Metric Conversions Ladder Method T Trimpe 2008 http

Metric Conversions Ladder Method T. Trimpe 2008 http: //sciencespot. net/

SI measurement • Le Système international d'unités • The only countries that have not officially adopted SI are Liberia (in western Africa) and Myanmar (a. k. a. Burma, in SE Asia), but now these are reportedly using metric regularly • Among countries with nonmetric usage, the U. S. is the only country significantly holding out. The U. S. officially adopted SI in 1866. Information from U. S. Metric Association

Standards of Measurement When we measure, we use a measuring tool to compare some dimension of an object to a standard. For example, at one time the standard for length was the king’s foot. What are some problems with this standard?

Stating a Measurement In every measurement there is a ¨Number followed by a ¨ Unit from a measuring device The number should also be as precise as the measurement!

UNITS OF MEASUREMENT Use SI units — based on the metric system Length Meter, m Mass Kilogram, kg Volume Liter, L Time Seconds, s Temperature Celsius degrees, ˚C kelvins, K

Some Tools for Measurement Which tool(s) would you use to measure: A. temperature B. volume C. time D. weight

Learning Check Match L) length M) mass V) volume M A. ____ A bag of tomatoes is 4. 6 kg. L B. ____ A person is 2. 0 m tall. M C. ____ A medication contains 0. 50 g Aspirin. V D. ____ A bottle contains 1. 5 L of water.

Learning Check What are some U. S. units that are used to measure each of the following? A. length B. volume C. weight D. temperature

Metric Prefixes • Kilo- means 1000 of that unit – 1 kilometer (km) = 1000 meters (m) • Centi- means 1/100 of that unit – 1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm) – 1 dollar = 100 cents • Milli- means 1/1000 of that unit – 1 Liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (m. L)

Metric Prefixes

Ladder Method 1 2 KILO 1000 Units HECTO 100 Units 3 DEKA 10 Units Meters Liters Grams DECI 0. 1 Unit How do you use the “ladder” method? 1 st – Determine your starting point. 2 nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point. 3 rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction. CENTI 0. 01 Unit MILLI 0. 001 Unit 4 km = _____ m Starting Point Ending Point How many jumps does it take? 4. __. __. = 4000 m 1 2 3

Metric Prefixes

Conversion Practice Try these conversions using the ladder method. 1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = _______ m. L 160 cm = _______ mm 14 km = _______ m 109 g = _______ kg 250 m = _______ km Compare using <, >, or =. 56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

Metric Conversion Challenge Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit. 1) Kilogram 4) Milliliter 7) Kilometer 2) Meter 5) Millimeter 8) Centimeter 3) Gram 6) Liter 9) Milligram Try these conversions, using the ladder method. 10) 2000 mg = _______ g 15) 5 L = _______ m. L 20) 16 cm = _______ mm 11) 104 km = _______ m 16) 198 g = _______ kg 21) 2500 m = _______ km 12) 480 cm = _____ m 17) 75 m. L = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg 13) 5. 6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6. 3 cm = _____ mm 14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5. 6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g

Learning Check 1. 1000 m = 1 ___ a) mm b) km c) dm 2. 0. 001 g = 1 ___ a) mg b) kg c) dg 3. 0. 1 L = 1 ___ a) m. L b) c. L c) d. L 4. 0. 01 m = 1 ___ a) mm b) cm c) dm

Units of Length • ? kilometer (km) = 500 meters (m) • 2. 5 meter (m) = ? centimeters (cm) • 1 centimeter (cm) = ? millimeter (mm) • 1 nanometer (nm) = 1. 0 x 10 -9 meter O—H distance = 9. 4 x 10 -11 m 9. 4 x 10 -9 cm 0. 094 nm

Learning Check Select the unit you would use to measure 1. Your height a) millimeters b) meters c) kilometers 2. Your mass a) milligrams b) grams c) kilograms 3. The distance between two cities a) millimeters b) meters c) kilometers 4. The width of an artery a) millimeters b) meters c) kilometers

Compare using <, >, or =. 25) 63 cm 26) 536 cm 6 m 53. 6 dm 27) 5 g 28) 43 mg 508 mg 5 g 29) 1, 500 m. L 30) 3. 6 m 1. 5 L 36 cm