Exploring the Metric System and Unit Conversions

This video tutorial by Dr. Kent on Get Chemistry Help covers the metric system and conversions. It begins with the history and rationale behind the metric system, highlighting its simplicity compared to the English system. The tutorial explains the basic units for length, mass, volume, and time, and introduces prefixes that modify these units by powers of ten. Common prefixes like kilo, Giga, micro, and Mille are discussed, along with their meanings. The video provides examples of converting between metric units, emphasizing the importance of placing prefixes and exponents on opposite sides of conversion factors. The tutorial concludes with a reminder that metric conversions are exact and do not affect significant figures.

Why was the metric system created by the French?

• To compete with the American system

• To simplify the English system

• To create a system based on the number 12

• To use more units for length

What is the basic unit for mass in the metric system?

• Gram

• Second

• Liter

• Meter

Which of the following is NOT a basic unit in the metric system?

• Pound

• Liter

• Gram

• Meter

What does the prefix 'kilo' represent in the metric system?

• 10^-3

• 10^6

• 10^3

• 10^2

Which prefix represents 10^-6?

• Nano

• Milli

• Centi

• Micro

What is the correct abbreviation for a gigameter?

• Gm

• gm

• gM

• GM

How many grams are in a kilogram?

• 10^2 grams

• 10^3 grams

• 10^6 grams

• 10^-3 grams

What is the value of 1 nanogram in grams?

• 10^-9 grams

• 10^-6 grams

• 10^-12 grams

• 10^-3 grams

Convert 7.624 x 10^3 centimeters to megameters.

• 7.624 x 10^-4 megameters

• 7.624 x 10^-6 megameters

• 7.624 x 10^-3 megameters

• 7.624 x 10^-5 megameters

What is the correct conversion factor for centimeters to meters?

• 1 cm = 10^-4 meters

• 1 cm = 10^-3 meters

• 1 cm = 10^-2 meters

• 1 cm = 10^-1 meters