Name: ________________________________ Date: _____________ Period: ____

Converting Between Units

Converting between units (changing from one unit to another) is an important skill for working within the metric system and for converting measurements from units we are used to (like feet and inches) into units we will use in science (like meters and centimeters). Converting units relies on your ability to multiply and cancel fractions. Review multiplying fractions with the following two problems: 2x 7 3 = 4 15 x 3 = 21 5

To convert between units, you need a conversion factor: a ratio (or fraction) that shows the equivalence relationship between the two units. Write conversion factors for the examples below. Conversion factors for quarters and dollars:

Conversion factor for days and years:

The domino method of converting units will teach you how to convert between one unit and any other unit. Domino Examples:
1. Convert ovals to dots.

2. Convert squares to triangles.

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3. Convert dots to rectangles.

4. Convert rectangles to ovals. (show the dominoes)

5. Convert 16 cm into ft. 16 cm = ft

6. How many yards in 0.37 miles? 0.37 mi = yd

1. Convert the following numbers. a) 2 grams = ________ Decagrams

b) 15 deciliters = ________ Kiloliters

c) 0.234 centimeters = ________ meters

d) 15,000 kilometers = ________ meters

e) 0.26 kiloliters = _________ milliliters

f) 54 grams = _________ centigrams

2. For the following problems, circle whether the two measurements equal one another. a) 30 cg = 0.3 g equal not equal

b) 2,000 KL = 20 L equal not equal

c) 15 Dm = 150,000 mm equal not equal

d) 1.2 L = 0.12 mL equal not equal

e) 3.4 Kg = 0.0034 g equal not equal

f) 54 m = 5,400 cm equal not equal

3. Match the following measurements to the correct item.

Measurements: 54 kilograms 25 grams 25 liters 42 kilometers 800 meters

Item: Water used in 10 minutes Distance around a track A handful of m&ms Weight of a person Distance to Shoreline from SeaTac

4. To convert between our standard measuring system and the metric system, use the following conversion factors below. 1 inch = 2.54 cm 1 mile = 1.6 km 1 pound = .45 kg a. How many centimeters are in 25 inches?

b. How many inches are in 10 centimeters?

c. Its about 18 miles from Seattle to Issaquah. How many kilometers is it?

d. How many miles are in 10 kilometers?

e. A dog weighs 55 pounds. How many kilograms does it weigh?

f. A ball is rolling at a speed of 9.8 meters per second. How many miles per second is it moving? (Hint: you need to convert meters to miles)

Commonly Used Metric System Units and Symbols

Type of Measurement length mass time volume Base Unit Name meter gram second liter, cubic meter Symbol m g s L, m3

The Metric Prefixes

Prefix Yotta Zetta Exa Peta TeraGigaMegakilohectodekadecicentimillimicronanopicofemtoattozeptoyoctoSymbol Y Z E P T G M k h da d c m n p f a z y Meaning (multiply by) 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 000 1 000 000 000 1 000 000 1 000 100 10 BASE UNIT (1) 0.1 0.01 0.001 0. 000 001 0. 000 000 001 0. 000 000 000 001 0. 000 000 000 000 001 0. 000 000 000 000 000 001 0. 000 000 000 000 000 000 001 0. 000 000 000 000 000 000 000 001