The International System of MeasurementThe International System of Measurement

Also known as: Also known as:

The Metric SystemThe Metric System

by Angie by Angie ShoemateShoemate

Metric System• simple to use

• based on units of ten

• easy to make conversions

• used by all scientists

• used in the medical field

• used in most countries

• can be easily learned in an hour

Directions• Obtain a yellow sheet and a ruler.

• Write your name in the upper left corner.

• Locate the column of prefixes.

• Draw a line above kilo- all the way across the paper - edge to edge.

• Draw another line below milli- all the way across the paper - edge to edge.

Check: Does your paper look like this?

You must memorize the

prefixes between the lines drawn.

Let’s say them together…..

• kilo-

• hecto-

• deka-

• (unit of measure or meter-liter-gram)

• deci-

• centi-

• milli-

Units of measure

Metric unitsMetric units

MeterMeter Measures distance or lengthMeasures distance or length

LiterLiter Measures volume Measures volume

(such as water)(such as water)

GramGramMeasures mass and weightMeasures mass and weight

Metric notes….

• At the bottom of your paper make note of this:

• meter- measures units of distance or length

• liter - measures units of volume or liquids

• gram - measures units of mass or weight

More notes….• On the back of your paper, take these notes:• There are no commas in the metric system.• There are no fractions in the metric system.• When the liter symbol is hand written, it must be a capitol

letter so that is not confused with a one. When it is with another symbol, lower case can be used. Ex: L stands for liter, and ml or mL both mean milliliter.

• Metric temperature is Kelvin. Celsius is a more common form of SI temperature, because it is derived directly from the Kelvin scale. On the Celsius scale, water freezes at 0 oC and boils at 100o C.

Make a scale for conversions…

• Make a row of seven boxes across your paper like this:

• Use prefixes to fill in each box left to right from greatest to smallest. Start with kilo- on the left and end with milli- on the right.

• Make sure they are in order and unit is in the center box.

             

Your scale should look like this…

kilo- hecto- deka- (unit) deci- centi- milli-

• Some like to make a triple scale using only symbols like this:

km hm dam m dm cm mm

kl hl dal L dl cl ml

kg hg dag g dg cg mg

Converting in Metrics…• Identify the position of the decimal. If there is no decimal,

it is at the end of the number. Put your pencil there.• Identify the location of prefix (or lack of, meaning the unit

of meter, liter or gram) on the metric scale. Put your index finger there.

• Identify the new position (where the new prefix is located).• Determine whether you need to move right or left .• Determine how many times you need to move to get there.• Move the decimal the same number times and in the same

direction.

Let’s practice…• Take out a piece of scratch paper and write

this problem down.

• 3.4m = ______ cm• Put your pencil on the decimal (.)• Put your finger on (units) where m would

be.• Move your finger right 2 times to cm.• Move the decimal right 2 times.

Did you get this answer…

• 3.4m = 340cm• Great!• Let’s try another.

• 500mg = _____ g• Use the same procedure. Put your pencil on

the decimal and your finger on the corresponding space and move.

Ready…Set…Move…

• 500mg = _____ g• Put your pencil where the decimal should be and

your finger on the mg box.• Move your finger 3 times left then move the

decimal 3 times left.

• Did you get…• 500mg = .5g• Good job!

One more time…

• .2kL = _____ L• Pencil on the decimal and finger on the chart.• Count 3 right then move the decimal 3 right.• Did you get…

• .2kL = 200L

• Yea!

That was easy…

• Practice just a few then check your answers with a friend.

• 3.5cm=____mm

• 500mg=____g

• 2L=____mL

• .25km=____m

Check your answersDid you get….

• 3.5cm=35mm

• 500mg=.5g

• 2L=2000mL

• .25km=250mNow all you have to do is practice,

practice, practice……..

A few more notes…

• Metric units of volume can be converted to cubic centimeters, cc, or centimeters cubed, cm3, very easily.

• Step one… convert to millileters (mL).

• Step two…milliliters are equal to cubic centimeters and to centimeters cubed.

• So…mL = cc = cm3

Let’s practice these

• 23mL = _____cc• Did you get…• 23mL = 23cc• How easy!!!• 55cc = _____cm3

• Did you get …• 55cc = 55cm3 • You’re great!

Just one tough one…

• .7L = _____cc

• First convert to mL

• .7L = _____mL

• You get 700mL

• Then 700mL = 700cc

• Now that wasn’t so tough was it?

Now you know the International

System of Measurement!

aka: SIIsn’t the metric system

easier than you thought?Keep practicing!!!

Congratulations!

Congratulations!Congratulations!