Measurement “Measurement is finding a number that shows the size or amount of something.” We can measure many things, but we mainly focus on length, area,

MeasurementMeasurement

““Measurement is finding a number that Measurement is finding a number that shows the size or amount of something.shows the size or amount of something.””

We can measure many things, but we We can measure many things, but we mainly focus on length, area, volume, mainly focus on length, area, volume, mass, and time.mass, and time.

Units ImportanceUnits Importance

Units are important!!!Units are important!!!One unit can mean something completely One unit can mean something completely

different than another unitdifferent than another unitKnowing the units can help avoid mistakesKnowing the units can help avoid mistakes

The MistakeThe Mistake

Two different groups of Two different groups of scientists were working on scientists were working on the calculations to send a the calculations to send a probe to Mars.probe to Mars.

The American team did their The American team did their calculations in the English calculations in the English standard and the other standard and the other team did it in the metric team did it in the metric system and they didn’t system and they didn’t convert properly. (OOPS!)convert properly. (OOPS!)

The probe was The probe was destroyed when it destroyed when it hit the surface of hit the surface of Mars’ at a high Mars’ at a high speed.speed.

It cost the space It cost the space program 125 program 125 million dollars. million dollars.

The MistakeThe Mistake

The English system is very The English system is very confusing because it has so many confusing because it has so many

different valuesdifferent values

America is the only country that still America is the only country that still uses the old English systemuses the old English system

Scientists give the English system Scientists give the English system the thumbs downthe thumbs down

Why?Why?

Scientists needed an exact and uniform Scientists needed an exact and uniform system of weights and measurements.system of weights and measurements.

This is why scientists use the This is why scientists use the

metric system instead.metric system instead.

Main Units UsedMain Units Used

Meter – Measures LengthMeter – Measures Length

Length is the distance between two pointsLength is the distance between two pointsLiter – Measures VolumeLiter – Measures Volume

Volume is how much space a liquid takes upVolume is how much space a liquid takes upGram – Measures MassGram – Measures Mass

Mass is how much matter is in an objectMass is how much matter is in an object Seconds – Measures TimeSeconds – Measures Time

Time is how long something takesTime is how long something takes

How the metric system worksHow the metric system works

Centi-

Milli-

Kilo-

Metric chartMetric chart Giga means billion (1000000000)Giga means billion (1000000000)

Mega means million (1000000)Mega means million (1000000)

Kilo  means thousand (1000)Kilo  means thousand (1000)

Centi means one-hundredth (1/100)Centi means one-hundredth (1/100)

Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000)Milli means one-thousandth (1/1000)

Micro means one-millionth (1/1000000)Micro means one-millionth (1/1000000)

Nano means one-billionth (1/1000000000)Nano means one-billionth (1/1000000000)

How to use the metric chartHow to use the metric chartRewrite the problemRewrite the problemCheck for the decimalCheck for the decimal (if no decimal, (if no decimal,

put at end)put at end)Where do we start? Where do we start? Were do we go to?Were do we go to?Count the # of steps and directionCount the # of steps and directionDo the same with decimalsDo the same with decimals

US to Metric Help GuideUS to Metric Help Guide

Cool Background InformationCool Background Informationif you’d like to learn some moreif you’d like to learn some more

Standards of the pastStandards of the past

People used to use parts of People used to use parts of their body to determine the their body to determine the length of something.length of something.

The standard would be a The standard would be a part of the kingpart of the king’’s anatomy.s anatomy.

The standard yard was the The standard yard was the distance from the kingdistance from the king’’s s nose to his outstretched nose to his outstretched arm arm

People would use their feet to People would use their feet to measure distancemeasure distance

This is how the term foot This is how the term foot came about.came about.

Today the standard Today the standard ““footfoot”” in the English system is in the English system is

12 inches = 1 foot12 inches = 1 foot

How did the metric system come How did the metric system come about?about?

During the18th century During the18th century scientists measured the scientists measured the distance from the earthdistance from the earth’’s s equator to its North Pole equator to its North Pole and divided it into ten and divided it into ten million parts to make the million parts to make the meter.meter.

How the Liter came aboutHow the Liter came about

Scientists needed a way to measure Scientists needed a way to measure liquids so they took 10 cm and multiplied it liquids so they took 10 cm and multiplied it by its length x width x height to come up by its length x width x height to come up with a standard for measuring volumewith a standard for measuring volume

The liter is the size of 10 cm(3)The liter is the size of 10 cm(3)10cm x 10 cm x 10 cm10cm x 10 cm x 10 cmLength x Width x Height = VolumeLength x Width x Height = VolumeThe liter is used to measure liquidsThe liter is used to measure liquids

How the Gram came aboutHow the Gram came about

Scientists needed a Scientists needed a standard to measure standard to measure mass. mass.

Mass is the amount Mass is the amount of matter in an objectof matter in an object

They decided to take They decided to take one cubic centimeter one cubic centimeter of water and call it a of water and call it a gram gram

The Time standardThe Time standard

During the 15During the 15thth century century a scientist named a scientist named Galileo set the Galileo set the standard of time known standard of time known as the secondas the second