Metric System Basics

The metric system (SI) is an international system of measurement that is based on units of______.

Measurement / Tool / Base Unit
Volume-
Mass-
Length-
Temperature

Prefixes are placed in front of a base unit to change the ______.

  • The most common prefixes we will use are:
  • ______(m) is one-thousandth
  • ______(c) is one-hundredth
  • ______(k) is one thousand

The mnemonics device we use to remember the prefixes:

K______H______D______U______d______c______m______

Prefix: Kilo Hecto Deka Base Unit deci centi milli

Practice identifying the proper unit and measurement:

Unit / Mass, Volume, or Length
1 / 23.1 mg / milligram / mass
2 / 112 kL / kiloliters / volume
3 / 5.02 mm
4 / 677 g
5 / 150 cm
6 / 88.55 L
7 / 999.8 m
8 / 27041 km
9 / 32 mg
10 / 1.8 mL

Measuring Length:

The base unit for length is:______

Measure the following in centimeters:

  • My hand span is ______cm. (measure outstretched hand between tipof thumb and tip of little finger)
  • The width of my index fingernail is ______cm.
  • The width of the back my hand is ______cm.
  • My foot is ______cm

Using the measurements you have from above, estimate the following

lengths. Estimate FIRST, then check for accuracy:

  • Length of lab table ______cm Actual length ______cm
  • Width of this piece of paper _____ cm Actual length ______cm
  • My pencil ______cm Actual length ______cm
  • My chair width ______cm Actual length ______cm

Measuring Mass:

The base unit for mass is:______

Go to:

Complete the Use Tutorial.

Answer the following questions:

  1. Before you can even begin to use a triple-beam balance you must ______
  1. In what order do you move the weight poise (sliders)? first______second ______third______

Click the yellow “back to entrance” button.

Complete Practice Weighing

Find the mass of 6 random weights. List the weights below.

1.______2.______3.______

4.______5.______6.______

Measuring Volume:

The base unit for volume is:______or ______

By Formula:

The formula to find the volume of regular objects is: ______x______x______

Find the volume of 2 regular shaped objects:

Object 1:______

Draw a diagram and label the measurements:

Volume:______

Object 2:______

Draw a diagram and label the measurements:

Volume:______

Measuring Volume:

By Displacement:

Follow the directions to find the volume of three marbles using water displacement.

(1) Add 20 ml of water to a 100 ml graduated cylinder. Record this amount in the chart.

(2) Add three marbles to the cylinder and measure the volume. Record this amount in the chart.

(3) Find the difference between the two measurements and record in the chart.

  • The difference between the two measurements will be the volume of the three marbles.

Volume of water before adding marbles / Volume of water after adding marbles / Difference in volume / Volume of three marbles

Measuring Temperature:

The unit for temperature is:______

What is the temperature in °C for the following?

The freezing point of water ______The boiling point of water______

Room Temperature______A hot day in PA______