Learn about what the metric units for mass are. Explore different units from smallest to largest, and examples of how to use units of mass in the metric system.
Metric Unit for Mass | Overview & Examples
Table of Contents
ShowMany people think the words mass and weight mean the same thing, but they are actually two different measurements.
- The mass of an object is a measure of everything that makes up the object. An object's mass will remain the same everywhere, even on the Moon or in space.
- The weight of an object is a measure of the interaction between everything that makes up the object and the gravitational pull of the Earth. Without Earth's gravity, an object will not have the same weight on the Moon or in space.
- The important difference between mass and weight is the effect of Earth's gravity on an object's weight.
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What is the metric unit for mass? The basic unit of mass in the metric system is the gram, abbreviated g. A paperclip or a raisin are items that weigh about 1 gram.
The kilogram, kg, and metric ton, t, are the other most frequently used metric units of mass. A liter bottle filled with water or a pineapple are items that weigh about 1 kilogram. A large animal like a giraffe might weigh about 1 metric ton. All other metric units of mass are based on the gram, the kilogram, and the metric ton.
Look at the table to see how many grams are in each of these metric units of mass.
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Conversions
How are conversions made between units of mass in the metric system? A person can use the chart above to convert between units of mass in the metric system. Remember, the most commonly used units of mass in the metric system are the gram (g), the kilogram (kg), and the metric ton or tonne(t). Most conversions are done using these units. Here are the important conversions to know within the metric system of mass.
- 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams: To convert from kilograms to grams, multiply by 1,000.
- 1 gram = 0.001 kilogram: To convert from grams to kilograms, divide by 1,000.
- 1 metric ton = 1,000 kilograms: To convert from metric tons to kilograms, multiply by 1,000.
- 1 kilogram = 0.001 metric tons: To convert from kilograms to metric tons, divide by 1,000.
It's also possible to convert from metric tons to grams and grams to metric tons by multiplying or dividing by 1,000,000.
Tip: To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply. To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit, divide.
Examples of Using Units of Mass in the Metric System
How are units of mass measured and converted within the metric system? Here are some examples of items measured in one metric unit of mass and converted to another metric unit of mass.
Example 1
The Erickson family just bought a new minivan. The minivan weighs 2.2 metric tons. Convert 2.2 metric tons to kilograms.
To convert metric tons to kilograms, find the correct conversion: 1 metric ton = 1,000 kilograms
So, to convert metric tons to kilograms, multiply by 1,000: {eq}2.2\ \times\ 1,000\ =\ 2,200 {/eq}
The Erickson family's minivan weighs 2,200 kilograms.
In this conversion, a larger unit, metric tons, was being converted to a smaller unit, kilograms. The solution was found through multiplication.
Example 2
Sandra bought a gallon of paint to repaint her bedroom. The gallon of paint weighs 5,100 grams. Convert 5,100 grams to kilograms.
To convert grams to kilograms, find the correct conversion: 1 gram = 0.001 kilograms
So, to convert grams to kilograms, divide by 1,000: {eq}5,100\ \div\ 1,000\ =\ 5.1 {/eq}
The gallon of paint weigh weighs 5.1 kilograms.
In this conversion, a smaller unit, grams, was being converted to a larger unit, kilograms. The solution was found through division.
Example 3
David is warming up a can of soup to eat for his lunch. The can of soup weighs 0.4 kilograms. Convert 0.4 kilograms to grams.
To convert kilograms to grams, find the correct conversion: 1 kilogram = 1,000 grams
So, to convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1,000: {eq}0.4\ \times\ 1,000\ =\ 400 {/eq}
The can of soup weighs 400 grams.
In this conversion, a larger unit, kilograms, was being converted to a smaller unit, grams. The solution was found through multiplication.
Example 4
The Park City Aquarium has a tiger shark on display. The tiger shark weighs 820 kilograms. Convert 820 kilograms to metric tons.
To convert kilograms to metric tons, find the correct conversion: 1 kilogram = 0.001 metric tons
So, to convert kilograms to metric tons, divide by 1,000: {eq}820\ \div\ 1,000\ =\ 0.82 {/eq}
The tiger shark weighs 0.82 metric tons.
