04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

Tools of a Scientist

04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

Objectives1. To identify different tools used in science.2. To determine the appropriate units to use

for particular measurements.3. To convert from one metric unit to another.

Tools of the trade

• Would you use a hammer to tighter a bolt on a bicycle?

• Why not?

• A tool is anything that helps you do a task (BUT tools designed to perform specific tasks work better than a substitute)

04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

The International System of Units

• Scientists use a common language and system of measuring.

• This system is called the International System of Units or SI. (We sometimes call this the metric system)

• By having a common language scientists can easily compare their data.

04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

Another advantage of SI units is that all units are based on the number 10!

This makes it very easy to convert from one unit to another

04/20/23 Mrs. Bauman

KILO1000Units

HECTO100

Units

DEKA10

UnitsDECI

0.1Unit

CENTI0.01Unit

MILLI0.001Unit

MetersLitersGrams

Conversions Using the Ladder Method

How do you use the “ladder” method?

1st – Determine your starting point.

2nd – Count the “jumps” to your ending point.

3rd – Move the decimal the same number of jumps in the same direction.

4 km = _________ m

12

3

How many jumps does it take?

Starting Point Ending Point

4.1

__.2

__.3

__. = 4000 m

Try these conversions using the ladder method.

1000 mg = _______ g 1 L = ______ mL 160 cm = ______ mm

14 km = _______ m 109 g = ______ kg 250 m = ____ km

Conversion Practice

Compare using <, >, or =.

56 cm 6 m 7 g 698 mg

Try these conversions using the ladder method.

1000 mg = ____1___ g 1 L = ____1000___ mL 160 cm = ___1600____ mm

14 km = __14000_____ m 109 g = ___0.109____ kg 250 m = __0.250___ km

Conversion Practice

Compare using <, >, or =.

56 cm < 6 m 7 g > 698 mg

Write the correct abbreviation for each metric unit.

1) Kilogram _____ 4) Milliliter _____ 7) Kilometer _____

2) Meter _____ 5) Millimeter _____ 8) Centimeter _____

3) Gram _____ 6) Liter _____ 9) Milligram _____

Try these conversions, using the ladder method.

10) 2000 mg = __2_____ g 15) 5 L = ____5000___ mL 20) 16 cm = __160____ mm

11) 104 km = __104000_ m 16) 198 g = ___0.198____ kg 21) 2500 m = ____2.5___ km

12) 480 cm = __4.8___ m 17) 75 mL = _____ L 22) 65 g = _____ mg

13) 5.6 kg = _____ g 18) 50 cm = _____ m 23) 6.3 cm = _____ mm

14) 8 mm = _____ cm 19) 5.6 m = _____ cm 24) 120 mg = _____ g

Metric Conversion Challenge

Compare using <, >, or =.

25) 63 cm 6 m 27) 5 g 508 mg 29) 1,500 mL 1.5 L

26) 536 cm 53.6 dm 28) 43 mg 5 g 30) 3.6 m 36 cm

T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net