Metric Units

SI Units and How to Convert Them

Countries that don’t use the metric system.

Measuring Units and Tools• Distance = meter (m) = ruler or

meterstick• Volume (liquids) = Liter (L) = graduated

cylinder• Mass (weight) = gram (g) = balance• Time = second (s) = clock/ stopwatch• Temperature = degree Celsius or

Centigrade (C) = thermometer

Metric PrefixesMUST KNOW:• Kilo - (k) = 1000 (thousand)• Hecto – (H) = 100 (hundred)• Deca – (dc) = 10 (ten)• Base unit = 1• Deci – (d) = 0.1 (tenth)• Centi- (c) = 0.01 (hundredth)• Milli- (m) = 0.001 (thousandth)

Basic Unit

g L m Decid

Centi-c

Milli-m

Deka-Da or D

Hecto-H

Kilo-K

Conversions1. Find decimal.2. Decide how many steps on the

ladder and in which direction.3. Move the decimal the same

number of steps and in the same direction.

4. Fill in the zeros if needed.

Conversions• Convert 1 m to cm.

• Distance = meters (m)

• Move decimal two places to the right

• 1 m = 100 cm

Convert• 500 cg to kg

• Base Unit = Mass = grams (g)

• Move decimal 5 places to the left

• 500 cg = 0.005 Kg

Practice Conversions• 50 Hg to cg• 120 mL to L• 3.5 cL to kL• 34 Dg to g