Metric system as powers of 10
The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement that uses powers of 10 to create a coherent and consistent measurement system. The base unit of each measurement category is multiplied or divided by powers of 10 to express larger or smaller units within that category.
Here are some examples of the metric system using powers of 10:
- Length:
The base unit of length is the meter (m). Smaller units, such as the centimeter (cm) and millimeter (mm), are defined by dividing the meter by powers of 10 (1 cm = 0.01 m, 1 mm = 0.001 m). Larger units, such as the kilometer (km), are defined by multiplying the meter by powers of 10 (1 km = 1000 m).
- Weight/Mass:
The base unit of weight/mass is the gram (g). Smaller units, such as the milligram (mg) and microgram (µg), are defined by dividing the gram by powers of 10 (1 mg = 0.001 g, 1 µg = 0.000001 g). Larger units, such as the kilogram (kg), are defined by multiplying the gram by powers of 10 (1 kg = 1000 g).
- Volume:
The base unit of volume is the liter (L). Smaller units, such as the milliliter (mL), are defined by dividing the liter by powers of 10 (1 mL = 0.001 L). Larger units, such as the kiloliter (kL), are defined by multiplying the liter by powers of 10 (1 kL = 1000 L).
- Time:
The base unit of time is the second (s). Smaller units, such as the millisecond (ms) and microsecond (µs), are defined by dividing the second by powers of 10 (1 ms = 0.001 s, 1 µs = 0.000001 s). Larger units, such as the minute (min) and hour (h), are defined by multiplying the second by powers of 10 (1 min = 60 s, 1 h = 3600 s).
The use of powers of 10 in the metric system allows for easy conversion between units within each category, making it a practical and widely adopted measurement system globally.
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Length:
- Meter (m)
- Centimeter (cm)
- Millimeter (mm)
- Kilometer (km)
Weight/Mass:
- Gram (g)
- Milligram (mg)
- Microgram (µg)
- Kilogram (kg)
Volume:
- Liter (L)
- Milliliter (mL)
- Kiloliter (kL)
Time:
- Second (s)
- Millisecond (ms)
- Microsecond (µs)
- Minute (min)
- Hour (h)