The Metric System Summary

The Metric System

Summary

commonly used units in the metric system:

weight: gram (g) and kilogram (kg)

length: millimetre (mm), centimetre (cm), metre(m) and kilometre (km)

capacity: litre (l), millilitres (ml)

time uses a range of units and systems. some time units are based on natural events such as the time it takes for the earth to circle the sun. daily time is measured using the 12 hour clock (am and pm) or the 24 hour clock.

Key Skills
  • change from one metric unit to another e.g. mm into cm
  • approximate weights, lengths and capacities of everyday objects
  • calculate involving time e.g. minutes between 6.30 am and 1.00 pm
  • change from am and pm time to 24 hour clock
Vocabulary

24 hour clock, mass, capacity, gram, tonne, litre, kilo-, centi-,mega-, milli-, weight