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Metric System: Exercises Exercise A: Changing The Value of A Number

The document discusses the metric system and provides exercises to practice converting between metric units. It begins by explaining that the metric system is based on decimals and uses common units like meters, liters, and grams. It then provides a table called the "metric staircase" that shows the relationships between different metric prefixes and their associated multiplying/dividing factors. The exercises that follow have students practice: 1) moving decimals to change values, 2) identifying basic metric units and prefixes, and 3) performing dimensional analysis conversions between units like grams to kilograms.

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86 views5 pages

Metric System: Exercises Exercise A: Changing The Value of A Number

The document discusses the metric system and provides exercises to practice converting between metric units. It begins by explaining that the metric system is based on decimals and uses common units like meters, liters, and grams. It then provides a table called the "metric staircase" that shows the relationships between different metric prefixes and their associated multiplying/dividing factors. The exercises that follow have students practice: 1) moving decimals to change values, 2) identifying basic metric units and prefixes, and 3) performing dimensional analysis conversions between units like grams to kilograms.

Uploaded by

lvminhtriet
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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A

Name:

Metric System
Physiology is a quantitative science in which validity of physiological theory is evaluated and studied in
terms of measurable variables (i.e.: temperature, pH, pressure, concentration). The Metric System is used
almost exclusively to measure physiological processes. It is therefore essential that you are comfortable
in using the metric system. The metric system (from the Greek term metrikos, meaning “measure”),
which was first developed in late eighteenth century France. The modern definitions of the units used in
the metric system are those adopted by the General Conference on Weights and Measures, which in 1960
established the International System of Units, also known (in French) as Systeme International d'Unites,
and abbreviated SI (in all languages). The metric system utilizes units that are based on the decimal
system and related to each other by the power of ten. Unlike the American-British system (commonly
called the English system) of measurement (inch, foot, yard, mile); metric units are easily inter-converted
by simply multiplying or dividing by ten (which ALL of us are capable of doing).
When learning how to use the metric system, you become a “Decimal Jockey.” Whenever you change
units you can simply move the decimal of a number to the right of left, therefore affecting its value.

EXERCISES
Exercise A: Changing the Value of a Number
The metric staircase.

Mega

Move Kilo
decimal point
to the left. Hecto
Deca Meter, liter, or gram

UNIT
Deci
Move
Centi decimal point
to the right.
Milli

Micro

Jump to RIGHT: INCREASE


1.0 x 10 = 10.0 Jump decimal one place to the right to increase the # by 10
1.0 x 100 = 100.0 Jump decimal two places to the right to increase the # by 100
1.0 x 1,000 = 1,000.0 Jump decimal three places to the right to increase the # by 1,000

Jump to LEFT: DECREASE


1.0 / 10 = 0.1 Jump decimal one place to the left to decrease the # by 10
1.0 / 100 = 0.01 Jump decimal two places to the left to decrease the # by 100
1.0 / 1,000 = 0.001 Jump decimal three places to the left to decrease the # by 1,000
48-A-metrics.doc 1.1 Bio 48 - Human Physiology
Rev: 8/9/10
Exercise A - Procedure
1. Multiply 10 by 100.
10.0 x 100 =
In which direction must you move the decimal (to the right or the left)?
How many decimal places where moved?
2. Divide 10 by 10,000.
10.0 ÷ 10,000 =
In which direction must you move the decimal (to the right or the left)?
How many decimal places where moved?
3. Looking at the value of ten that you multiplied or divided by (100 or 10,000) what is the relationship
between the number of zeros in the number and the number of decimal places you should move?
a. Multiply by 100,000: The number of decimal places moved:
b. Dividing by 1,000: The number of decimal places moved:
4. When multiplying or dividing what is the relationship between the direction that the decimal is
moved and the function you are accomplishing?
a. Multiplying: The decimal is moved to the
b. Dividing: The decimal is moved to the

Exercise B: Basic Units of Metric Measurements


The Metric System uses a system of PREFIXES, which denote the valve of a number (placement of the
decimal) combined with the type of measurement being made or the BASIC UNIT of measurement. The
primarily used measurements can be expressed in four ways : length, volume, mass, or temperature. The
metric system utilizes four basic units to express these measurements.

Length: Meter (m) (1m = 39.37 inches, 1 inch = 2.54 cm)


Volume: Liter (L ) (1 L = 0.264 gal)
Mass: Gram (g) (454g = 1 lb, 1kg = 2.2 lbs)
Temperature: Centigrade (Celsius) (°C) (0 °C = 32°F)

In order to change the value of a measurement one needs only to incorporate an additional prefix to the
measurement. Each prefix is used to describe how much of the original basic unit is present.

