The metric system is primarily a system used for measuring length, volume, distance, temperature, and weight. It relies on the three basic units through which anything in the world can be measured.
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Meter (m) – It is used for measuring length
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Kilogram (kg) – It is used for measuring mass
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Second (s) – it is used to measure time.
The metric system of measurement was introduced in the year 1799. Over several years, this system has been lengthened to integrate many units. Although, numerous variants of this system originated in the late 19th and early 20th century. The term metric system is another word for SI or the International systems of India.
SI Unit Metric System
The standard International System of Units ( SI Units) provides an accurate definition for meters, kilograms, and the seconds. It also describes and states four different additional units such as:
Metric Number Prefixes
Metric number prefixes can be used to measure very small or big things. For example- Kilo and Milli.
Common Metric Conversion Units
Here are some of the common metric conversion units that are based on the Kilogram, meters and seconds.
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Area = Square meters ( area=length x length) Hence, the basic unit of measuring area is metres by metres = m²
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Volume = cubic meters ( Volume=length x length) Hence, the basic unit of measuring volume is m³ ( cubic metres).
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Liter = One-thousandth of a cubic meter ( 1m³ = 1000 liters). Hence, 1 liter= 1/1000 m³
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Time = Hour ( 1 hour= 60 mins, 1 minute= 60 seconds) Hence, 1 hour = 60 x 60=3600 seconds
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Day = ( 1day = 24 hours) Hence, 1 day = 24 x 60 x60 = 86400 seconds.
Metric Units
Here are Some Common Metric Units to Remember:
|
Quantity |
Name of Units |
Symbol |
Value |
|
Length |
Millimeter Centimeter Meter Kilometer |
mm cm m km |
10mm = 1cm 100cm = 1m 1000m = 1km |
|
Mass |
Milligram Gram Kilogram Tonne |
mg g kg t |
1000mg = 1g 1000g = 1kg 1000kg = 1t |
|
Time |
Second Minute Hour Day |
s min h day |
60s = 1min 60min = 1h 24h = 1day |
|
Temperature |
Degree Celsius |
||
|
Volume |
Cubic millimeters Cubic centimetres Cubic metres |
mm³ cm³ m³ |
1 cm³ = 1000m³ 1m³ = 1,000,000 cm³ |
|
Area |
Square millimeters Square centimeters Square metres |
mm2 cm2 m2 |
1 cm2 = 100 mm2 1 m2 = 10,000 cm2 1 ha2 = 10,000 m2 |
|
Capacity |
Milliliter Litre Kiloliter |
ml l kl |
1000 ml = 1 L 1000 L = 1kL |
Units mentioned in bold are standard units
Metric System Conversion
Here, you learn metric system conversion of smaller to bigger units and bigger to smaller units.
The conversion of a smaller unit to a bigger unit is similar to the conversion method of a bigger unit to a smaller unit. While converting a bigger unit to a smaller unit, ,you move the decimal point to the right side which implies that you multiply the factor but when you convert a smaller unit to a bigger one, you move the decimal point to the left side which implies that you divide the factors.
Solved Example for Metric Conversion of Bigger Unit to the Smaller Unit
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Convert 10.20 kilograms( bigger unit) to grams (smaller unit)
Solution: As, we are converting a bigger unit to a smaller unit, we will multiply by the factor and move the decimal point to the right
Accordingly,
10.20 kg x 1000 = 10200 g
Evolution of Metric System
The metric system is known as a measurement system that decimalises and succeeds the metre based system. First, it was also introduced in France in the 1790s. If we talk about the historical development of a metric system, this has resulted with the help of varied principles. Every fundamental dimension is circulated via a single measurement base unit.
The base unit as per its definition has been experienced increasingly with the help of natural principles in place of physical artefacts copies. Here the system’s base units are acquired through the fundamental units, these units are used as the base units such as square metre works as the unit area that is known as the length quantity. The derived unit in this system is coherent. This means to say they include merely powers products from the base units in the absence of empirical factors. For the offered quantity, the unit owns a symbol and name that is special. This is also an extended group of large and small units that are based on the powers of ten factors.
Since 1790, the m
etric system has been evolving with the evolution of technology and science by offering a universal system of measurement. Since the introduction of the International System of Units i.e. SI, other systems have also joined such as MKSA and MKS systems of units.
Solved Example for Metric Conversion of a Smaller Unit to a Bigger Unit
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Convert 730 centigrams to grams
Solution: As,we are converting a smaller unit to a bigger unit, we will divide by the factor and move the decimal point to the left side
Accordingly,
730 cg ÷ 100 = 7.30 g
Metric System Conversion Table
Here is a metric system conversion table which helps you to solve the questions based on metric system conversion
Solved Example
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Convert 4 Kilometers to meters
Solution: To convert kilometers to meters, we will jump 3 times from kilometers to reach the meters
Accordingly, we will multiply by 10³ = 1000
So, 4km = 4 x 1000= 4000 metres
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Convert 6250 milligrams to grams
Solution: As we know, one gram is 1000 times larger than a milligram. Accordingly,
1 gram = 1000 mg
And,
1 mg = 1/1000 gms
6250 mg= 6250/1000 gms
Hence, 6250 = 6.250 gms
Facts
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A metric system of measurement was introduced in the 1790s in France.
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The centimeter gram second or meter kilogram second was primarily used until the establishment of the international system of the unit in 1960.
Quiz Time
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What is 0.005 ml?
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0.00005 liters
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5 liters
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50 liters
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0.0005 liters
2. 20 gram is similar to
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2000 mg
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20000 mg
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200000 mg
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200 mg
3. A cubic centimeter is used to measure
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Length
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Volume
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Mass
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Density
4. Convert 560 mg to g
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506 g
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0.0056 g
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56000 g
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0.56 g
5. Which is a base unit in the metric system?
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Meter
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Liter
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Gram
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All of the above
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