Units of Measurement Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering SI units, customary comparisons, measurement definitions, and scientific tools based on Chapter 2, Part 2 notes.

Metric System

A system of measurement based largely on powers of ten.

SI (International System of Units)

The agreed international standard system of measurement.

Length

The distance between points, with the official SI unit being the metre ($\text{m}$).

Volume

The space something occupies, with the official SI unit being the cubic metre ($\text{m}^3$).

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, with the official SI unit being the kilogram ($\text{kg}$).

Temperature

A measure of how hot or cold something is, with the official SI unit being the kelvin ($\text{K}$).

Time

Duration, with the official SI unit being the second ($\text{s}$).

Meniscus

The curved surface of a liquid read at eye level (usually at the bottom of the curve) when measuring liquid volume with a graduated cylinder.

Weight

The force of gravity acting on a mass, which is measured in newtons ($\text{N}$).

Absolute Zero

The starting point of the kelvin temperature scale, defined as $0\,\text{K}$.

Graduated Cylinder

A measuring tool used to determine liquid volume by reading the scale at eye level.

Conversion Factor

A ratio used in unit conversions that is multiplied by a starting quantity so that unwanted units cancel out.