Name: ______Date______Period______

The Metric System: LAB ACTIVITY

Metric Measurement: LENGTH

Objective: In this activty, we will review metric units for measuring distance or length – the meter, decimeter, centimeter and millimeter. We will use these units to estimate and then measure the sizes of various objects around the room.

Procedure:

  1. Use a meter stick or ruler to measure the objects listed in the chart below. Make sure you use the metric side of the meter stick or ruler.
  2. Measure each of the first four objects in the units listed. Be sure the use the correct number of digits after the decimal place for each measurement.
  3. List two additional objects in the last two rows. Choose a metric unit of measurement and mesure each object.

Your measurements for this part should have the number of digits shown below.

OBJECT / MEASUREMENT / UNIT
Length of center lab table(meter stick) / .0001 / Meters (m)
Width of group lab table
(meter stick) / .001 / Decimeters (dm)
Length of this lab paper
(ruler) / .01 / Centimeters (cm)
Width/thickness of a pencil(ruler) / .1 / Millimeters (mm)
  1. Which if the above units is closest to the size of the objects listed below?
  1. The thickness of a fingernail _____mm______
  2. The width of a finger ______cm______
  3. The width of a hand ______dm______
  4. Longer than your leg ______m______
  1. As you complete the measurements in the table below, keep the sizes of each mertic units of measurement in mind. For each object:
  1. Choose the most appropriate unit of measurement (m, dm, cm, mm) and record that unit in the chart in the “Unit Chosen” column.
  2. Estimate the size of that object using the unit you chose. Record you estimate in the chart in the “Estimate” column.
  3. Measure the object listed using the unit that you chose. Record your measurement in the chart in the “Measurement” column.

NOTE: The information in this table will vary depending on which unit you chose.

The number of digits in the measurment column should match the digits on the previous page.

OBJECT / UNIT CHOSEN / ESTIMATE
(with units) / MEASUREMENT (with units)
Height of Table / cm / 75 cm / 91.10 cm
Height of classroom door / m / 2 m / 2.1240 m
Thickness of tabletop / cm / 3 / 3.20 cm
  1. Complete the measurements described below. You will use centimeters for each measurement.
  1. Your Height: Go to a height station by the front of the room. Work with a partner to measure your height. Record your measurement in the table below.
  2. Length of Lower Arm: Use a meter stick to measure the distance from the inside of your elbw to the end of your middle finger. Record your measurement in the table below.
  3. Length of Foot: Use a meter stick to measure the length of your foot. Take off your shoe before you measure. (You may leave your sock on). Record your measurement in the table below.

Since you used a meter stick for this part, all you needed was one place after the decimal point.

OBJECT / MEASUREMENT (cm)
Your Height / (sample) 167.25 cm
Length of Lower Arm / (sample) 39.40 cm
Length of Foot / (sample) 27.36 cm
  1. Explain how the metric system might be simpler to use than English units like inches, feet, and yards.

Using the metric system makes it much easier to convert between units since it is based on powers of ten. All you have to do is to move the decimal point to change units.