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Metric Measurement
Background: Scientists can only expect to communicate effectively if they are using a common “language”.
While the actual language changes from country to country, the one thing that remains fairly constant is the
language of the metric system. Quite surprisingly the United States is not a “metric” nation like most countries.
We still use what some consider to be an antiquated “English” system. The beauty of the metric system is that
all measurements are based on “10’s” making it simpler to convert from unit to unit. The universal “language”
of science is based in the metric system and that is the main purpose of this lab experience.
Purpose: The purpose of this laboratory experience is:
 To learn to “speak” the universal language of science using metric measurements.
 To identify the SI units of length, volume, and mass
 To learn to convert within the metric system, and to convert between the English system and the
metric system
 To measure accurately, using the appropriate laboratory equipment
 To get a better “feeling” of just how big a certain unit of metric measure actually is and apply that
knowledge when considering units.
Procedure/Discussion: There are several prefixes that are associated with metric units that can be attached to
the base metric unit in order to create a new metric unit. Knowing the decimal meaning of the prefix establishes
the conversion factor relationship between the newly created unit and the base unit.
For example: the prefix "kilo" means 103 or 1,000. Therefore, if we are to use, for instance, a “gram” and we
attach the kilo prefix in front, we get “kilogram”
In addition, the relationship between the two units is now more easily understood. Since I know that "kilo"
means 1000 then one kilogram unit is the same as (or equal to) 10 3 “gram” units. The prefixes that are most
important are listed below along with their decimal and exponential equivalents:

Prefix Decimal Equivalent Exponential Equivalent

Pico- 0.000000000001 10-12
Nano- 0.000000001 10-9
Micro- 0.000001 10-6
Milli- 0.001 10-3
Centi- 0.01 10-2
Deci- 0.1 10-1
No prefix 1.0 100
Deka- 10.0 101
Hecto- 100.0 102
Kilo- 1,000.0 103
Mega- 1,000,000.0 106
Giga- 1,000,000,000.0 109

There are several dozen prefixes used but these above are most commonly used in Science measurements. In this
lab we will briefly explore the following areas of measurement: Mass, Dimension, Volume, and Area.

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PART 1 REVIEWING SI MEASUREMENTS

Mass Measurement
Mass in the metric system has several units that scientists use most often. For comparison, the gram is the
standard unit of mass in the metric or SI system. The gram (abbreviated g or gm) is roughly the same meaning as
the English dry ounce. It takes about 29 grams to equal one dry ounce. A larger mass unit similar to the English
pound is the kilogram. The kilogram is the same as 1000 grams and represents 2.2 pounds in mass.
Dimensional Measurement
Now let us go over dimensional measurement that is measure of length, width, and height. The basic metric unit
of dimension is the meter (m). The meter is analogous to the English yard. A meter is equal to slightly more than
a yard (about 10% larger).

One meter is equal to 1.09 yards or 39.36 inches. A larger metric unit used often is the kilometer (km) which is
analogous to the English mile. One kilometer is equal to 0.62 miles. In countries where the metric system is the
national standard, signposts and posted speed limits are in km or km per hour. For example, the most common
speed limit in Canada is 100, but that is 100 km/hr or about 60 miles per hour!!
All metric rulers are calibrated the same. The numerically numbered position (major calibrations) are equal to
centimeter marks, and then there are ten equally spaced position (minor calibrations) in between each of the
numbered positions each of which are equal to 0.1 cm (1 mm). According to this calibration, one can record
measurements with one position of estimation to the nearest 0.01 cm.
Another instrument most often used in Biology labs is called a micrometer (sometimes referred to as the micron).
As the name implies it can measure to the nearest micrometer and is used for very precise measurements of
diameters. It is most commonly used in “sizing up” cells under the microscope and is commonly given the
symbol “mu”, which looks like: µ
Volume Measurement
The third type of measure is measure of volume. Actually, we can break this down into the measure of
1. Solid volume (regular and irregular)
2. Fluid (liquid and gas) volume
Measurement of Fluid Volumes
Let's now discuss measure of fluid volume. There are several instruments used to directly measure fluid
volumes. The graduated cylinder is the most commonly used in the lab. However, there are several others. The
pipet, buret, and volumetric Flask measure fluid volumes more precisely than most graduated cylinders.

