scientific skills.....aim 3

what is the metric system?
.....aim 2

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The metric system

The metric system uses powers of ten as a base. See table C

 

Table C

Selected Prefixes

Factor Value Prefix Symbol

Example  (meter)
103 1,000 kilo- k

In 1 km there are 1,000 m  (1 km = 1,000 m = 103 m)
10-1 0.1 deci- d

In 1m there are 10 dm (1m = 10 dm = 101 dm)
10-2 0.01 centi- c In 1 m there are 100 cm (1m = 100 cm = 102 cm)
10-3 0.001 milli- m In 1 m there are 1,000 mm (1m = 1,000 mm = 103 mm)
10-6 0.000,001 micro- μ In 1 m there are 1,000,000 μm (1m = 1,000,000 μm = 106 μm)
10-9 0.000,000,001 nano- n In 1 m there are 1,000,000,000 nm (1m = 1,000,000,000 nm = 109 nm)
10-12 0.000,000,000,001 pico- p In 1 m there are 1,000,000,000,000 pm (1m = 1,000,000,000,000 pm = 1012 pm)

 

Conversion factors

Problem

1. How many grams are in 10 kg?

2. How many meters are in 100 micrometers?

3. Convert 45 pm to cm.

4. Convert 1 kg  to pg.

5. How many kilometers, decimeters, centimeters, millimeters, micrometers, nanometers, and picometers are in 1 meter?

 

 

Full Table
Factor Prefix Symbol

Amount
1018 exa E 1,000,000,000,000,000,000
1015 peta P 1,000,000,000,000,000
1012 tera T 1,000,000,000,000
109 giga G 1,000,000,000
106 mega M 1,000,000
103 kilo k 1,000
102 hecto h 100
101 deka da 10
100 -- -- 1
10-1 deci d 0.1
10-2 centi c 0.01
10-3 milli m 0.001
10-6 micro m 0.000,001
10-9 nano n 0.000,000,001
10-12 pico p 0.000,000,000,001
10-15 femto f 0.000,000,000,000,001
10-18 atto a 0.000,000,000,000,000,001

 

 

TEST YOUR UNDERSTANDING

1. The diagram represents a metal bar and two-centimeter rulers, A and B. Portions of the rulers have been enlarged to show detail. What is the greatest degree of precision to which the metal bar can be measured by ruler A and by ruler B?

 

            1. to the nearest tenth by both rulers     

            2. to the nearest hundredth by both rulers         

            3. to the nearest tenth by ruler A and to the nearest hundredth by ruler B

            4. to the nearest tenth by ruler B and to the nearest hundredth by ruler A

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