LABORATORY 1 -- THE METRIC SYSTEM
THE METRIC SYSTEM
During this assignment, you will make careful measurements using the International System of Measurement (SI, Le Systèm International d'Unitès), commonly called the metric system. SI has been adopted as the official system of measurement by most countries and is used by scientists worldwide. In addition, the United States is increasing its use of metric units. You encounter SI units every day. For example, you may purchase soda in half-liter bottles; you may own 7-mm pearls or a 35-mm camera; your automobile may have a 2.2 liter engine; or you may take a 325-mg aspirin for a headache.
The units and divisions of SI are given in the following tables. Length is measured in meters, mass in grams, volume in liters, and temperature in degrees Celsius. The basic units (meter, liter, gram, Celsius) are the starting point of the metric system. From this point, there are two directions we can go: (1) smaller than the unit indicated by using a subunit prefix, and (2) larger than the unit indicated by using a superunit prefix. If this is the first time you have studied the metric system, it may seem complicated, but SI is actually much easier to learn than the customary U.S. system because it is entirely based on a decimal plan, that is, using divisions of ten. For example: 1 decimeter = 10 centimeters = 100 millimeters.
|Quantity |Metric unit |Symbol |Equivalent |
|Mass |Gram |g |1 g = 0.0022 pound |
|Length |Meter |m |1 m = 3.280 feet |
|Volume |Liter |l |1 l = 1.057 quarts |
|Temperature |Celsius |(C |1(C = 1.89(F |
If you want to convert grams to pounds, multiply the number of grams by 0.0022. If you want to convert pounds to grams, divide the number of pounds by 0.0022. If you want to convert meters to feet, multiply the number of meters by 3.28. If you want to convert feet to meters, divide the number of feet by 3.28. If you want to convert liters to quarts, multiply the number of liters by 1.057. If you want to convert quarts to liters, divide the numbers of quarts by 1.057. If you want to convert degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, use this formula: (F = ((C x 1.8) + 32. To convert degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius, use this formula: (C = ((F - 32) / 1.8
|Prefix |Symbol |Value | |Example |
|Superunits -- make units larger |
|Mega- |M |One million |1,000,000 = 106 |1 megameter (Mm) = 106 m |
|Kilo- |k |One thousand |1,000 = 103 |1 kilogram (kg) = 103 g |
|Hecto- |h |One hundred |100 = 102 |1 hectogram (hg) = 100 g |
|Deka- |da |Ten |10 = 101 |1 decaliter (dal) = 10 l |
|Subunits -- make units smaller |
|Deci- |d |One tenth |0.1 = 10-1 |1 deciliter (dl) = 0.1 l |
|Centi- |c |One hundredth |0.01 = 10-2 |1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 m |
|Milli- |m |One thousandth |0.001 = 10-3 |1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 g |
|Micro- |( |One millionth |0.000001 = 10-6 |1 micrometer ((m) = 10-6 m |
|Nano- |n |One billionth |0.000000001 = 10-9 |1 nanometer (nm) = 10-9 m |
To convert metric units to English units:
|Current Units |Conversion Factor |Units you want |
|grams |0.0022 |pounds |
|grams |0.0353 |ounces |
|meters |3.28 |feet |
|meters |1.0936 |yards |
|liters |1.057 |quarts |
|liters |4.2268 |cups |
|degrees Celsius |1.8 (then add 32) |degrees Fahrenheit |
Example 1: Bob says he weighs 80,000 grams. How many pounds does he weigh? Your current units are in grams. You want to convert this to pounds. Therefore, you need to multiply the number of grams, but the conversion factor of 0.0022, to determine the number of pounds. 80,000 grams X 0.0022 = 176 pounds
Example 2: In Europe, it is 22(C today. How many degrees Fahrenheit is it? In this example, you want to convert your current units (degrees Celsius) into degrees Fahrenheit. You multiply the temperature in the current units (22) by the conversion factor (1.8) and then add 32, to obtain the degrees in Fahrenheit = 72.8(F.
To convert English units to metric units:
|Current Units |Conversion Factor |Units you want |
|pounds |453.59 |grams |
|feet |0.3048 |meters |
|quarts |0.946 |liters |
|degrees Fahrenheit |subtract 32, then x 0.556 |degrees Celsius |
Example 1: You have measured that you need 400 feet of fence for your backyard, but the supply Lowe's only sells it in meters. How many meters will you need to purchase. Take your measurement in your current units, multiply it by the conversion factor, and that will give you the measurements in your desired units. 400 feet X 0.3048 = 122 meters.
Example 2: You accidentally bought an oven thermometer with units in Celsius instead of Fahrenheit. Your mother-in-law is coming over and you want the turkey to be perfect. You are supposed to cook the turkey for 4 hours at 350(F. What temperature would that be in degrees Celsius. Subtract 32 from 350, and multiply than number by 0.556 to get 176(C.
To convert one metric unit to another:
Example 1: You have one liter of milk. How many milliliters would you have? How many decaliters would you have? To convert liters (a base unit) to milliliters, multiply the number of units (1 of liters) by the conversion factor (1000) to get the number of milliliters (1000). To determine the number of decaliters, multiply the number of units (1 liter) by the conversion factor (.1) to obtain the number of decaliters you have (=.1). Note: Base units are the basic units (meters, liters, grams) without any prefixes (e.g., not milliliters, decaliter, kilogram, etc.)
Example 2: A jeweler offers to sell you 1000 nanograms of gold for $300. Convert this to grams to see if you have a good deal or not. 1000 nanograms X .000000001 (the conversion factor) = .000001 g (not a good deal).
1. One centimeter = __________ m
2. 0.001 m = ___________cm
3. One kilometer = __________ m
4. One milligram = __________ g
5. __________ kg = 1,000 g
6. One millimeter = __________ cm
7. Water freezes at __________(C and boils at __________ (C.
8. Body temperature is usually about __________ (C.
9. Albert Einstein loved ice cream! Would he rather have 1 kg of Rocky Road or 10,000 mg?
10. Place a decimal point so that the statements are reasonable.
a) Barry is 15450 cm tall.
b) The highway speed limit is 100000 km / h.
c) A pop bottle holds 32000 ml.
d) Susie weighs 80000 kg.
11. Perform the following conversions:
|1.5 mm = __________ (m |1,000 nm = __________ (m |
|0.25 mm = __________ (m |1,500 (m = __________ mm |
|55 nm = __________ (m |7.5 (m = ___________ nm |
|1.5 cm = __________ mm = __________ (m |109 (m = __________ m |
|5,000 nm = __________ (m = __________mm = __________ cm |
12. Measure the diameter of the circle to the nearest millimeter. This circle is __________ mm = __________ (m = __________ nm
13. Record the following:
a) Room temperature = __________ (C = __________ (F.
b) Outdoor temperature = __________ (C = __________ (F.
c) Ice water = __________ (C = __________ (F.
14. Hot tap water = __________ (C = __________ (F.
15. My textbook is _______ cm x ________ cm or _________ m X _________ m
16. My height is _______ m or ________ cm and my weight is ________ kg or ________ mg.
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(3) multiply by this.
(2) but want this,
(1) If you have this,
(3) multiply by this.
(2) but want this,
(1) If you have this,
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