Metric System Comparison and Conversions
The metric system is used worldwide for measurement and has been in use for centuries. It is based on the centimeter, meter, and kilometer (km) as the main unit of measurement. Until recently, the metric system was divided into two distinct branches: the International System of Units (SI) and the International System of Measurements (IM). While the SI is based on the International prototype metre, the IM was based on the Imperial gallon.
The SI was introduced as the international standard of measurement in 1960 and has since become the preferred system of measurement used around the world. In 1971, the SI was adopted by the United Nations and most countries adopted the SI as their basis of measurement. The only countries that have kept Imperial measurements are the United States, Myanmar, Liberia, and the United Kingdom.
The SI is based on seven basic units of measurement and has adopted prefixes to denote larger and smaller units. The seven SI base units are the length (metre), mass (kilogram), time (second), electric current (ampere), temperature (kelvin), amount of substance (mole) and luminous intensity (candela). Each of these base units has a corresponding prefix, used to denote a multiples or submultiples of the base unit.
When converting from one unit to another it is important to consider both the prefix and the overall size of the unit. While some conversions can be achieved using just a simple mathematical calculation, more complex conversions may require the use of a conversion table. Conversion tables contain all the relevant data needed to convert between units and can be used to convert between any two units of the same type. For example, if you need to convert from meters to kilometers you can use a conversion table to do so.
To better understand the metric system and its use of prefixes, here are some of the most commonly used metric prefixes and their corresponding values:
• Milli (m): .001
• Centi (c): .01
• Deci (d): .1
• Deca (da): 10
• Hecto (h): 100
• Kilo (k): 1000
• Mega (M): 1,000,000
• Giga (G): 1,000,000,000
• Tera (T): 1,000,000,000,000
It is also important to remember that while the SI is the universal standard of measurement, there are still some countries that prefer to use non metric measurements. For example, the United Kingdom and the United States still mainly use the Imperial system of measurement. In these countries, Imperial units such as inches, feet, yards, and miles, are used instead of the SI prefixes.
When converting between non metric and metric measurements, it is important to understand the full range of possible conversions. For example, 1 inch is equal to 2.54 cm, and 1 foot is equal to 0.3048 meters. Understanding the full range of conversions and being able to use a conversion table to convert between units, are important skills for students of science and mathematics.
In summary, the metric system is the universal standard of measurement and is based on seven primary units and their corresponding prefixes. Knowing how to use these prefixes and a conversion table to convert between different units is an important tool for both students and professionals. By understanding the basics of metric conversions, and the different prefixes used, you will be able to confidently convert between various units of measurement.
