Title: The Metric System
Course: BTEC-1100-301-302-303-F21 > Section: Module 1 - Calculations and Measurements

The technical name for the metric system is “The International System of Units.”   We abbreviate that to “SI”, from the French “Le Système International d'Unités.”  Nearly all nations in the world use the metric system, and it is the standard in science as well. Below are some common objects, measured using metric units.

Unit | Measure of | Example
gram (g) | mass (“weight”) | one paperclip weighs about 1 g; one nickel weighs 5 g
liter (L) | volume | the largest commonly available soda bottle size is 2 L
milliliter (mL) | volume | one mL of water weighs about as much as a paperclip
meter (m) | length | a doorknob is typically about 1 m above the floor
millimeter (mm) | length | a dime is 1 mm thick

Note: Technically the liter is not an SI unit.  One liter is equal to one cubic decimeter, which is SI-approved.  However, scientists use liters (and milliliters, microliters, etc.) all the time!