SI Base Units and Prefixes
SI/Metric Prefixes
Prefix
Abbreviation
peta
P
tera
T
giga
G
mega
M
kilo
k
centi
c
milli
m
micro

nano
n
pico
p
femto
f
Meaning
1015
1012
109
106
103
102
103
106
109
1012
1015
Example
1 Pm = 1015 m
1 Tm = 1012 m
1 Gm = 109 m
1 Mm = 106 m
1 km = 103 m
1 cm = 102 m
1 mm = 103 m
1 m = 106 m
1 nm = 109 m
1 pm = 1012 m
1 fm = 1015 m
Rearranged
1 m = 102 cm
1 m = 103 mm
1 m = 106 m
1 m = 109 nm
1 m = 1012 pm
1 m = 1015 fm
Base Units
Physical Quantity
Length
*Mass
**Volume
Temperature
Time
Amount of Substance
Name of Unit
meter
gram
liter
kelvin
second
mole
Abbreviation
m
g
L
K
s
mol
*The official base unit for mass is the kilogram
**Volume in m3 is a derived base unit. 1 L = 103 m3 and 1 mL = 1 cm3
Pam Marks