28th
January 2012
Basic Metrication
Lesson 2 - Everyday
handy measurements
Remember,
the millimetre is a metric unit of length equal
to one thousandth of a metre. Therefore, there
are 1000 millimetres (mm) in a metre.
When we measure in millimetres, we avoid any
problems or confusion that might arise from
using vulgar fractions. In this lesson, measurements
are all in metres; with a few simple decimal
fractions of metres.
You will use a metre stick, a metric ruler,
or a metric tape measure. This lesson is aimed
at helping you to improve your guessing skills
and sharpen your understanding of the metric
system.
Step
1
Stand with your back to a vertical surface that
you can mark with a pencil. Measure your height
in metres. Round off your height to one decimal
place – usually your height will be between
about 1.4 metres and 2.1 metres. My height is
about 1.5 metres. I am very short. Write down
your height.
Don’t worry too much about accuracy as
we only want to be able to use your height for
guessing such things as other people’s
heights, where you don’t have to be too
accurate. Remember, too, that your height varies
over time – you are taller when you first
get out of bed than you are later in the day.
Step
2
Remember that the width of your hand (across
the knuckles) is about 100 millimetres. If it
isn’t, add on the thickness of your thumb
– you are aiming to have a mental image
of 100 millimetres (0.1 metres) for guessing
people’s height. |