The basic metric unit of measure for volume is the liter (l) unit. The liter is similar to the English quart. One liter
being the same as 1.06 quarts. It is basically a fluid volume unit as is the smaller metric unit called the
milliliter(ml). The milliliter is similar to the English fluid ounce. One fluid ounce is equal to about 30 ml. Other
metric units of volume that are more often associated with volumes of solids is the cubic centimeter (cc or cm 3)
which is equal to a milliliter. Be certain that you understand that the cc may look like a dimensional unit since it
has the word "centimeter" in it. However, it also has the word "cubic" which always indicates a volume unit.

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You can think of a cubic centimeter as a cube 1 cm on each edge. The volume of such a cube would be 1cm X
1cm X 1cm or 1 cm3. We also use the cubic meter(m3) often in science to measure large volumes in space.

Any dimensional relationship such as 100 cm = 1 m can be used to derive a volume unit relationship simply by
“cubing” BOTH sides of the relationship so for example:

100 cm = 1 m cubed would be:

(100 cm)(100 cm)(100 cm) = (1m)(1m)(1m) or 1 X 106 cm3 = 1 m3

You can even do this with English dimensional relationships that result in a newly created volume relationship.
For example:

1 ft = 12 in. If we cubed both sides we would have:

(1 ft)(1 ft)(1 ft)= (12 in)(12 in)(12in) or 1 ft3 = 1728 in3

Try it yourself on the following dimensional relationships:

If 1 inch = 2.54 cm Determine the relationship between cubic inches and cubic centimeters? Show your work in
this space.

Area Measurement

Area measurement relationships are similar to volume relationships except you square both sides of the
dimensional relationship. For example, if we wanted to know the relationship between square cm and square m
we could begin with the following dimensional relationship between cm and m:

If: 100 cm = 1 m, then (100 cm)2 = (1 m)2 and 10,000 cm2 = 1 m2

BASICALLY, dimensional measurement is one dimensional, area measurement is two dimensional and volume
measurement is three dimensional.

PART 2 CONVERTING SI MEASUREMENTS

METRIC CONVERSION EXERCISES

Make the conversions within the Metric System and the conversions between the English and the Metric System.
Please SHOW ALL WORK AND ALL UNITS to demonstrate that you know what you are doing for
conversions between systems.

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A. Basic metric equivalencies

See the table at the beginning of this lab for further details. The prefixes will be useful.

1. 1 m = ________ cm 5. 1 km = ________ cm

2. 1 m = ________ mm 6. 1 kg = ________ g

3. 1 cm = ________ mm 7. 1 kg = ________ mg

4. 1 km = ________ m 8. 1 L = ________ mL

B. Conversions between systems - SHOW ALL WORK AND ALL UNITS

To correctly do this portion of the lab, you must know what the conversions are. As such:

Metric to English English to Metric

Length: Length:
1 mm = 0.04 in 1 in = 2.54 cm
1 cm = 0.39 in 1 ft = 30.48 cm = 0.305 m
1 m = 39.37 in = 3.28 ft 1 yd = 0.914 m
1 m = 1.09 yd 1 mi = 1.609 km
1 km = 0.62 mi
Weight: Weight:
1 g = 0.035 oz 1 oz = 28.350 g
1 l = 1.057 qt 1 lb = 0.453 kg
Capacity: Capacity:
1 ml = .2 tsp 1 tsp = 5 ml
1 l = 1.057 qt 1 c = 236 ml
1 qt = 0.946 l
1 gal = 3.785 l

9. 1 mi = ________ km C. Your personal data (Just for fun)

10. 1 mi = ________ m 31. How tall are you (feet and inches)? ____________

11. 1 yd = ________ cm 32. How many inches tall are you? ___________

12. 1 in = ________ cm 33. How many centimeters tall are you? ___________

13. 50 ft = _________ m 34. How many meters tall are you? ___________

14. 150 lb = ________ kg 35. What do you weigh in pounds? ___________

15. 5 ft 5 in (65 in) = ________ cm 36. What do you weigh in kilograms? ___________

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16. 24 in = ________ cm 37. What do you weigh in grams? ___________

17. 100 lb = ________ g

18. 1 lb = ________ g

19. 1 ft = ________ cm

20. 64 oz = ________ g

21. 1 l = ________ qt

22. 55 mi/hr = _________ km/hr

23. 40 mi/hr = ________ km/hr

24. 100 km/hr = ________ mi/hr

25. 5 km = ________ mi

26. 10 km = ________ mi

27. 1 kg = ________ lb

28. 1 kg = ________ oz

29. 100 kg = ________ lb

30. 50 m = ________ ft

PART 3 MEASURING LENGTH IN SI UNITS

Recall that the basic unit of length in SI is the meter (m). The most common units of length are the kilometer,
meter, centimeter, and millimeter.

1. Use a meter stick or metric ruler to measure the items listed below. When possible, measure to the
nearest millimeter. Record your measurements in the data table provided.
**Recall that decimals are used in SI. There should be NO fractions in your answers.

2. Complete the table by converting your measurements to the units given.

ITEM l/w/h mm cm M

Book

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length

width

height

Desk or Table

length

width

height

PART 4 MEASURING VOLUME WITH SI UNITS

In SI, the volume of a solid is measured in cubic meters (m 3). The commonly used basic unit of liquid volume is
the liter (L). The units used for solids and for liquids and gases are related in SI:
1 mL = 1 cm3 (cm3 is read cubic centimeter, and may also be called cc)
The most common units of volume are the liter and the milliliter.

1. To find the volume of a solid, multiply :

Volume = length x width x height

a. Find the volume of a book. SHOW YOUR WORK!!

(Document/Take a picture of the measurement)

PART 5 MEASURING MASS WITH SI UNITS

The basic unit of mass in SI is the gram (g). There is a relationship between the SI units of mass and volume:
1 mL of water has a mass of approximately 1 g.

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The most commonly used units of mass are the milligram, the gram, and the kilogram.

1. Determine the mass of each object as accurately as possible. Record the mass in both grams and
in kilograms.

mg g Kg

146.0

3498.0

897.4

500

Conclusion: The following can be concluded after completing this lab experience:

1. What did you learn in this activity? Did you understand what the metric system was all about or did
you gain some valuable insight?
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2. Why is it important that all scientists use similar units, being the SI System? Give two reasons why
the metric system is the best system for use in science.
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3. Why is it easier to convert SI units than the English System of Units?

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4. We are quite familiar with the commonly used units of the English System of Measurement (inch,
foot, yard, ounce, pound, gallon, etc.) Investigate some of the lesser-known units of the English
System of Measurement. What is the origin and the significance of the following terms:
Rod, gill, peck, pennyweight, scruple, and league?
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5. The SI unit of temperature is Kelvin. The Kelvin scale is related to the Celsius scale, with which you
may be familiar. Make a chart showing equivalent temperatures in Kelvin, Celsius, and Fahrenheit
scales. On the Celsius scale, what is the significance of 0º C and 100º C? On the Kelvin scale, what
is the significance of 0º K?

*Attach the documentation of your laboratory task. Make sure to divide the tasks to your group members.

©Mr. Comet’s Living Environment Laboratory Manual, 2005-2006, South Lewis High School, Turin, New York 13473. Permission is granted for not-for-profit
educational use by certified teachers.