Metric system length/distance

The standard unit of length in the metric system is the meter, which is a little larger than a yard. The meter was originally intended to be 1/40,000,000 of the earth s meridian that passes through Paris. It is now defined as the distance light travels in 1/299,792,458 of a second. 

The meter is the primary unit of length in the metric system. Its abbreviation is m. The meter is defined in such a way that it can be duplicated precisely in any well-equipped laboratory in the world. It had been defined as the distance between two marks on a metal bar kept at the Bureau of Weights and Measures in Paris. (It now has an even more precise definition.) A meter is 39.37 in. long—3.37 in. longer than a yard. 

Scientists use the metric system to measure distance and length. They measure distance and length using a metric ruler, tape measure, or other special tools. A meter is a specific unit of measurement. A meter can be broken down into smaller parts called centimeters and millimeters. There are 100... 

The meter is the standard unit of length (distance) in both SI and metric systems. The meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,468 second. It is approximately 39.37 inches. In situations in which the English system would use inches, the metric centimeter (1/100 meter) is convenient. The relationship between inches and centimeters is shown in Figure 1-12. 

The metric system is an alternative way to measure distances, volumes, and masses. Once you understand what the prefixes mean and what the basic terms used for measurement are, you will have no problem dealing with these units. For example, meters (m) are used to measure length. 

As measuring techniques became more precise and the demand for accuracy increased, the standards on which people based their units were improved. In the 18 century, the French invented the metric system, based on a more consistent, systematic, and carefully defined set of standards than had ever been used before. For example, the meter (or metre, from the Greek metron, a measure ) became the standard for length. The first definition for the standard meter was one ten-millionth of the distance from the North Pole to the Equator. This became outdated as the precision of scientist s measuring instruments improved. Today, a meter is defined as the distance light travels in a vacuum in 1/299,792,458 second. Technical instruments for measuring length are calibrated in accordance with this very accurate definition. 

The unit of length or distance in the metric system is the meter. The meter was originally defined as 1 ten-millionth of the distance from the north pole to the equator through Paris, France. That is a rather difficult measurement to make, so later the meter was defined as the distance between two scratches in a special bar kept in a vault in Sevres, France. There is an even later definition, but we will be satisfied that it is the distance between those two... 

The arbitrarily chosen standard of length of the metric system. It is the distance between two marks on a platinum-iridium bar kept at constant temperature at the International Bureau of Weights and Measures near Paris. For conversion to the English system, Im equals 39.37in., 1cm equals 39.37 x lO in., etc. 

The SI base unit of length is the meter (m), a distance only slightly longer than a yard. The relations between die English and metric system units that we will use most frequently in this text appear on the back inside cover. We will discuss how to convert English units into metric units, and vice versa, in Section 1.6. 

The revised metric system is called the International System of Units (abbreviated SI, from the French Systeme Internationale d Unitds). Table 1.2 lists the seven SI base units. All other units of measurement can be derived from these base units. The SI unit for volume, for instance, is derived by cubing the SI base unit for length. The prefixes listed in Table 1.3 are used to denote decimal fractions and multiples of SI units. This enables scientists to tailor the magnitude of a unit to a particular application. For example, the meter (m) is appropriate for describing the dimen.sions of a classroom, but the kilometer (km), 1000 m, is more appropriate for describing the distance between two cities. Units that you will encounter frequently in the study of chemistry include those for mass, temperature, volume, and density. 

The scientific system of measurement is called the Systkme Internationale d Unites (International System of Units) and is abbreviated SI. It is a modern version of the metric system, a system based on the unit of length called a meter (m). The meter was originally defined as 1/10,000,000 of the distance from the equator to the North Pole and translated into the length of a metal bar kept in Paris. Unfortunately, the length of the bar is subject to change with temperature, and it cannot be exactly reproduced. The SI system substitutes for the... 

The standard metric unit of length is the meter. Large distances are measured in kilometers smaller distances are measured in millimeters or centimeters. Very small distances (on the atomic scale) are measured in nanometers (run). The standard metric unit of volume is the liter. A liter is the volume occupied by 1000 grams of water at 4 degrees Celsius. The standard metric unit of time is the second, a unit that is used in the English system as well. 

Which metric unit of length or distance is most comparable in scale to each of the following English system units for making measurements ... 

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