Measuring with the Metric System Notes
Length
Volume
Length: How long something is
Volume: How much space something takes up
Rules for measuring Length:
Rules for measuring Volume:
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Measure from 0, not the end of the ruler
No bad words (feet, inches, miles, etc)
No fraction – USE DECIMALS
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Picture: to remind you of how to measure length
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Figure out the counting scale
Get at eye level and measure to the bottom of
the meniscus – don’t hold up the graduated
cylinder; put it on a flat surface
No fraction – USE DECIMALS
Picture: to remind you of how to measure volume
Base unit for Length: meter abbreviation: m
Other units used: cm, mm, km
Base unit for Volume: liter abbreviation: L
Tool(s) used to measure length: meter stick, metric
ruler
Other units used: mL, dL
Mass
Tool(s) used to measure volume: graduated cylinder,
beaker, flask
Mass: Amount of matter in an object
Temperature
Rules for measuring Mass:
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Make sure the scale is balanced at 0 before
starting
Move the big slider first and make sure each
slider clicks into place
Line up decimals when adding for the answer
No fraction – USE DECIMALS
Picture: to remind you of how to measure mass
Temperature: How hot or cold something is
Rules for measuring Temperature:
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Figure out the counting scale
Wait until the liquid in the thermometer stops
moving
No fraction – USE DECIMALS
Measure using the CELSIUS scale
Picture: to remind you of how to measure temperature
Base unit for Mass: kilogram abbreviation: kg
Other units used: g, mg
Tool(s) used to measure mass: beam balance, electric
balance
Base unit for Temperature: Celsius abbreviation: C
Other units used: Kelvin
Tool(s) used to measure temperature: thermometer
Questions:
11. Kg is the abbreviation for what? _kilogram_______
1. What is the base unit for measuring length?
12. What is the base unit for volume in the metric
system? __liter________________________________
_____meter___________________________________
2. What tool is used to measure mass?
13. What is the abbreviation for Celsius? _C_________
_____beam balance ____________________________
14. What is the curved line on a graduated cylinder
called? (we measure from the bottom of it)
3. Which prefix stands for 1,000? ___kilo___________
__meniscus____________________________________
4. Which temperature scale is used in the metric
system? __Celsius______________________________
15. What temperature on the Celsius scale does water
boil at? __100 °C _______________________________
5. What is the abbreviation for milliliter? __mL_______
16. What is the base unit for mass in the metric
system? __kilogram_____________________________
6. What unit of measure would you use to measure the
thickness of a penny? _mm_______________________
7. What unit of measure would you use to measure the
distance between New York and Florida? __km_______
8. At what temperature does water freeze on the
Celsius scale? __0 °C ____________________________
9. Name one tool that is used to measure volume.
__graduated cylinder ___________________________
10. Which unit of measure would you sue to measure
the length of a ballpoint pen? _cm_______________
17. What unit of measure would you use to measure
the volume of water in a lake? __kiloliter___________
18. What unit of measure would you use to measure
the volume of water in a fish tank? _liter___________
19. What are 4 measurement words and types of
measurements we NEVER use in science class?
(because they are not metric measurements)
__feet, yards, Fahrenheit, cups, inches, miles, pounds,
ounces _______________________________________
A. 272.1 g
E. 35 mL
B. 0.3 cm
D. 43 mL
F. 21 C
C. 2.3 cm
H. 27.6 g
G. 6 C