Understanding the Metric System
Your name(s):………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Use the following search engines to try and find the answers to these questions.
You will be using the information you find in the next few lessons.
Search engines:Type your answers into the right-hand column:
Which country designed the metric system?Which units came first?
How is the metre calculated?
Find a web page that gives a list of the prefixes (bits of words that go on the front of others to make new words) for metric units. Copy and paste the address into the answer box.
In what year did America (US or USA) legalise the use of the metric system?
On May 20 1875, twenty countries signed up to the Treaty of the Metre. List as many of these twenty countries as you can.
As a result of this treaty, a special group was set up to make sure everyone used the same units. Find its name in both French and English.
What is the approximate mass of the Earth?
What is the average distance of the moon from Earth? Why did I ask for the average distance?
What is the average distance of the Sun from Earth?
What is the approximate diameter of a hydrogen atom?
What is the approximate mass of
i)a proton?
ii)An electron?
Thinking challenges:
Put your answers to these on separate Word documents.Save them using names such as billionaire, recipe1, recipe2, etc.
- How Rich is Rich?
In America, a billionaire is not as rich as an English billionaire.
Can you find out why not?
- Cookery
Here is a page from a recent US cookery book.
The most frequent measurements made in the home are those used for cooking and baking. Metric "cup and spoon" measures are only slightly larger than, and can often be used interchangeably with, the customary "cup and spoon". There are only a few ingredients that are now measured by weight (pounds and ounces) that will be expressed differently in metric recipes.
Can you find two different recipes, one in pounds and ounces and the other in cups and spoons?
You will need these for a later lesson.
- Space Travel
Buzz Aldrin on the Moon
Neil Armstrong took this famous picture of fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin soon after they landed on the Moon in July 1969
Image Courtesy of NASA
The Moon landings must have involved lots of very large numbers. See how many different large and small numbers you can find to do with space travel.
Hints page: