Understanding Units and Conversions in Measurements

These flashcards cover essential terminology related to measurement systems, conversions, and density, crucial for understanding the topics in the lecture.

Metric System

A standardized system of measurement used widely around the world, based on units like meters, grams, and liters.

International System of Units (SI)

A modern form of the metric system, which includes units such as meter (m), kilogram (kg), and second (s) as base units.

Conversion Factor

A numerical factor used to multiply or divide a quantity when converting from one unit to another.

Significant Figures

The digits in a number that carry meaning contributing to its precision, including all non-zero digits and any zeros between them.

Cubic Centimeter (cc)

A volume measurement equal to 1 milliliter; often used in medical dosing.

Prefix Kilo- (k)

A metric prefix meaning one thousand times the base unit (e.g., 1 kilometer equals 1,000 meters).

Prefix Milli- (m)

A metric prefix meaning one thousandth of the base unit (e.g., 1 millimeter equals 0.001 meters).

Density

The mass of an object divided by its volume, typically expressed in grams per milliliter (g/mL).

Volume Displacement

A method used to determine the volume of an irregular object by measuring the change in water level when the object is submerged.

Specific Gravity

The ratio of the density of a substance to the density of water; a dimensionless number used to compare densities.