How to Convert Metric Length Units Quickly and Accurately
The metric system can be defined as a system of measurement that uses the litre, metre, and gram as base units of metric length (distance), capacity (volume), and weight (mass) respectively.
To measure larger or smaller quantities, we use units derived from the metric units.
The units to the right of the base are lesser than the base unit. As we move to the right, each unit is ten times smaller or one-tenth of the unit to its left. So, the word ‘deci’ means one-tenth of the base unit, ‘centi’ is one-tenth of ‘deci’ or one-hundredth of the base unit and ‘milli’ is one-tenth of ‘centi’ or one-thousandth of the base unit.
The units to the left of the base unit are larger than the base unit. As we move to the left side, each unit is 10 times greater than the unit to its right side. So, a ‘deca’ means 10 times of the base unit, ‘hecto’ is ten times of ‘deca’ or hundred times of the base unit and ‘killo’ is ten times of ‘hecto’ or thousand times of the base unit.
So, the units for metric length, capacity(volume), and weight (mass) in the metric system are:
Metric Length: Centimeter (cm), Millimeter (mm), Meter (m), Decimeter (dm), and Kilometer (km) are used to measure how wide or long, or tall an object is.
What is the SI Unit of Metric Length?
In the metric system, the SI unit of length is a meter which is defined as follows:
“The metric length of the path that is travelled by light in a vaccum within 1⁄299792458 seconds”.
Some of the other units also include:
Kilometres
Nanometer
Millimetres
Centimetres
Meters
Decimeters
For understanding how big the metric units are, look at the table below:
Other Non-SI Metric Length Units
If we take a look at the Imperial and U.S. customary systems, then the basic unit of metric length is the yard. Some other units include:
Thou (1⁄1000 of an inch)
Line (1⁄12 of an inch)
Inch (25.4 mm)
Foot (12 inches, 0.3048 m)
Measure of Metric Lengths
Examples include measuring the thickness or metric length of cloth, a debit card, or distance between 2 cities.
Converting Larger Units to Smaller Units
1 centimeter = 10 millimeters
1 meter = 100 centimeters
1 meter = 1,000 millimeters
1 kilometer = 1,000 meters
To Convert bigger units to smaller units we multiply the number of large units by the conversion factor for the appropriate smaller units.
The Table Given Below Makes Conversion Easy:
Solved Examples on Unit Conversion
Example 1: Convert 5 km to m.
As 1 km = 1000 m
Therefore, 5 km equals 5 × 1000 equals 5000 m.
Example 2: How do you Convert m to cm and mm?
In this activity, you will convert between metric units of metric length: kilometres, metres, centimetres, and millimetres.
1 km = 1000 m
1 m = 100 cm
1 m = 1000 mm
1 cm = 10 mm
Why Must Students Know About the Metric System?
The Metric System is important as without it, we would be completely confused about the units. It is completely scientific and has repeatable standards of measurement. It uses units like meter, litre and gram so as to measure length, liquid, volume and mass. Students will need to know about the Metric System so as to understand all the different concepts that will be applicable in Math and the Science subjects. Having a standard system of measurement is the only way to go when measuring things as that clears all the confusions.
How can Students Make Notes for the Metric System?
They can go to Vedantu and then look for Metric Length - Explanation, Conversions, SI Unit, Measures, Problems, and FAQs
Read this carefully and then make notes
Condense everything that’s on the page by highlighting all the important parts
Compare what you’ve written with what’s on the page
Go through everything before the exams
Avoid skipping anything that’s on the page
Fun Facts
A tonne is 1,000 kilograms.
The metric system had its beginnings back in 1670 by a mathematician called Gabriel Mouton.
Since the 1960s the metric system has been known as the "International System of Units" or "SI" (from the French "Système International").
The prefixes of the metric system can be remembered with the help of the mnemonic “King Henry Died of Drinking Cold Milk”.
There are various units greater than the kilo as well. These have prefixes mega, giga and tera. A mega is 1000 times a kilogram. A giga is thousand times mega and a tera is a thousand times giga.
FAQs on Metric Length Made Simple: SI Units & Conversions
1. What is the metric system for measuring length?
The metric system is a way of measuring how long something is, based on the meter as the main unit. It's used worldwide because it is simple to understand, as it works in multiples of 10. The most common units you will use are millimeters (mm), centimeters (cm), meters (m), and kilometers (km).
2. Can you give some real-world examples of when to use different metric length units?
Certainly! You choose the unit based on the size of what you are measuring. For example:
- Millimeters (mm) are used for very tiny things, like the thickness of a SIM card.
- Centimeters (cm) are great for smaller objects, like the length of a crayon or the width of a book.
- Meters (m) are used to measure larger areas or items, such as the length of a classroom or the height of a tree.
- Kilometers (km) are used for measuring very long distances, like the distance from your home to your school or between two cities.
3. How do you convert between different metric units like meters and centimeters?
Converting between metric units is simple because it is all based on the number 10. You just multiply or divide. For example:
- To change from a larger unit to a smaller unit, you multiply. (e.g., 1 meter = 100 centimeters).
- To change from a smaller unit to a larger unit, you divide. (e.g., 1000 meters = 1 kilometer).
4. What's an easy way to remember the order of metric units for length?
A very helpful trick is to use a mnemonic sentence. A popular one is: "King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk." The first letter of each word represents a metric prefix in order from largest to smallest:
- Kilo
- Hecto
- Deca
- Base (meter)
- Deci
- Centi
- Milli
5. Why is this system called "metric"?
The system is called "metric" because all its measurements for length are based on the meter. The word "meter" itself comes from the Greek word 'metron,' which simply means 'a measure'. So, every unit like centimeter or kilometer is just a different version of the original 'meter'.
6. How is the metric system different from using inches and feet?
The biggest difference is simplicity. The metric system is a decimal-based system, where units are related by powers of 10 (10, 100, 1000). This makes calculations easy. Other systems, like the Imperial system that uses inches and feet, have irregular conversions (like 12 inches in a foot or 3 feet in a yard), which makes math more complicated.
7. What is the official standard unit of length in the metric system?
The official standard unit for length, as recognised by the International System of Units (SI), is the meter (m). While we use other units like kilometers for long distances or centimeters for small objects, the meter is the core unit that the entire system for measuring length is built upon.
