Metric System Worksheet
Metric System Worksheet
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¢ Background
The system of measurement used today by scientists in all countries of the world is called the metric system. The
metric system is a decimal system, meaning it is based on the number ten and multiples of ten, such as 100 and
1000. This handout will act as your reference to the metric system throughout Integrated Science 1 and 2.
¢ Units
Length is the distance from one point to another. The basic unit of length in the metric system is a meter (m). A
meter is slightly longer than a yard.
1 meter (m) = 100 centimeters (cm) 1,000 meters (m) = 1 kilometer (km)
1 meter (m) = 1,000 millimeters (mm) 1 centimeter (cm)= 10 millimeters (mm)
1 meter (m) = 1,000,000 micrometers (µm)
Volume is the amount of space an object takes up. The basic unit of volume in the metric system is a liter (l).
Temperature measures the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance. Kinetic energy is the energy of
motion. More energy = more particle motion = higher temperature. Likewise, less energy = less particle motion =
lower temp. In the metric system, temperature is measured in degrees Celsius (°C)
Mass is commonly used to describe the weight of an object. The basic unit of mass is a gram (g).
1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g) 1 gram (g) = 1,000 milligrams (mg) 1kg = 1,000,000,000 mg
¢ Conversions
Conversions between units, is a skill needed when working with the metric system. The following example should
be your primary way of converting units.
Example: convert 152 meters into centimeters. this fraction is an equivalency that features the unit you
are converting from as the denominator - and your
Solution: target unit as the numerator
the value you 152m 100 cm
are converting x = 15,200cm
1 meter this is the answer obtained by canceling the
meter units - leaving centimeters - which was
your target unit
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¢ Practice Unit Conversions
Complete the following problems (in the space provided) by showing all of your work
- and by drawing a box around your final answer.
“showing all of your work” means setting up the entire equation and using unit abbreviations for each value
Questions 1-7 were conversion problems within the metric system. Questions 8-13 are unique conversion
problems because they are asking you to convert between two different systems: the English System and the
Metric System
2
As long as the English system continues to be used, conversions between the two systems will be
necessary. Use the conversion factors below to complete the problems that follow.
2.54 centimeter (cm) = 1 inch (in) 1 liter (l) = 1.06 quarts (qt) 1 kilogram (km) = 2.20 pounds (lb)
1 meter (m) = 3.28 feet (ft) 3.79 liters (l) = 1 gallon (gal)