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METRIC SYSTEM - UNITS OF LENGTH, WEIGHT, AND CAPACITY

In the world of science and medicine, the metric system of measurement is used. Also, many European countries use the metric system rather than the customary measurement system. We will study units of length based on the meter, units of weight based on gram, and units of capacity based on the liter. We will refer to the metric system conversion tables for connections between the metric units used mot often.

First we’ll start with examining the meanings of the metric prefixes. They are used in the three types of measurement: length, weight, and capacity.

For length, we study kilometer, meter, centimeter, and millimeter. There are also other metric units of length like hectometer, decameter, and decimeter.

A centimeter ruler can be used to measure centimeters and millimeters. Often times rulers in the U.S. have centimeters marked on one edge with inches marked on the opposite edge. One centimeter equals 10 millimeters. We will practice measuring with metric units of length.

Sometimes we need to convert from one metric unit to another metric unit. First we will look at converting metric units of length using multiplication, where we convert a measurement given as a large unit into the same measurement but expressed in a smaller unit. Then we will look at converting metric units of length using division, where we convert a measurement given as a small unit into the same measurement but expressed in a larger unit.

For weight we study kilogram, gram, and milligram. There are also other metric units of weight like hectogram, decagram, decigram, and centigram.

For capacity we study liter and milliliter. There are other metric units of capacity like kiloliter, hectoliter, decaliter, deciliter, and centiliter.

Metric System Conversion Tables