This document provides an overview of the International System of Units (SI), also known as the metric system, which is the international standard for measurement. It discusses the four basic types of measurements - distance, mass, volume, and temperature - and defines the standard metric units for each. For distance, the base unit is the meter; for mass, the kilogram; for volume, the liter; and for temperature, the degree Celsius. It provides examples of common metric prefixes and supplemental information about concepts like gravity, the meniscus, and absolute zero temperature.

1. Nature of
Science Measurement &
Metrics
The International System
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2. The Basics – SI (International System formally known as
the Metric System)
 International System of Units
(SI)
 International system,
accepted world-wide
 Based on units of 10
 Four basics types of
measurement
Distance
Mass
Volume
 Temperature
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3. Prefixes & Amounts Slide
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4. Units for Measuring Distance
(length)
Base unit is a meter
Abbreviation = M
1,000m = kilometer
0.01m = centimeter
0.001m = millimeter
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5. Distance Factoid: “Klick”
Of ficially
The meter is the length of the path travelled by
light in vacuum during a time interval of 1/299
792 458 of a second.
 A military slang, a "klick," is equal to a distance
of 1,000 meters, or 1 kilometer, or ø.62 miles).
 100 klicks south is a solder’s way of saying 100
kilometers away, or 62 miles away.
 Believed to come into the language during the
Vietnam War.
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6. Units for Measuring Mass
Base word is gram
Base unit is kilogram
Abbreviation = g
1,000g = kilograms
0.001g = milligrams
Note:
•Despite the prefix “kilo-”, the kilogram is the base unit of mass.
•The kilogram, not the gram, is used in the definitions of derived units.
•Nonetheless, units of mass are named as if the gram were the base unit.
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7. Gravity
Mass is the amount of matter in an object.
Weight is not the same as mass.
Weight is the force of gravity pulling on an
object.
Weight varies with the mass of the object
and the strength of gravity.
 Objects weigh more at sea level, which is
nearer the center of the Earth, than up a
mountain.
 A person on the Moon weighs one sixth of
their weight on Earth.
Mass Factoid:
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8. Units for Measuring Volume
Base unit is a liter
Abbreviation = L
1,000L = kiloliter
0.02L = centiliter
0.001mL = milliliter
Also:
cubic centimeter =
cc or cm3
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9. The Meniscus
Volume Factoid:
A liquid surface is
curved.
A relatively strong
attractive force between
water and glass.
The curved surface is
called the meniscus.
Measure from the
bottom of the meniscus.
Meniscus
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10. Water
Displacement
Volume of an Irregular Solid
• Pour a set amount of water into a graduated cylinder or beaker,
example 100 ml.
• Place irregular shaped object into vessel.
• Measure difference between original meniscus line and new
meniscus line.
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11. Units for Measuring Temperature
Degrees are in Celsius
Abbreviation = °C
Know these temperatures
100°C = boiling water
Ø.37°C = body temp.
Ø.20°C = room temp.
Ø.0°C = freezing water
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12. Absolute Zero Temperature
Factoid:
 -273.15°C
 Absolute zero is the lowest possible
temperature where nothing could be
colder and no heat energy remains in a
substance.
 Absolute zero is the point at which the
fundamental particles of nature have
minimal vibrational motion, retaining
only quantum mechanical, zero-point
energy-induced particle motion.
 By international agreement, absolute
zero is defined as precisely; Ø °K on
the Kelvin scale, which is a
thermodynamic (absolute) temperature
scale; and –273.15 °C on the Celsius
scale.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/a/absolute_zero.htm
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