Meters, Grams and Liters
Essential Question: Why is the metric
system easy to convert within?
The Metric System
• The metric system is a measurement system
based on our decimal (base 10) number
system.
• Other countries and all scientists and
engineers use the metric system for
measurement.
Metric Prefixes
• Metric Units
• The metric system has prefix modifiers that are multiples of 10.
Prefix Symbol
Factor Number Factor Word
Kilo-
k
1000
Thousand
HectoDecaUnit
DeciCentiMilli-
h
da or dk
m, l, or g
d
c
m
100
10
1
.1
.01
.001
Hundred
Ten
One
Tenth
Hundredth
thousandth
Place Values of Metric Prefixes
cm
cg
cL
Thousandth
dm
dg
dL
Hundredth
Meters m
Grams g
Liters L
Tenth
dkm
dkg
dkL
One
hm
hg
hL
Ten
Hundred
Thousand
km
kg
kL
mm
mg
mL
Meters
• Meters measure length
or distance
• One millimeter is about
the thickness of a dime.
Meters
• One centimeter is about
the width of a large
paper clip
•or your fingernail.
Meters
• A meter is about the width of a doorway
Meters
• A kilometer is about six city blocks or 10
football fields.
• 1.6 kilometers is about 1 mile
Gram
• Grams are used to
measure mass or the
weight of an object.
Grams
• A milligram weighs
about as much as a
grain of salt.
Grams
• 1 gram weighs about as
much as a small paper
clip.
• 1 kilogram weighs
about as much as 6
apples or 2 pounds.
Liters
• Liters measure liquids
or capacity.
Liter
• 1 milliliter is about the
amount of one drop
Liter
• 1 liter is half of a 2 liter
bottle of Coke or other
soda
Liter
• A kiloliter would be
about 500 2-liter bottles
of pop
Changing Metric Units
• To change from one unit to another in the
metric system you simply multiply or divide by
a power of 10.
King
Henry
Died
By
Drinking
Chocolate
Milk
Practice
• King
Henry
• 3 m = ______ km
• 6000 mg = _____ g
• 10 kg = _____ g
• 7dkL = _____ L
• 3000 g = ____ kg
• 105 km = ___ m
Died
By
Drinking
Chocolate
Milk
Conclusion
• Why is the metric system easy to convert
within?
Which unit would you use to measure the
length of this bicycle?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to measure the
mass of a penny?
km
g
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure the
water in an aquarium?
L
m
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure the
mass of a feather?
L
m
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure the mass of a student
desk?
kg
g
cL
mg
Which unit would you use to measure the
mass of an egg?
kg
g
mm
mg
Which unit would you use to
measure a can of soup?
kL
L
mm
mL
Which unit would you use to measure this
glass of milk?
kL
L
cL
mL
Which unit would you use to
measure the height of a tree?
km
m
cm
mm
Which unit would you use to
measure the length of a bracelet?
km
m
cm
mm
Converting Across the Metric and
Customary Systems
How can you compare length,
weight, and capacity between the
metric and customary systems?
Compare the measurements
An inch is larger than a cm.
A mile is further than a km.
A quart and a liter hold the same
amount of liquid.
A kg weighs more than a pound.
Activity 2
Complete Activity 2
• Discuss your answers with another group.
Let’s Practice Converting
• 2 in = ______ cm
2 in x 2.54 cm =
1 in
• 1.9 L = _______ qt
1.9 L x 1 qt
0.95 L
• 6 miles = _______ km
6 mi x
1.6 km
1 mi
Your turn
5 in = _____ cm
3.2 km = _____ mi
4 qt = _______ L
90 lb = ______ kg
Conclusion
• How can you compare length, weight, and
capacity between the metric and customary
systems?
• Add in headings and question to your notes.