Metric Vocabulary

Millimeter mm

A metric unit of length equal to 0.001 of a meter.

meter (m)

Basic unit of length in the metric system

Decimeter

a measure of length equal to one tenth of a meter

Centimeter cm

metric unit of length equal to 0.01 of a meter

Kilometer (km)

measurement used for large lengths - NY to LA

Metric System

Standardized system of measurement based on the number 1

Metric Prefixes

used to change the value of the base unit

Length

The distance between two points

SI System

International System of Units (Metric System) that scientists use to make accurate measurements

Metric Ruler

Tool used to measure length

Mass

The amount of matter in an object

Weight

The amount of gravity pulling down on an object

Milligram mg

metric unit of mass equal to one 0.001 of a gram

gram (g)

Basic unit of mass in the metric system

Kilogram kg

metric unit of mass equal to 1,000 grams

Triple Beam Balance

Tool used to measure mass

Volume

The amount of space an object takes up

Capacity

The maximum amount that something can contain.

Milliliter mL

metric unit of volume equal to 0.001 of a liter

liter (L)

Basic unit of volume in the metric system

Graduated Cylinder

Tool used to measure volume

water displacement method

a method that involves putting an object into water and carefully recording how much the water level rises

Length X Width X Height

Formal used to find the volume of a rectangular object

Celsius

temperature scale in the metric system

Temperature

How hot or cold something is; a measure of the average energy of motion of the particles of a substance.