METRIC PREFIXES:
Number Meaning Factor Exponent Abbreviation
3
1,000.0 one thousand (10x10x10) 10 kilo (K) *
100.0 one hundred (10x10) 102 hecto (h)
10.0 ten (10) 101 deka (da)
1.0 one (1.0) 100
0.1 one tenth (1/10) 10-1 deci (d) *
0.01 one hundredth (1/10x10) 10-2 centi (c) *
0.001 one thousandth (1/10x10x10) 10-3 milli (m) *
0.000001 one millionth (1/10x10x10x10x10x10) 10-6 micro (µ) *
0.000000001 one billionth (1/10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10x10) 10-9 nano (n)
 Indicates most commonly used physiological units
48-A-metrics.doc 1.2 Bio 48 - Human Physiology
Rev: 8/9/10
Physical properties can be measured by simply combining the basic units with the appropriate prefix:
For Example:
One liter of soda (1 L ) = one liter (1 L)
One hundred liters of soda (100 L) = one hecto liter (1hL)
One thousand meter jog around campus = one kilo meter (km)
A moth is one hundredth of a meter long = one centi meter (cm)
An ant is one thousandth of a meter long = one milli meter (mm)
An ant’s leg weighs one millionth of a gram = one micro gram (µg)

Exercise B – Procedure (basic units of metric measurement)


1. Basic unit: Meter
One meter cut into 100 pieces: each piece equals 0.01 m or 1 centi-meter
a. One meter cut into 1,000 pieces: each piece equals 0.001 m or 1 -meter
b. 1,000 meters combined: equal 1,000 m or 1 -meter
2. Basic unit: Liter
One liter poured into 10 cups: each cup contains 0.1 liters or 1 deci-liter
a. One liter poured into 100 cups: each cup contains liter or 1centi-liter
b. One liter poured into 1,000,000 cups: each cup contains liters or 1 -liter
c. 1,000 liters combined in a jug: equal 1,000 liters or 1 -liter.
3. Basic unit: Gram
a. 10 grams: equals 1 -gram
b. 1,000 grams combined: equal a total of 1 -gram
c. One gram divided into 1,000 pieces: each piece weighs 0.001 grams or 1 -gram

Exercise C: Metric Conversions (Dimensional Analysis)


Metric conversion is the process through which the units of measurement are changed WITHOUT
changing the value of the number.
One thousand meters (1,000 m) = One kilo meter (1.0 km)
One hundredth of a gram (10-2g) = One centi gram (1.0 cg)
One thousandth of a liter (10-3 l ) = One milli liter (1.0 ml )

The steps used in changing the units for a number are based on the principle that MULTIPLYING by
ONE does NOT change the value of a number.
10/ 10 = 1 deka/deka = 1
1 x (10/ 10) = 1 1 x (deka/deka) = 1
Conversion factors are ratios of numbers with different units that equal ONE.
 Fractions which equal ONE
1,000 m / 1.0 km = 1 1 x 1,000 m / 1.0 km = 1
-2
10 g / 1.0 cg = 1 1 x 10-2g / 1.0 cg = 1
10-3 l / 1.0 ml = 1 1 x 10-3 l / 1.0 ml = 1

48-A-metrics.doc 1.3 Bio 48 - Human Physiology


Rev: 8/9/10
Exercise C – Procedure (converting basic units)
1. 1,000g (grams) = kg (kilograms)
Conversion factor: 1 kg / 1,000 gms = 1
1,000g x 1 kg = kg.
1,000g
2. 10 cm (centimeter) = m (meter)
Conversion factor: 1 m / 100 cm = 1
10 cm x 1m = m
100 cm
3. 100 ml (milliliter) = cl (centiliter)
Conversion factors: 1 L / 1,000 ml =1
1 L / 100 cl = 1
100 ml x 1 L x 100 cl = cl
1,000 ml 1L
4. 32.6 mg (milligrams) = µg (microgram)
Conversion factors: 1 g / mg = 1
1g/ µg = 1
32.6 mg x 1 g x µg = µg
mg 1g
5. 0.05 mm (millimeter) = km (Kilometer)
Conversion factors: / =1
/ =1

0.05 mm x x = km

With the information given; COMPLETE the attached METRIC WORKSHEET: Come SEE me if you
are having problems !!!

QUESTIONS

1. Give the metric units for


a. The weight of 1cc (cubic centimeter) of water
2. Identify the metric unit:
a. The basic metric unit for volume:
b. The basic metric unit for length:
c. The prefix denoting 100:
d. The prefix denoting 1/100:
e. The prefix denoting 1/ 1,000,000:

3. Which is the larger unit:

48-A-metrics.doc 1.4 Bio 48 - Human Physiology


Rev: 8/9/10
a. Milli or Centi
b. Kilo or Deka
c. Micro or Nano

4. Compute the following conversions between metric units:


1.0 km = m 0.1 g = µg 0.035 L = ml
1.0 ml = L 0.0001 ml = µl 0.83 cm = mm
100.0 cm = m 0.35 kg = mg 3500 µl = ml
1.0 cg = mg 66 g = kg 2100 mg = g

5. An electrocardiogram paper speed is 2.5 cm / sec,


what is its speed in mm / sec

6. The heart pumps approximately 5.0 liters/ min.


a. How much blood does it pump in an hour ?
b. How much blood does it pump in a day ?
c. How much blood does it pump in a year ?

48-A-metrics.doc 1.5 Bio 48 - Human Physiology


Rev: 8/9/10

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