Linear+Distance

=**Distance**= The basic unit of measurement for distance is the meter in science. Americans have to learn all the units and systems. Common units in America: inches, feet, yards, miles, millimeters, centimeters, meters, kilometers How is the metric system set up? On factors of 10.

**How far can we go? How small can we see? Take a trip using powers of 10.** [[file:FantasticTrip.pps]]
[|Metric Prefixes] Measuring and the Metric System Measurement Activity [|How do we measure with a ruler?] [|Math activity with shapes from UTAH.] [|Strideruler] [|Metric Units Review]

[|How to use a ruler!] eHow.com Decide if you have a metric or an English ruler. Metric rulers have numbers every centimeter, and English have them every inch.
 * Step 1**

Centimeters are much smaller than inches, so metric rulers will have a lot more numbers printed on them.

If you still have trouble telling what type of ruler you have, centimeters are normally about as wide as one fingertip, and inches are about as wide as two.


 * Step 2 ** Read an English ruler using fractions of an inch. The distance between any two large numbered lines is 1 inch. The large unnumbered line that is halfway between them is 1/2 inch. The smaller (but still prominent) line between the 1/2 mark and the numbered inch line is 1/4 inch. The tiny little lines between all of the more prominent lines are 1/16 inch.


 * Step 3 ** Observe the much simpler metric rulers. The distance between any two large numbered lines is 1 cm. The prominent line between any two numbered lines is 1/2 cm. The small lines between the 1/2 mark and the numbered centimeter mark are 1/10 cm, otherwise known as a millimeter.


 * Step 4 ** Record distances by the name of the line that it most closely matches. If the length of an object goes to one mark past the halfway mark on your ruler then it will be 9/16 inch on an English ruler or 6/10 cm (or 6 mm) on a metric ruler. eHow.com