Metric System & Scientific Notation

Metric SystemStandardized measurement system used in Science

Decimal based = conversions between units of different magnitudes are accomplished by shifting the decimal point or changing an exponent

All multiples and divisions of the decimal units are factors of the power of ten

The US is the only industrialized country that does not use this system as its official system of measurement, still using the Imperial System ?!?

Units to Know

UNIT SYMBOL WHAT IT MEASURES

meter m length

gram g mass

Liter L volume

Celsius ˚C temp

seconds s time

Scientific Notationa way of writing numbers that are too large or

too small to be conveniently written in standard decimal notation

Based on significant figuresHere are some examples:10000 = 1 x 104 24327 = 2.4327 x 104

1000 = 1 x 103 7354 = 7.354 x 103

100 = 1 x 102 482 = 4.82 x 102

10 = 1 x 101 89 = 8.9 x 101 (not usually done)

1 = 100

1/10 = 0.1 = 1 x 10-1 0.32 = 3.2 x 10-1 (not usually done)

1/100 = 0.01 = 1 x 10-2 0.053 = 5.3 x 10-2

1/1000 = 0.001 = 1 x 10-3 0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3

1/10000 = 0.0001 = 1 x 10-4 0.00044 = 4.4 x 10-4

Scientific NotationKept some simple rules in mind.

1.Starting with numbers

Rule: Numbers greater than 1 move the decimal to the left exponent is positive

7354 = 7.354 x 103

Rule: Numbers less than 1 move the decimal to the right exponent is negative

0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3

2. Starting with notations

Rule: Numbers greater than 1(positive exponent) move the decimal to the left

7.354 x 103 = 7354

Rule: Numbers less than 1 (negative exponent) move the decimal to the right

7.8 x 10-3 = 0.0078

Prefixes to Know

Many, many, more… the scale continues…