SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
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Metric System
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(international system of units or SI)
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- A decimal system (based on 10) that scientists and everyone else in the world uses, except the U.S.

LENGTH
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Meter - basic unit of length. A little more than 3 feet. Use to measure a room.
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Kilometer - = 1000 meters. Use to measure long distances. About 2/3 of a mile.
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Centimeter - 100 cm = 1 meter. Use to measure smaller objects, like a bird.
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Millimeter - 1000 mm = 1 meter. Use to measure even smaller objects, like the pupil of an eye.
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Micrometer - 1 million = 1 meter. Use to measure microorganisms.
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Nanometers - 1 billion = 1 meter. Use to measure very small organisms, like viruses.

VOLUME
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The amount of space an object takes up is called its volume.
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Liter - (L) the basic unit of volume in the metric system, slightly larger than the quart.
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Milliliter-(mL) 1/1000 of a liter: 1000 mL= 1 L
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Use L and mL to measure liquids and gases.

MASS AND WEIGHT
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Kilogram - (Kg): a little more than 2 lbs.
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Gram - (g): 1/1000 of a Kg. 1000 g = 1
Kg
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Milligram - (mg): 1/1000 of a gram

MASS VERSUS WEIGHT
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Mass is not equal to weight
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Mass - the measure of the amount of matter in an object. Is constant
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Weight - is a measure of the force of attraction between objects due to gravity.
Is not constant.

DENSITY
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The measurement of how much mass is contained in a given volume of an object.
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Density=Mass/Volume
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Every substance has its own characteristic density.

TEMPERATURE
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Scientist use the Celsius scale
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0 degrees = the freezing point of water.
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100 degrees = boiling point of water.

QUICK QUIZ
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1. What are 2 benefits of using the
International System of Units?
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2. What is the basic unit for length? For mass? For volume?