Chapter 2: The Metric System

These flashcards cover key concepts of the metric system as noted in the lecture.

Metric System

A measuring system that offers simplicity with a single base unit for each measurement.

Base Units

Fundamental units defined in the metric system such as meter, liter, and gram.

Prefix

A component added to a base unit to increase or decrease its value (e.g., kilo-, milli-).

Metric Prefix 'Kilo-'

Increases a base unit by 1000 (e.g., 1 kilogram = 1000 grams).

Metric Prefix 'Milli-'

Decreases a base unit by a factor of 1000 (e.g., 1000 millimeters = 1 meter).

Unit Conversion Factor

A ratio of two equivalent quantities used to convert between units.

Dimensional Analysis

A method for solving problems by using unit factors to convert from one unit to another.

Density

The mass of an object divided by its volume, usually expressed in g/mL or g/cm³.

Percent

A ratio that expresses the amount of a single quantity compared to an entire sample, out of 100 parts.

Volume by Displacement

A technique to determine the volume of an irregular object by measuring the volume of water it displaces.