Metric SystemMetric System

Metric System•Official NameOfficial Name: International System : International System

of Units (SI)of Units (SI)•was devised by French scientists in was devised by French scientists in

the late 18the late 18thth century. century. •goal -to produce a single unified goal -to produce a single unified

system that could be used system that could be used throughout the entire world.throughout the entire world.

Metric SystemMetric System• is based on a base unit that is based on a base unit that

corresponds to a certain kind of corresponds to a certain kind of measurementmeasurement

Length = meterLength = meter Volume = literVolume = liter Weight (Mass) = gramWeight (Mass) = gram

• Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system Prefixes plus base units make up the metric system • Example:Example:

Centi + meter = CentimeterCenti + meter = Centimeter Kilo + liter = KiloliterKilo + liter = Kiloliter

Metric Prefixes• Kilo (k) meaning 103

• hecto (h) meaning 102

• deka (da) meaning 101

BASE UNIT---meters, Liters, grams• decideci (d)(d) meaning 10meaning 10-1-1

• centicenti (c)(c) meaning 10meaning 10-2-2

• millimilli (m)(m) meaning 10meaning 10-3-3

• micromicro (u)(u) meaning 10meaning 10-6-6Move Move decimadecimal RIGHTl RIGHT

Move Move decimadecimal Leftl Left

Converting with the Metric System

• King Henry Drinks Milk During Castle Meetings• Kilo Hecto Deca Meter Deci Centi Milli• 1000 100 10 1 .1 .01 .001

• 1000 m = ______ km• .001 hg = ______ dg• 42.7 L = _____ cL

Metric SystemMetric System• If you move to the left in the diagram, move the decimal to the leftIf you move to the left in the diagram, move the decimal to the left

• If you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the rightIf you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the right

kilokilo hectohecto decadeca

metermeter

literliter

gramgram

decideci centicenti millimilli

Metric SystemMetric System• SummarySummary• Base units in the metric system are meter, liter, gramBase units in the metric system are meter, liter, gram• Metric system is based on powers of 10Metric system is based on powers of 10• For conversions within the metric system, each For conversions within the metric system, each ““stepstep”” is 1 is 1

decimal place to the right or leftdecimal place to the right or left• Using the diagram below, converting to the right, moves the Using the diagram below, converting to the right, moves the

decimal to the right and vice versadecimal to the right and vice versa