Overview of Metric System• System of measure used by scientists around the world• Uses prefixes and suffixes

• Suffixes• Meter – tells us we are measuring distance, L,W,H• Liter – tells us we are measuring liquid volume• Gram – tells us we are measuring mass

PrefixesKilo = 1000Hecto = 100Deka = 10Deci = 1/10Centi = 1/ 100Milli = 1 / 1000

Distance• Measures length, width, and height• Distance is measured in centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm)• Meter sticks and rulers are tools used for measuring distance• 10 mm equal 1 cm. This allows to quickly change from mm to

cm and back.• To move from mm to cm, move decimal one place left.

• Example – 10.0 mm = 1.0 cm• To move from cm to mm, move decimal one place right

• Example – 1.0 cm = 10.0 mm

Volume• Volume measures how much space something occupies• There are three types of volume:

• Volume of a liquid – (ml)• Volume of solids – (cm cubed)

• Volume of a straight sided solids• Volume of an irregularly shaped solids

Liquid Volume• Measures how much space a liquid occupies• Liquid volume is measured in milliliters (ml)• Graduated cylinders and beakers are tools used to measure

liquid volume• Graduated cylinders are graduated or marked so that we can

measure liquid volume • The top of a liquid in a graduated cylinder will bend slightly.

This is called a Meniscus Line. Always read a meniscus line from its lowest point

Volume of Straight Sided Solids

• Measures how much space a straight sided object takes up• Equation to find volume:

• Length x Width x Height• Volume of solid object is always cubed• Volume of the cube below equals: 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 cm cubed

Volume of irregularly shaped solids• Displacement Volume

• Found by submerging the object in water.• The amount of water that is moved, or displaced, tells us the

volume of the object• A graduated cylinder or beaker is required• Equation is:

• Final Water Level - Initial Water Level = Volume of object in ml• Convert ml to cm cubed: 1 ml = 1 cm cubed

Mass• Measures how much something weighs• Mass is measured in grams• Electronic scales are a tool used to measure mass

Metric Ladderkilo hecto deka m,g,l deci centi milli

kmkgkl

hmhghl

dkmdkgdkl

mgl

dmdgdl

cmcgcl

mmmgml

1000 100 10 1 .1 .01 .001

Prefixes can be used with all three measuring base words: meter (distance), liter (liquid volume), gram (mass). Base words are found in the middle of the metric ladder.

Example: kilometer, hectoliter, centigram

As you move left numbers get larger, as you move right numbers get smaller

Metric Conversions• Use the metric ladder as your guide• Find your starting point and your end point on the ladder• Count the number of spaces to move from your starting point

to your end point• Decide if you moved right or left on the ladder• Move the decimal the same number of spaces that you moved

and in the direction that you moved• Example to convert from millimeter to decimeter you would

move the decimal point two places to the left• 100 mm equals 1.00 dm

kilo hecto deka m, g, l deci centi milli

Perimeter, Area, Volume• P = S + S + S + S

• (add all sides of object)• P = 5 + 5 + 5 + 5 = 20 cm

• A = S x S • (always squared)• A = 5 x 5 = 25 cm squared

• V = Length X Width X Height• (volume is always cubed for solids)• V = 5 x 5 x 5 = 125 cm cubed