METRIC SYSTEM

WHAT is the METRIC SYSTEM?

• Called the INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM
OF UNITS.
• Used in every country but the United
States, Liberia and Burma
 WHY SHOULD THE UNITED
STATES USE THE METRIC
SYSTEM?
• Other countries’ companies are refusing to
buy products from the U.S. if not labeled in
metric units

• Scientists need a universal way to

communicate data (SI Units) with others
from different parts of the world.
 What are the “BASIC UNITS” within
the METRIC SYSTEM?

• METERS – Length or
Distance
• GRAMS – Mass or Weight
• LITERS – Volumes of Liquid,
Solids or Gases
How does the METRIC
SYSTEM
work?

The metric system is

based on the units of 10’s.
 EXAMPLE: MASS AND
WEIGHTS
• 10 milligrams equals 1 centigram
• 10 centigrams equals 1 decigram
• 10 decigrams equals 1 gram
• 10 grams equals 1 decagram
• 10 decagrams equals 1
hectogram
• 10 hectogram equals 1 kilogram
THE BASIC UNIT OF
MEASURE FOR
LENGTH AND
DISTANCE IS THE
METER
 What instrument do we use to
measure LENGTH?

• To measure length we use a

METER STICK.
 What is the difference between a
yard stick and a meter stick? They
both look the same.

The METER
STICK has more
numbers so
therefore more
accurate than a
yard stick
WHAT ARE THE PARTS OF A
METER STICK?
MILLI-METERS

10 MILLI-METERS equals 1 CENTI-METER

 10 CENTIMETER equals
1 DECIMETER

10 DECIMETERS equals 1 METER

• 10 METERS equals 1 DEKA-
METER
• 10 DEKA-METERS equals 1
HECTO-METER
• 10 HECTO-METERS equals 1
KILO-METER
 What is the numeric difference
between the units of measures?
• One millimeter is .001 because there are
1000 millimeters in a meter.
• One centimeter is .01because there are
100 centimeters' in a meter.
• One meter is 1.0 because there is 1 meter
to a meter
• One kilometer is 1000.0 because there are
1000 meters in a kilometer.
 How do I use a METER STICK?
1. Determine which unit of measure you will be using.
2. Place the 0 end of meter stick at the edge of the
object you wish to measure, making sure that the
object is at the beginning of the measurements on
the meter stick. Disregard any spaces to the left of
any 0.
3. Make a note of where the measurement stops. For
example: If the measurement ends on a millimeter
tick mark, count the total meters, then the
centimeters‘ past the meter marks then any
millimeters past the centimeter mark.
4. Make sure the decimal places are in their right spot.
THE BASIC UNIT OF
MASS AND WEIGHT
THE GRAM
 MASS
• To measure MASS we use a
TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE
 WEIGHT
• To measure WEIGHT we use a
SCALE
 MASS AND WEIGHTS

• 10 milligrams equals 1 centigram

• 10 centigrams equals 1 decigram
• 10 decigrams equals 1 gram
• 10 grams equals 1 decagram
• 10 decagrams equals 1
hectogram
• 10 hectogram equals 1 kilogram
 HOW DO YOU USE A TRIPLE
BEAM BALANCE?
With the pan empty, move the three sliders on
the three beams to their leftmost positions, so
that the balance reads zero. If the indicator on
the far right is not aligned with the fixed mark,
then calibrate the balance by turning the set
screw on the left under the pan.

calibrate
 Once the balance has been
calibrated, place the object to be
measured on the pan.
Move the 100 gram slider along the beam to
the right until the indicator drops below the
fixed mark. The notched position
immediately to the left of this point indicates
the number of hundreds of grams.

100 gram
slider
(middle)
 Now move the 10 gram slider along the
beam to the right until the indicator drops
below the fixed mark. The notched position
immediately to the left of this point indicates
the number of tens of grams.

10 gram
slider
(back)
The beam in front is not notched; the slider
can move anywhere along the beam. The
boldface numbers on this beam are grams
and the tick marks between the boldface
numbers indicate tenths of grams.

10th of
GRAMS
Slider
(front)
To find the mass of the object on the pan, simple
add the numbers from the three beams.
To find the mass of the object on the pan, simple
add the numbers from the three beams.
As with a ruler, it is possible to
read the front scale to the
nearest half tick mark.
THE BASIC UNIT OF
MEASURE VOLUME
OF SOLIDS, LIQUIDS
AND GASSES
LITER
 MASS AND WEIGHTS

• 10 milliliters equals 1 centiliter

• 10 centiliters equals 1 deciliter
• 10 deciliters equals 1 liter
• 10 liters equals 1 decaliter
• 10 decaliters equals 1 hectoliter
• 10 hectogram equals 1 kiloliter
To measure the volumes of liquids,
solids and gasses we use a
GRADUATED CYLINDER.
PARTS OF A GRADUATED CYLINDER
BEAK – Makes it easy to
pour liquids

Bumper - Keeps the

cylinder from breaking if
it’s knocked over.
TUBE – May be
glass or plastic
STAND
GRADUATED CYLINDER
MEASURES

MILILITERS

10th of a milliliter
 How do you read a GRADUATED
CYLINDER?
• Measuring
with a
graduated
cylinder is
complicated
somewhat
by a
meniscus.
A meniscus is the curvature
of the surface of the
water. Water "sticks" to
the walls of the graduated
cylinder, but only on the
sides and not the middle.
• Because of the meniscus, when you look at
the surface, the water level is not straight
• Measurement should be at the lowest point
of the meniscus.
• You need to read the meniscus at eye level in
order to get an accurate reading.
• You should place the graduated cylinder on
the table and then lower your head to be
able to read the meniscus at eye level.
What is the
measure of this
liquid?

40.8 ml
 What is VOLUME?

VOLUME is the
amount of space an
object occupies.
How do I find the VOLUME
of an irregular shaped
object using a graduated
cylinder?
1. Fill the graduated cylinder to 50 ml. Make a
note of this measurement.
2. You may have to fill the graduated cylinder
to a higher level to completely submerge an
object. In this case your beginning volume
will change to the level you started with.
3. Slide the object down the side of the
cylinder until it is completely submerged in
water.
4. Make a note of this measurement.
5. Subtract the starting measurement from the
ending measurement and you’ll have the
volume of the irregular shaped solid.
How do I find the VOLUME
of an regular shaped
object?
Use the mathematical formula:
length X width X height = V³

height

length
width