Using and Converting Metric Measures

We learned the moose stands about two metres high at the shoulder. The metre is the base metric unit of length in the metric system of measurement.

Length
One metre (m) is about 39.37 inches, or a little longer than a yard, which is 36 inches. A metre stick is usually divided into 100 centimetres (cm) and 1,000 Millimetres (mm). Therefore, one centimetre is 0.01 metre, and one millimetre is 0.001 metre.

One centimetre

The picture above shows a cut-off part of a metre stick. Each small mark shows one millimetre. Ten millimetres make up one centimetre.

Mass (Weight)
The base metric unit for weight is the gram (g). One gram equals about one-thirtieth of an ounce. Grams are used to measure the weight of such things as medicine and food.

Volume (Capacity)
The base metric unit for volume or capacity is the litre (l). A litre is a little more than a quart. Many soft drinks are sold in one litre and two litre bottles.