THE METRIC SYSTEM
International System of Units “SI”
The metric system is an international decimalized system of
measurement, first adopted by France in 1791. It is the common system of
measuring units used by most of the world. Since the 1960s the
International System of Units ("Système International d'Unités" in French,
hence "SI") has been the internationally recognized standard metric
system.
A standard set of prefixes in powers of ten may be used to derive larger
and smaller units from the base units.
PART 1: CONVERTING FROM ONE METRIC UNIT TO ANOTHER
Tera
Giga
Mega
Kilo
Hecto
Deka
BASE
Deci
Centi
Milli
Micro
Nano
Pico
Femto
UNIT
(T)
(G)
(M)
(k)
(h)
(da)
LENGTH
Meter (m)
(d)
(c)
(m)
(µ)
(n)
(p)
(f)
1,000,00
0,000,00
0
1,000,000
,000
1,000,0
00
1,000
100
10
.1
.01
.001
.000001
.0000000
01
.0000000
00001
.000000000
000001
1012
109
106
103
102
101
VOLUME
Liter (l)
MASS
Gram (g)
10-1
10-2
10-3
10-6
10-9
10-12
10-15
a. The prefix after femto is atto (a) = 10-18
b. A micrometer is also called a MICRON
Metric conversion involves moving the decimal point in the appropriate direction
for the appropriate amount of spaces. If the unit becomes larger then the decimal point
moves toward the left. If the unit becomes smaller then the decimal point moves toward
the right. Each space to the left is the same as dividing by 10. Each space to the right is
the same as multiplying by 10. For each space to the right, move the decimal point
one space to the right. For each space to the left move the decimal one space to the
left.
A. Complete the table below using the example in the first row as a guide.
KILO
.0089
HECTO
.089
DEKA
.89
BASE
8.9
10
DECI
89
.052
.32
243
CENTI
890
MILLI
8,900
10,500
.012
3.67
29.6
108
B. Convert the following units. Simply write down the SAME number and move the
decimal the appropriate amount of spaces.
1m =
1dm =
1cm =
1dm =
1cm =
1m =
1m =
1dm =
1mm =
1cm =
6.45dm =
8.45dm =
86.5dm =
46cm =
793cm =
950g=
dm
cm
mm
m
m
cm
mm
mm
m
dm
mm
cm
m
dm
m
kg
68.4mm=
9.42m =
56.4dm =
64mm =
68m =
42.5dm=
5.63m=
79.43cm=
543mm=
52cm=
35ml =
275mm=
1,000L=
1,000ml=
4,500mg=
25cm =
m
dm
mm
m
cm
mm
mm
m
m
dm
dl
cm
kl
l
g
mm
.005kg =
.075m =
15g =
3mm =
43cm =
2.5km =
.5cm =
.006g =
2.5 dL =
350mL =
750mL =
39.2mg =
12 m =
12 dL =
1.2daL =
32dam =
dag
cm
mg
cm
dm
dam
dam
cg
L
daL
L
kg
km
kL
mL
dam
PART 2: Match the correct metric unit to each object or organism listed below. Write
your answer on the line next to the number.
a.
b.
c.
d.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
Centimeter
degrees Celsius
gram
kilogram
e. kilometers per hour
f. liter
g. meter
h. micron
height of a tree
mass of a hamster
volume of an aquarium
length of a small insect
mass of an insect
volume of a graduated cylinder
temperature of a classroom
length of a microscopic organism
mass of an elephant
speed of an automobile
length of a test tube
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
i. milligram
j. milliliter
k. millimeter
l. kilometers
volume of 2-liter soda bottle
length of horse
mass of a student
temperature of a river
length of a football field
mass of a watermelon
mass of a sunflower seed
distance from San Jose to L.A.
length of a whale
length of a goldfish
mass of a dime
PART 3: Refer to the information in the following chart as you answer the questions
below.
1 meter = 100 centimeters = 1000 millimeters = 1,000,000 microns
1 liter = 1,000 milliliters = 1,000 cubic centimeters
1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
1 gram = 1,000 milligrams
1. How many millimeters in one meter ?
2. How many millimeters in one centimeter?
3. A line 5 cm long is how many millimeters long ?
4. A lab table is 2 meters long. What is it’s length in millimeters ?
5. A lab table is 2 meters long. What is it’s length in centimeters ?
6. A microscope’s mass is 1 kilograms. What is it’s mass in grams ?
7. Three liters of water contain how many milliliters ?
8. Circle the largest measurement in each pair below.
a. 2 m or 50 cm
b. 11 cm or 15mm
c. 1m or 120 cm
d. 5 cm or 60 mm
e. 100 mg or 50 cg
f. 32 cl or 321ml
g. 1000mg or 2g
h. 53ml or 53 cl
i. 126cg or 200mg
j. 101dag or 1 kg
PART 4: Refer to the 9 lines next to the questions as you answer the following
questions.
1. What is the length of line a in cm ?
in mm?
2. What is the length of line b in cm ?
in mm?
3. What is the length of line c in cm ?
in mm?
4. What is the length of line d in cm ?
in mm?
5. What is the length of line e in cm ?
in mm?
6. What is the length of line f in cm ?
in mm?
7. What is the length of line g in cm ?
in mm?
