Metric System

Metric System Prefixes

Metric System

Based on multiples of 10. Prefixed are place in front of the base unit to represent larger or smaller quantities.

Important prefixes:

     kilo (K)      = 1,000
     hecto (H)   = 100
     deca (D)   = 10
     Base         = 1 (meter, gram, liter, joule)
     deci (d)     = .1 (1/10)
     centi (c)    = .01 (1/100)
     milli (m)    = .001 (1/1,000)

Other prefixes:
     mega (M)  = 1000,000
     giga (G)     = 100,0000,000
     micro (µ)   = 1/1000,000

Base Units:

• meter (m) is the base unit for length
• gram (g)     "        mass
• liter (l)        "       volume
• joule (J)      "       energy

Examples:

   1) Convert 30 mL to kL

         a) 30.0, move the decimal to the left six places,  = .000030 kL

          OR 

         b)

    2) How many grams are there in 5 kilogram (kg) ?

         a) 5.0, move the decimal to the right three places, = 5000. g

OR

         b)

    3) Convert 350 Dg to mg.

          a) 350.0, move the decimal to the right four places, = 3500000. mg

          OR

          b)

      4) Convert 20 cm to m.

          a) 20.0, move the decimal to the left two places, = .20 m

          OR

          b) 

Measurement of matter

     Mass: the amount of matter within an object
     
     Weight: the force of gravity of mater acting on an object (9.8 m/s^2)

     Volume: the amount of space taken up by an object.
                  
                   Volume = A x h, A = area, h = height