Metric System
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The metric system was devised in 1791 by the French Academy of Sciences to create a standardized system of measurement. It uses a base-10 system and standardized units like meters, liters, and grams that are related by powers of 10. Conversions between units are easy by moving the decimal point a place for each power of 10. The metric system was widely adopted and later renamed the International System of Units. It provides standardized units and prefixes to measure length, volume, mass, and temperature.
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Metric System
- 2. First measurements • Based on the human body Example: foot, hand • Standards evolved but not constant • Lack of common units a problem
- 3. Solution • 1791 French Academy of Sciences devised metric system – Metric means measure in French – Based on unit of 10 • Easy to make conversions between units – Widely adapted • 1960 renamed International System of Units (SI)
- 4. Metric Units Unit Metric measure Abbreviation Length Meter m Volume Liter L Mass Gram g Temperature Celcius C
- 5. Metric prefixes we’ll use Prefix Symbol Multiplier Notation nano n 0.000000001 10-9 micro µ 0.000001 10-6 milli m 0.001 10-3 centi c 0.01 10-2 Base unit g, m, L 1 100 kilo k 1000 103
- 6. Metric System • An easy way to move within the metric system is by moving the decimal point one place for each “step” desired Example: change meters to centimeters 1 meter = 10 decimeters = 100 centimeters or 1.00 meter = 10.0 decimeters = 100. centimeters kilo hecto deca meter liter gram deci centi milli
- 7. Metric System • If you move to the left in the diagram, move the decimal to the left • If you move to the right in the diagram, move the decimal to the right kilo hecto deca meter liter gram deci centi milli
- 8. Metric conversion examples 15.2 millimeters = _________________ meters 13 centigrams= __________________ micrograms 9.74 liters = __________________ milliliters 8051 nanometers = ______________ micrometers
- 9. Scientific Notation • You can work backwards from scientific notation – The number in the superscript position of the 10 tells you how many places to move the decimal and in what direction 1 x 103 = 1000 4.7 x 105 = 470000 3.2 x 10-3 = 0.0032
- 10. Length: Meter (cm, mm) • Based on the physical measure on the earth – Length from the North Pole to the Equator divided into 10 million parts • Measure with a ruler or tape measurer
- 11. Mass/Weight: Grams (mg) • The quantity of matter in a material • Gram is typical unit used in the laboratory • Measure with scale or balance
- 12. Volume: Liter (ml) • Space occupied by a unit – 3 dimensional • Units are cubed • ml=cm3 • Typically used to measure liquids • Meniscus: curvature of water
- 13. Micropipette • Tool used to pipette small volumes of liquids • Measure in microliters (10-6 ) • Will use this tool again later in the semester
- 14. Temperature: Celsius (C°) • Measure of concentration of heat • The average amount of motion per molecule 0°C=freezing point of H2O 100°C=boiling point of H2O To convert: F to C: C = ( F - 32) / 1.8 C to F: F = C × 1.8 + 32
Editor's Notes
- #2: “Steel ruler closeup,” by Ejay, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Steel_ruler_closeup.jpg. Licensed under a CC BY-SA license.
- #11: “Vuvuzela mouthpiece 4 with ruler,” by DisillusionedBitterAndKnackered, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vuvuzela_mouthpiece_4_with_ruler.jpg. Licensed under a CC BY-SA license.
- #12: Balance Mettler AJ100. Authored by: Karelj. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Balance_Mettler_AJ100.jpg. License: Public Domain
- #13: PMP beaker. Authored by: Cjp24. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:PMP_beaker.jpg. License: CC BY-SA Meniscus. Authored by: PRHaney. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Meniscus.jpg. License: CC BY-SA
- #14: Micro-pipette. Provided by: Openclipart. Located at: https://openclipart.org/detail/128059/micropipette. License: Public Domain. Micro pipette Tips. Provided by: Openclipart. Located at: https://openclipart.org/detail/127069/micro-pipette-tips. License: Public Domain.
- #15: Laboratory thermometer. Authored by: Lilly_M. Located at: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Laboratory_thermometer-01.jpg. License: CC BY-SA