Metric Weights and Measures
|
A millimicron
is one thousandth of one millionth of one metre. |
Most of the
world uses the metric system. The only countries not on this system are the
U.S., Burma, Liberia, Muscat, and South Yemen.
The metric
system is based on 10s. For example, 10 decimetres make a metre (39.37
inches).
Units
smaller than a metre have Latin prefixes:
- Deci- means 10; 10 decimetres make a metre.
- Centi- means 100; 100 centimetres make a metre.
- Milli- means 1,000; 1,000 millimetres make a
metre.
Units
larger than a metre have Greek prefixes:
- Deka- means 10; a dekametre is 10 metres.
- Hecto- means 100; a hectometre is 100 metres.
- Kilo- means 1,000; a kilometre is 1,000 metres.
Helpful Hints
Remember: A
metre is a little more than a yard. A kilometre is less than a
mile. A liter is a little
more than a quart.
The Metric System
Length
| Unit | Value |
| Kilometre (km) | 1,000 metres |
| Hectometre (hm) | 100 metres |
| Dekametre (dam) | 10 metres |
| metre (m) | 1 metre |
| Decimetre (dm) | 0.1 metre |
| Centimetre (cm) | 0.01 metres |
| Millimetre (mm) | 0.001 metres |
Capacity
| Unit | Value |
| Kilolitre (kl) | 1,000 Litres |
| Hectolitres (hl) | 100 Litres |
| Dekalitres (dal) | 10 Litres |
| Litre (l) | 1 Litre(*) |
| Decilitre (dl) | 0.10 Litres |
| Centilitre (cl) | 0.01 Litres |
| Millilitre (ml) | 0.001 Litres |
| * 1 litre +
1.057 quarts |
Mass and
Weight
| Unit | Value |
| Metric Ton | 1,000,000 Grams |
| Quintal (P) | 100,000 Grams |
| Myriagram | 10,000 Grams |
| Kilogram | 1,000 Grams |
| Hectogram | 100 Grams |
| Dekagram | 10 Grams |
| Gram | 1 Gram(*) |
| Decigram | 0.10 Grams |
| Centigram | 0.01 Grams |
| Milligrams | 0.001 Grams |
| * 1 gram + U.S.
0.035 ounces |
Metric Conversions
All you'll need to
know about them!
| Multiply | By | To Find |
| Centimetres | .0328 | feet |
| Centimetres | .3937 | inches |
| Feet | 30.4801 | centimetres |
| Feet/minutes | .507 | cent./seconds |
| Foot-pounds | .1383 | metre-kilograms |
| Gallons | 3,785.4 | cubic centimetres |
| Gallons | 3.7853 | liters |
| Grams | .0353 | ounces |
| Grams | .0022 | pounds |
| Inches | 2.54 | centimetres |
| Inches | .0833 | feet |
| Kilograms | 2.2046 | pounds |
| Kilometres | 3,280.833 | feet |
| Kilometres | .6214 | miles |
| Kilometres/hour | 54.68 | feet/minute |
| Kilometres/hour | .6214 | miles/hour |
| Knots | 1.8532 | kilometres/hour |
| Liters | 1.0567 | quarts |
| metres | 3.2808 | feet |
| metres | 39.37 | inches |
| metres | 1.0936 | yards |
| metre-kilograms | 7.2307 | foot-pounds |
| metres/minute | 1.667 | centimetres/second |
| metres/minute | .0547 | feet/second |
| Miles | 1.6093 | kilometres |
| Miles/hour | .8684 | knots |
| Miles/hour | 1.6093 | kilometres/hour |
| Miles/hour | .447 | metres/second |
| Ounces | 28.3495 | grams |
| Ounces | 2.8349x10(2) | kilograms |
| Pounds | 453.5924 | grams |
| Pounds | .4536 | kilograms |
| Quarts | .946 | liters |
| Quarts (dry) | 67.2 | cubic inches |
| Quarts (liquid) | 57.75 | cubic inches |
| Sq. centimetres | .0011 | square feet |
| Sq. kilometres | .3861 | square miles |
| Sq. kilometres | 1.196x10(6) | square yards |
| Sq. metres | 10.7639 | square feet |
| Sq. metres | 1.196 | square yards |
| Sq. miles | 2.59 | square kilometres |
| Sq. yards | .8361 | square metres |
| Yards | 91.44 | centimetres |
| Yards | .9144 | metres |
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