8. What is the length of line h in cm ?
in mm?
9. What is the length of line i in cm ?
in mm?
Line a
Line b
Line c
Line d
Line e
Line f
Line g
Line h
Line i
PART 5: SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
Scientists very often deal with very large and very small numbers, which can lead to a lot
of confusion when counting zeros! Instead of using all these zeros we can express very
large or very small numbers as POWERS OF 10. Scientific notation takes the form of
Mx10n where M ≥ 1 and M < 10. n represents the number of decimal places to be moved.
Positive n indicates that the standard form is larger than zero, whereas negative n would
indicate a number smaller than zero.
Example 1: Convert 1,500,000 to scientific notation (number greater than zero)
Move the decimal point so that there is only one digit to it’s left, a total of 6
places.
1,500,000 = 1.5 x 106
Example 2: Convert 0.00025 to scientific notation (number less than zero)
Move the decimal point so that there is only one digit to it’s left of the whole
number,. In this case a total of 4 places to the right. When the number is less than
zero the exponent is ALWAYS negative.
0.00025 = 2.5 x 10-4
Convert the following to scientific notation:
1) .005 =
4) .0008 =
7) 1,000,000 =
10) .025 =
13) 500 =
2) 5,050 =
5) 1,000 =
8) .25 =
11) .0025 =
14) 5,000 =
3) 4,567 =
6) .0092 =
9) .0001 =
12) 18.65 =
15) 4,000 =
Convert the following to standard notation:
1) 1.5 x 103 =
3) 3.75 x 10-2 =
5) 2.2 x 105 =
7) 3.32 x 101 =
9) 1.2 x 104 =
11) 7.5 x 103 =
13) 1.56 x 102 =
15) 3.5 x 106 =
17) 8.5 x 100 =
2) 1.5 x 10-3 =
4) 3.75 x 102 =
6) 2.2 x 10-5 =
8) 3.32 x 10-1 =
10) 1.2 x 10-4 =
12) 7.5 x 10-3 =
14) 1.56 x 10-2 =
16) 3.5 x 10-6 =
18) 1.5 x 100 =
PART 6: ESTIMATES AND MEASUREMENTS
You will be shown a meter stick. Based on this you will estimate the length of various
objects around the room in cm. You will remain in your seat while making your
estimates. You will next get up and measure, in cm, all of the objects you have estimated
Next, you will calculate the difference between your estimate and measurement (estimate
minus measurement). Finally, you will convert these measurements to km, mm and dm.
OBJECT
Length of
textbook
Width of
textbook
Width of
whiteboard
Length of
whiteboard
Width of
window
Width of a
nickel
Width of
classroom
door
Height of
classroom
door
Length of
classroom
front to back
Height of
classroom
Length of a
new pencil
Height of
coffee can
Height of box
Length of box
Distance from
this room to
the next room
Length of lab
table
Height of lab
table
Length of
microscope
slide
Height of
microscope
slide
ESTIMATE
in cm, cl or
cg
MEASURE
in cm, cl or
cg
DIFFERENCE
(Estimate minus
measurement)
CONVERT
To milli
CONVERT
to deci
CONVERT
to kilo
Width of
microscope
slide
Volume in
graduated
cylinder
Volume of
beaker
B. Analysis
1. What is the metric unit used to measure length?
2. What metric unit is used to study volume?
3. Why is it easier to convert meters to centimeters rather than feet to inches?
4. Which mathematical process (multiply or divide) is used to convert the
following?
a. centiliters to liters?
b. Centiliters to deciliters?
c. Meters to centimeters?
d. Millimeters to meters?
PART 7: MEASURING BODY PARTS
Introduction: The sizes and locations of adult human body parts are based on certain measurements and
relationships. For example, your eyebrows are on the same level as the tops of your ears; the bottom of
your ears line up with the base of your nose. There is a reason that your foot size is what it is. Your body
parts are related to each other. Measure different body parts and compare them.
1. Make a measuring tape: Cut out the meter tape on the lasat page of this packet.
Tape it together so that it forms a meter long ruler. When you finish this activity,
save your ruler, you will use it again.
2. Whole body: Outstretch your arms to either side of your body. Measure the
following:
a. Distance from longest fingertip to longest fingertip.
b. Measure your height.
c. Distance from your chin to the top of your head.
And multiply total by 7
d. Look at the measurements. If you measured carefully they should be about
the same. Are they?
3. Half Body: Find the top of your thighbone by bending over and putting your
hands just below your hips. Sway from side to side and you should feel the top of
the thighbone stick out. Measure the following:
a. Distance from the top of your head to the top of your thighbone.
b. Distance from top of thighbone to the bottom of your foot.
c. Look at the measurements. If you measured carefully they should be about
the same. Are they?
4. Elbow: When your arm is straight down your side your elbow should be at the
same level as your navel. Measure the following:
a. The distance between your shoulder and your elbow.
b. The distance between your elbow and wrist.
c. Look at the measurements. If you measured carefully they should be about
the same. Are they?
5. Foot: Measure the following:
a. Distance around your closed fist
b. Distance between wrist and elbow
c. Inside of your foot from the very end of your heel to the
Tip of your big toe.
d. The measurements should be about the same. Are they?