Name Period Date
SI Units
Scientists all over the world use the same system of units so they can communicate information clearly. This system of measurement is called the International System of Units (SI). Metric measurement is based on the number ten and makes calculations with the system relatively easy. By using the following conversion chart, converting from one unit to another is done simply by moving the decimal point:
Kilo- Hecto- Deca- _____ deci- centi- milli-
The blank line in the middle of the conversion chart can change depending on what we are measuring:
The unit for length is the meter (m).
The unit for mass is the gram (g).
The unit for volume is the liter (L).
Part A
What type of measurement is indicated by each of the following units? Choices are in the last column.
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
1. g/mL
2. s
3. km
4. g
5. cm3
6. mm
7. mg
8. L
9. g/cm3
density
length
mass
time
volume
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
Part B
For each of the following commonly used measurements, indicate its symbol. Use the symbols to complete the following sentences with the most appropriate unit. Units may be used more than once or not at all.
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
_____ milliliter
_____ kilogram
_____ meter
_____ milligram
_____ millimeter
_____ liter
_____ kilometer
_____ second
_____ centimeter
_____ gram
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
1. Colas may be purchased in two or three _____ bottles.
2. The mass of a bowling ball is 7.25 _____.
3. The length of the common housefly is about 1 _____.
4. The mass of a paperclip is about 1 _____.
5. One teaspoon of cough syrup has a volume of 5 _____.
6. Stand with your arms raised out to your side. The distance from your nose to your outstretched fingers is about 1 _____.
7. On a statistical basis, smoking a single cigarette lowers your life expectancy by 642,000 _____, or 10.7 minutes.
Part C – Conversion Factors
1m = 100cm 1cm = 0.001m can also be written as 100cm or 1m__
This is called a conversion factor and it is =1
1m 100 cm
a. ______cm b. 1000mm c. ______m
1 m _____m 1km
d. ______sec e. _____ min f. ______hr g. ______days
1min 1hr 1 day 1 year
C. To do conversions, the following work must be shown:
Example 1: To convert 2.5 m to km you need to multiply 2.5m by the conversion factor (in the box) that will cancel off the metres.
2.5m x 1km =______km
1000m
Example 2: To convert 250 hours to days you will need to multiple 250 hours by the conversion factor (in the box) that will cancel off the hours.
250 hours x 1day = ______days
24 hours
D. Now you try it, convert:
1. 35 days to hours.
35 days x = ______hours
2. 250 cm to metres
250 cm x = ______m
3. 6 days to minutes
6 days x _____ hr x ___ min = ______min
1 day 1 hr
4. 1500 mm to km
1500 mm x 1cm__ x 1m x 1km = ______km
_____mm ____cm _____m
E. Try these by yourself. – show all of the work
1. 25 cm to km
2. 5 min to seconds
Convert the following metric measurements: Show your Work by cancelling Units.
1000 mg = _____ g 198g = _____ Kg 8 mm = _____ cm
160 cm = _____ mm 75 mL = _____ L 6.3 cm = _____ mm
109 g = _____ Kg 50 cm = _____ m 5.6 m = _____ cm
250 m = _____ Km 5 L = _____mL 26,000 cm = _____ m
14 Km = _____ m 16 cm = _____mm 56,500 mm = _____ Km
1 L = _____ mL 65 g = _____ mg 27.5 mg = _____ g
480 cm = _____ m 2500 m = _____ Km 923 cm = _____ m
27 g = _____ kg 355 mL = _____ L 0.025 Km = _____ cm
Name ANSWER KEY Period Date
Part A
What type of measurement is indicated by each of the following units? Choices are in the last column.
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
10. g/mL density
11. s time
12. km length
13. g mass
14. cm3 volume
15. mm length
16. mg mass
17. L volume
18. g/cm3 density
density
length
mass
time
volume
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
Part B
For each of the following commonly used measurements, indicate its symbol. Use the symbols to complete the following sentences with the most appropriate unit. Units may be used more than once or not at all.
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
mL milliliter
kg kilogram
m meter
mg milligram
mm millimeter
L liter
km kilometer
s second
cm centimeter
g gram
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09
8. Colas may be purchased in two or three liter bottles.
9. The mass of a bowling ball is 7.25 kg.
10. The length of the common housefly is about 1 cm.
11. The mass of a paperclip is about 1 mg.
12. One teaspoon of cough syrup has a volume of 5 mL.
13. Stand with your arms raised out to your side. The distance from your nose to your outstretched fingers is about 1 m.
14. On a statistical basis, smoking a single cigarette lowers your life expectancy by 642,000 s, or 10.7 minutes.
Part C
Convert the following metric measurements:
1000 mg = 1 g 198g = 0.198 Kg 8 mm = 0.8 cm
160 cm = 1,600 mm 75mL = 0.075 L 6.3 cm = 63 mm
109 g = 0.109 Kg 50 cm = 0.50 m 5.6 m = 560 cm
250 m = 0.250 Km 5 L = 5,000mL 26,000 cm = 260 m
14 Km = 14,000 m 16 cm = 160mm 56,500 mm = 0.0565 Km
1 L = 1,000 mL 65 g = 65,000 mg 27.5 mg = 0.0275 g
480 cm = 4.8 m 2500 m = 2.5 Km 923 cm = 9.23 m
27 g = 0.027 kg 355 mL = 0.355 L 0.025 Km = 2,500 cm
Using Measurements – Ch. 2 CHEM