Name Period Date

SI Units

Scientists all over the world use the same system of units so they can communicate
information clearly. This system of measurement is called the International System of Units
(SI). Metric measurement is based on the number ten and makes calculations with the system
relatively easy. By using the following conversion chart, converting from one unit to another is
done simply by moving the decimal point:

Kilo- Hecto- Deca- _____ deci- centi- milli-

The blank line in the middle of the conversion chart can change depending on what we are
measuring:
The unit for length is the meter (m).
The unit for mass is the gram (g).
The unit for volume is the liter (L).
PART A

What type of measurement is indicated by each of the following units? Choices are in the last
column.
1. g/mL 4. g 7. mg density
length
2. s 5. cm3 8. L mass
3. km 6. mm 9. g/cm3 time
volume
PART B

For each of the following commonly used measurements, indicate its symbol. Use the
symbols to complete the following sentences with the most appropriate unit. Units may be
used more than once or not at all.
_____ milliliter _____ milligram _____ kilometer _____ centimeter
_____ kilogram _____ millimeter _____ second _____ gram
_____ meter _____ liter

Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09

 1. Colas may be purchased in two or three _____ bottles.
2. The mass of a bowling ball is 7.25 _____.
3. The length of the common housefly is about 1 _____.
4. The mass of a paperclip is about 1 _____.
5. One teaspoon of cough syrup has a volume of 5 _____.
6. Stand with your arms raised out to your side. The distance from your nose to your
outstretched fingers is about 1 _____.
7. On a statistical basis, smoking a single cigarette lowers your life expectancy by 642,000
_____, or 10.7 minutes.

PART C – CONVERSION FACTORS

1m = 100cm 1cm = 0.001m can also be written as 100cm or 1m__

This is called a conversion factor and it is =1

1m 100 cm
a. ______cm b. 1000mm c. ________m
1 m _____m 1km

d. ______ sec e. _____ min f. _______hr g. _______days

1min 1hr 1 day 1 year

C. To do conversions, the following work must be shown:

Example 1: To convert 2.5 m to km you need to multiply 2.5m by the conversion factor (in the
box) that will cancel off the metres.

2.5m x 1km =_________km

1000m

Example 2: To convert 250 hours to days you will need to multiple 250 hours by the
conversion factor (in the box) that will cancel off the hours.

250 hours x 1day = __________days

24 hours

Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09

D. Now you try it, convert:

1. 35 days to hours.

35 days x = ____________ hours

2. 250 cm to metres

250 cm x = ____________ m

3. 6 days to minutes

6 days x _____ hr x ___ min = __________ min

1 day 1 hr

4. 1500 mm to km

1500 mm x 1cm__ x 1m x 1km = _______km

_____mm ____cm _____m

E. Try these by yourself. – show all of the work

1. 25 cm to km

2. 5 min to seconds

Convert the following metric measurements: Show your Work by cancelling Units.
1000 mg = _____ g 198g = _____ Kg 8 mm = _____ cm
160 cm = _____ mm 75 mL = _____ L 6.3 cm = _____ mm
109 g = _____ Kg 50 cm = _____ m 5.6 m = _____ cm
250 m = _____ Km 5 L = _____mL 26,000 cm = _____ m
14 Km = _____ m 16 cm = _____mm 56,500 mm = _____ Km
1 L = _____ mL 65 g = _____ mg 27.5 mg = _____ g
480 cm = _____ m 2500 m = _____ Km 923 cm = _____ m
27 g = _____ kg 355 mL = _____ L 0.025 Km = _____ cm

Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09

Name ANSWER KEY Period Date

PART A

What type of measurement is indicated by each of the following units? Choices are in the last
column.
10. g/mL density 13. g mass 16. mg mass density
length
11. s time 14. cm3 volume 17. L volume mass
12. km length 15. mm length 3
18. g/cm density time
volume
PART B

For each of the following commonly used measurements, indicate its symbol. Use the
symbols to complete the following sentences with the most appropriate unit. Units may be
used more than once or not at all.
mL milliliter mg milligram km kilometer cm centimeter
kg kilogram mm millimeter s second g gram
m meter L liter
8. Colas may be purchased in two or three liter bottles.
9. The mass of a bowling ball is 7.25 kg.
10. The length of the common housefly is about 1 cm.
11. The mass of a paperclip is about 1 mg.
12. One teaspoon of cough syrup has a volume of 5 mL.
13. Stand with your arms raised out to your side. The distance from your nose to
your outstretched fingers is about 1 m.
14. On a statistical basis, smoking a single cigarette lowers your life expectancy by
642,000 s, or 10.7 minutes.

PART C
Convert the following metric measurements:
1000 mg = 1 g 198g = 0.198 Kg 8 mm = 0.8 cm
160 cm = 1,600 mm 75mL = 0.075 L 6.3 cm = 63 mm
109 g = 0.109 Kg 50 cm = 0.50 m 5.6 m = 560 cm
250 m = 0.250 Km 5 L = 5,000mL 26,000 cm = 260 m
14 Km = 14,000 m 16 cm = 160mm 56,500 mm = 0.0565 Km
1 L = 1,000 mL 65 g = 65,000 mg 27.5 mg = 0.0275 g
480 cm = 4.8 m 2500 m = 2.5 Km 923 cm = 9.23 m
27 g = 0.027 kg 355 mL = 0.355 L 0.025 Km = 2,500 cm
Unit 1 – Intro to Physical Science 06/25/09