S. vs. Metric : Length
Which is longer?
A. 1 mile or 1 kilometer
B. 1 yard or 1 meter
1 mile
1.6 kilometers
C. 1 inch or 1 centimeter
1 inch = 2.54 centimeters
1 yard = 0.9444 meters
+
U.S. v. Metric: Mass
Which is larger?
1. 1 Pound or 100 Grams
2. 1 Kilogram or 1 Pound
1 pound =
453.6 g
3. 1 Ounce or 1000 Milligrams
1 ounce of gold
= 28.35 g
100 kg =
220 pounds
+
U.S. v. Metric: Volume
Which is larger?
A. 1 liter or 1 gallon
1 fl oz = 29.53mL
B. 1 liter or 1 quart
1 12-oz can of soda
~ 355 mL
C. 1 milliliter or 1 fluid ounce
1 quart = 0.946 liters
1 gallon = 3.79L
+
Your friend runs a
2.5mi route while you
typically run a 5km
one.
Which of you ran the
longer distance?
Determine
these three
facts:
• What
conversions
factor(s) can be
used to ‘bridge’
the two?
• What
value &
units are
you given to
convert?
• What unit
do you need
to convert
to?
1mi =1.6km
Dimensional analysis 2.5mi
Converting One Unit to Another
1.6km
------- x -------1
1 mi
= 4km
you rule!
+
Conversion
factor
2.5mi
1.6km
------- x -------1
1 mi
2.5 (3.2km)
---------- = finish it!
1 (2)
Set up
answer units
in the
numerator of
one fraction
Use a conversion
factor with the
same units in the
denominator as
the given units
Multiply
across;
divide final
fraction
Cancel like
terms
(units)
28.35g
x ------x
1 oz
1 kg
---=
1000g
Go Hog Wild!
You feel guilty
ordering a 20 ounce
steak – think about it
in kg instead
20oz
-----1
+700 is a number
(700.0 is the same number)
Ex: Windsor to Disneyland
is 745km, or 7.45 x 102
The moon is more
than 384 thousand
km from earth.
700 can be
restated as
7.0 x 100
Thus, 700
is the same
as 7.0 x 102
100 can
be
restated
as 10 x 10
10 x 10
can be
stated as
10 2
Scientific Notation
Digits plus the power of 10