Measurement: Metric System

Metric Units of Length
(how long an object is)
Unit / Model / Benchmark
1 millimeter (mm) / Thickness of a dime / 25 mm ≈ 1 inch
1 centimeter (cm) / Half the width of a penny / 2.5 cm ≈ 1 inch
1 meter (m) / Width of a doorway / 1 m ≈ 1.1 yard
1 kilometer (km) / Six city blocks /
1.6 km ≈ 1 mile

Write the metric unit of length that you would use to measure each of the following:

1) Height of a mountain 2) Thickness of a dried bean

3) Width of an iPhone 4) Length of a pen

5) Height of an adult 6) Height of a table

7) Length of a small town 8) Width of textbook

Answer the following:

9) Harry takes diving lessons at the community pool. He is trying to estimate the depth of the deepest part of the pool. Which is the most likely estimate:

4 centimeters, 4 meters, or 4 kilometers? Explain.

10) Sathvika is planning a trip across the county. She would like to estimate the distance she will travel on her trip. Which is the most likely estimate:

3600 centimeters, 3600 meters, or 3600 kilometers? Explain.

Metric Units of Mass
(how much matter an object contains)
Unit / Model / Benchmark
1 milligram (mg) / Grain of salt / 1 mg ≈ 0.00004 oz
1 gram (g) / Small paper clip / 1 g ≈ 0.04 oz
1 kilogram (kg) / Six medium apples / 1 kg ≈ 2 lb

Write the metric unit of mass that you would use to measure each of the following:

11) peanut 12) eyelash 13) elephant

14) cat 15) car 16) pencil

Answer the following:

17) Earl has an ant farm. What metric unit of mass would Earl use to measure one of his ants?

Metric Units of Capacity
(how much matter a container can hold)
Unit / Model / Benchmark
1 milliliter (mL) / Eyedropper / 1 mL ≈ 0.03 fl oz
1 liter (L) / Small pitcher / 1 L ≈ 1 qt

Write the metric unit of capacity that you would use to measure each of the following:

18) Serving of salad dressing 19) Large soda bottle

20) Bottle of milk 21) Mug of soup

Answer the following:

22) Jill is making a fish tank that will hold 20 goldfish. What unit of metric measure would she use to decide how much water the tank will hold?