Study Tips

Volume: the capacity of a container, the size of a three dimensional space
Mass: the physical volume or bulk of a solid body
Liter: a metric measure for volume
Gram: a metric measure for mass (weight)
Meter: a metric measure for length
Laboratory: a room or building used for scientific testing, experiments or research
Metrology: the study of measurement
Decimal system: a system of measurement where all units are based on the number ten

METRIC REFERENCE CHART

Measurements within the metric system are based on units of ten. Equivalent within the system can easily be calculated by moving the decimal point or adding a zero.

The International Metric System is founded on six base units of measure.

The unit of length is the meter. The unit of mass (weight) is the kilogram. The unit of time is the second. The unit of electric current is the ampere. The unit of temperature is the kelvin. And the unit of intensity is the candela.

All other units of measurement are derived from these basic six.

America is the last major country to convert to the International Metric System. While we still measure length and volume by inches and pints, we have actually been using metric measurements in our monetary system since colonial days. Pennies, dimes, nickels, quarters and paper money are based on the decimal system.

Units of Length

metric = metric
1 millimeter = .03937 inch
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
1 decimeter = 10 centimeters
1 meter = 10 decimeters
1 decameter = 10 meters
1 hectometer = 10 decameter
1 kilometer = 10 hectometers
1 myriameter = 10 kilometers

metric = U.S.
1 kilometer = 0.621 mile = 3,280.8 feet
1 meter = 3.2808 feet = 39.37 inches
1 centimeter = 0.3937 inch

U.S. = metric
1 mile = 1.609 kilometers = 1609.3 meters
1 yard = 0.914 meter = 9.144 decimeters
1 foot = 0.3048 meter = 30.480 centimeters
1 inch = 2.540 centimeters = 25.40 millimeters

practical equivalents
A 6' man is also 183 centimeters tall.
A 5'3" woman is 160 centimeters tall.
A 12' traffic lane is 365.76 centimeters or 3.6576 meters wide.
A speed of 45 miles-per-hour is also 72 kilometers-per-hour.
A 24" T.V. screen is 61 centimeters.
A standard doorway is 81 centimeters x 203 centimeters.
A mile is 1,999 feet longer than a kilometer.
A meter is 3.37 inches longer than a yard.
A 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of paper is 22 x 28 centimeters.
A new pencil is 19 centimeters long.
A 500 foot home run is 167 yards or 152 meters.
A 35-yard pass is 105 feet or 32 meters.

abbreviations
millimeter - mm
centimeter - cm
decimeter - dm
meter - m
dekameter - dkm
hectometer - hm
kilometer - km
myriameter - mym

Weights and Measures: What are the differences?

U. S. Customary System: The most commonly used units of weight in the U.S. Customary System are ounce, pound and ton.

Ounce (oz) = about the weight of a slice of bread
Pound (lb) = 16 ounces, about the weight of a hammer
Ton (t) = 2,000 pounds, about the weight of a small car

Metric Weight (Mass): The most commonly used units for measuring mass* in the metric system are the gram, milligram and
kilogram.
Gram (g) = about the weight of a paper clip
Milligram (mg) = 1/1000 gram, about the weight of a wing of a housefly
Kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams, about the weight of a large can of tomatoes

*Measuring mass is not the same as measuring weight. Mass refers to the quantity of an object. Weight refers to the force of gravity exerted on the object.

Volume is the capacity of a container, the number of cubic inches it takes to fill a space. Volume may refer to liquids or solids.

U. S. Customary System: The most commonly used units of volume in the U.S. Customary System include:

Liquid:
    Cup (c) = 8 fluid ounces
    Pint (pt) = 2 cups or 16 fluid ounces
    Quart (qt) = 2 pints or 32 fluid ounces
    Gallon (gal) = 4 quarts or 128 fluid ounces

Dry:
    Dry pint = 33.6 cubic inches
    Dry quart = 2 dry pints
    Peck = 16 dry pints or 8 dry quarts
    Bushel = 32 dry quarts or 4 pecks

Metric Volume: The most commonly used units for measuring volume are milliliter, liter and kiloliter.
    Milliliter (mL) = 1/1000 liter, about what an eye dropper holds
    Liter (L) = a large plastic soda bottle holds 2 liters
    Kiloliter (kL) = 1,000 liters, about the amount that a large backyard wading pool
    holds Volume

U. S. Customary System: Temperature
Fahrenheit (F):
    32 degrees - water freezes
    72 degrees - normal room temperature
    98.6 degrees - normal body temperature
    212 degrees - water boils

Metric System:
Celsius (C):
    0 degrees - water freezes
    20 degrees - normal room temperature
    37 degrees - normal body temperature
    100 degrees - water boils

U. S. Customary System: Length
    Inch (in) = about the diameter of a quarter
    Foot (ft) = 12 inches
    Yard (yd) = 36 inches, 3 feet
    Mile (mi) = 5,280 feet, about 10 city blocks

Metric System:
    Meter (m) = about the length from the left shoulder to the longest right fingertip (adult)
    Millimeter (mm) = 1/1000 meter, the head of a straight pin is about 1 millimeter
    Centimeter (cm) = 1/100 meter, width of your little fingernail
    Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters, about 6 city blocks

U. S. Customary System and Metric: Time
    60 seconds = 1 minute
    60 minutes = 1 hour
    24 hours = 1 day
    7 days = 1 week
    52 weeks = 1 year
    12 months = 1 year
    365 1/4 days = 1 year

U.S Customary System and Metric are the Same 0

U. S. Customary System: Currency
    100 cents = 10 dimes = 1 dollar
    10 ten dollar bills = 100 dollars
    10 hundred dollar bills = 1,000 dollars

Metric System: Each country has its own currency, different from American dollars and cents but they are all based on a decimal system.

A decimal system is based on the number 10. You multiply and divide by ten to change to a larger or smaller unit.
**Divide***when converting a smaller unit to a larger unit. Example: To convert 32 ounces to pounds, divide: 32/16 = 2 lbs.
**Multiply***when converting a larger unit to a smaller unit. Example: To convert 2 pounds to ounces, multiply: 2 x 16 = 32.

Money
The currencies are different but both systems use a decimal system.

BACK To Math

BACK to Chart

To Study Tips Chart

REFERENCE

Almanacs
Country Flags
Dictionary
Dictionary of Other Languages
Encyclopedias
Maps
National Geographic
Periodic Table
Roget's Thesaurus
World Fact Book

BACK to Chart

SCIENCE
Heart - A Virtual Explosion
National Geographic

National Park Service
National Science Foundation
National WildLife
Nine Planets

Periodic Table
Science Learning Network

Types of Calculators and Converters

GPA Calculator Loan Calculator

Percentage Calculator Quadratic Calculator Square Root Calculator

Temperature Converter

Back to the Top

CURRENT EVENTS

Consumer Information Center

CNN
Library of Congress - Periodicals
Life Magazine
National Geographic
PBS

Oklahoman
Time Magazine
Tulsa World

Back to the Top

Virtual Field Trips

White House
Louvre Museum
Nine Planets
PBS

Smithsonian Institute

BACK to Chart

Back to the Top

Types of Calculators and Converters
	GPA Calculator	Loan Calculator
Percentage Calculator	Quadratic Calculator	Square Root Calculator
Temperature Converter