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written by the U.S. Metric Association, Inc. and Dennis Brownridge
This resource is a comprehensive guide on SI for teachers, students, and professionals.  It contains tables, charts, and text explanations of base units, derived units, equivalencies, common quantities, and prefixes.  To aid the learner in visualizing quantities, drawings of common multiples are provided for each of the base units.  The materials are written so that a user with no prior experience with metrics can comprehend the measurements and how they are applied mathematically.  This resource is excerpted from a larger set of materials on the metric system.
Subjects Levels Resource Types
General Physics
- Measurement/Units
- High School
- Lower Undergraduate
- Reference Material
Appropriate Courses Categories Ratings
- Physical Science
- Physics First
- Conceptual Physics
- Algebra-based Physics
- AP Physics
- Activity
- New teachers
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Intended Users:
Educator
Learner
Professional/Practitioner
Format:
text/html
Access Rights:
Limited free access
Freely available online; hard copy textbooks are available for a cost.
Restriction:
© 2007 Dennis Brownridge
Additional information is available.
Keywords:
International System, SI, derived unit, measurement, metric, metric equivalencies, metric system, units
Record Creator:
Metadata instance created July 23, 2007 by Emma Smith
Record Updated:
August 18, 2020 by Lyle Barbato
Last Update
when Cataloged:
February 1, 2001
Other Collections:

AAAS Benchmark Alignments (2008 Version)

9. The Mathematical World

9A. Numbers
  • 3-5: 9A/E3. Specifying a quantity requires both a number and a unit.
  • 6-8: 9A/M3b. How a quantity is expressed depends on how precise the measurement is and how precise an answer is needed.

12. Habits of Mind

12B. Computation and Estimation
  • 3-5: 12B/E9. Use appropriate units when describing quantities.
  • 6-8: 12B/M7b. Convert quantities expressed in one unit of measurement into another unit of measurement when necessary to solve a real-world problem.
  • 6-8: 12B/M8. Decide what degree of precision is adequate and round off the result of calculator operations to enough significant figures to reasonably reflect those of the inputs.
  • 9-12: 12B/H1. Use appropriate ratios and proportions, including constant rates, when needed to make calculations for solving real-world problems.
  • 9-12: 12B/H9. Consider the possible effects of measurement errors on calculations.

Common Core State Standards for Mathematics Alignments

Measurement and Data (K-5)

Solve problems involving measurement and conversion of measurements from a larger unit to a smaller unit. (4)
  • 4.MD.1 Know relative sizes of measurement units within one system of units including km, m, cm; kg, g; lb, oz.; l, ml; hr, min, sec. Within a single system of measurement, express measurements in a larger unit in terms of a smaller unit. Record measurement equivalents in a two column table.

Ratios and Proportional Relationships (6-7)

Understand ratio concepts and use ratio reasoning to solve problems. (6)
  • 6.RP.3.d Use ratio reasoning to convert measurement units; manipulate and transform units appropriately when multiplying or dividing quantities.
Analyze proportional relationships and use them to solve real-world and mathematical problems. (7)
  • 7.RP.1 Compute unit rates associated with ratios of fractions, including ratios of lengths, areas and other quantities measured in like or different units.

Common Core State Reading Standards for Literacy in Science and Technical Subjects 6—12

Range of Reading and Level of Text Complexity (6-12)
  • RST.9-10.10 By the end of grade 10, read and comprehend science/technical texts in the grades 9—10 text complexity band independently and proficiently.

This resource is part of a Physics Front Topical Unit.


Topic: Measurement and the Language of Physics
Unit Title: For the New Teacher

This resource is a comprehensive guide on SI for teachers and students.  It contains tables, charts, and text explanations of base units, derived units, equivalencies, common quantities, and prefixes.  To aid the learner in visualizing quantities, drawings of common multiples are provided for each of the base units.  The materials are written so that a user with no prior experience with metrics can comprehend the measurements and how they are applied mathematically.

Link to Unit:
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Record Link
AIP Format
U.S. Metric Association, Inc. and D. Brownridge, (2007), WWW Document, (https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units#).
AJP/PRST-PER
U.S. Metric Association, Inc. and D. Brownridge, A Practical Guide to the International System of Units (2007), <https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units#>.
APA Format
U.S. Metric Association, Inc., & Brownridge, D. (2001, February 1). A Practical Guide to the International System of Units. Retrieved December 8, 2024, from https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units#
Chicago Format
U.S. Metric Association, Inc., and Dennis Brownridge. A Practical Guide to the International System of Units. February 1, 2001. https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units# (accessed 8 December 2024).
MLA Format
U.S. Metric Association, Inc., and Dennis Brownridge. A Practical Guide to the International System of Units. 2007. 1 Feb. 2001. 8 Dec. 2024 <https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units#>.
BibTeX Export Format
@misc{ Author = "U.S. Metric Association, Inc. and Dennis Brownridge", Title = {A Practical Guide to the International System of Units}, Volume = {2024}, Number = {8 December 2024}, Month = {February 1, 2001}, Year = {2007} }
Refer Export Format

%Q U.S. Metric Association, Inc. %A Dennis Brownridge %T A Practical Guide to the International System of Units %D February 1, 2001 %U https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units# %O text/html

EndNote Export Format

%0 Electronic Source %A U.S. Metric Association, Inc., %A Brownridge, Dennis %D February 1, 2001 %T A Practical Guide to the International System of Units %V 2024 %N 8 December 2024 %8 February 1, 2001 %9 text/html %U https://usma.org/a-practical-guide-to-the-international-system-of-units#


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Citation Source Information

The AIP Style presented is based on information from the AIP Style Manual.

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