In this conversion, a smaller unit, kilograms, was being converted to a larger unit, metric tons. The solution was found through division.
Example 5: Challenge
The principal at Silver City Middle School needs a new desk. The desk the principal orders weighs 88 kilograms. Convert 88 kilograms to grams and convert 88 kilograms to metric tons.
First, convert kilograms to grams. To convert a larger unit, kilograms, to a smaller unit, grams, multiply.
{eq}88\ \times\ 1,000\ =\ 88,000 {/eq}
The principal's desk weighs 88,000 grams.
Then, convert kilograms to metric tons. To convert a smaller unit, kilograms, to a larger unit, metric tons, divide.
{eq}88\ \div\ 1,000\ =\ 0.088 {/eq}
The principal's desk weighs 0.088 metric tons.
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Mass and weight:
- The mass of an object is a measure of everything that makes up the object.
- The weight of an object is a measure of the interaction between everything that makes up the object and the gravitational pull of the Earth.
- The important difference between mass and weight is the effect of Earth's gravity on an object's weight.
Metric units for weight:
- gram (g)
- kilogram (kg); a kilogram is 1,000 grams
- metric ton (t); a metric ton is 1,000 kilograms
To convert units:
- To convert from a larger unit to a smaller unit, multiply. (example: to convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1,000)
- To convert from a smaller unit to a larger unit, divide. (example: to convert kilograms to metric tons, divide by 1,000)
Video Transcript
Metric Mass Units
In this lesson, you will learn about the metric mass units and how to convert between them. The metric mass units are the gram, kilogram, and metric ton. Why do you need to learn about these measurement units, and how do you convert between them? Knowing these measurements and their conversions is a good skill to have, as you will need to show your knowledge in this area on tests, and you may need to perform these calculations in real life when you are traveling abroad. Did you notice that I wrote 'metric ton' instead of simply, 'ton?' This is because the ton that is used in the United States is different than the metric ton used in the metric system. The metric ton can also be referred to as, 'tonne.'
The metric ton, just like the ton used in the United States, is used for measuring very large items, such as cars and trucks. The kilogram is used for measuring things that you and I can pick up and for measuring ourselves. And the gram is used for measuring small things like paperclips or even slices of bread.
Each of these units also has an abbreviation. The gram is abbreviated with a lower-case 'g,' so 5 grams is 5 g. The kilogram is abbreviated as lower-case 'kg,' so 10 kilograms is 10 kg. And the metric ton is abbreviated with a small 't,' so 1 metric ton is written as 1 t.
The Conversions
To convert between grams, kilograms, and metric tons, we make use of how much of each is in the other. This gives you the special number that you need to use to convert.
Because there are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram, the special conversion number between grams and kilograms is 1,000.
1 kg = 1,000 g
So, to convert from kilograms to grams, you multiply by 1,000 and to convert from grams to kilograms, you divide by 1,000. An easy way to remember whether to multiply or divide is to think of what kind of conversion you are doing. If you are converting from larger to smaller, then you multiply. If you are converting from smaller to larger, then you divide.
The conversion number between metric tons and kilograms is also 1,000 since there are 1,000 kilograms in 1 metric ton.
1 t = 1,000 kg
Going from the metric ton to the kilogram, you multiply by 1,000 since you are going from larger to smaller. Converting kilograms to metric tons, you divide by 1,000 because you are going from smaller to larger.
We can actually combine both of these conversions to find the conversion number between grams and metric tons. To do this, we start with 1 t = 1,000 kg. How many grams are in each kilogram? 1,000. So, we multiply the 1,000 kg by 1,000 to find that there are 1,000 * 1,000 = 1,000,000 grams in 1 metric ton.
1 t = 1,000 kg = 1,000,000 g
1 t = 1,000,000 g
So, to convert metric tons to grams, you multiply by 1,000,000 and to convert from grams to metric tons, you divide by 1,000,000.
Let's look at a couple of examples to see how these conversions work.
Example 1
Convert 3 metric tons to kilograms.
The conversion number between metric tons and kilograms is 1,000. You are going from larger to smaller, so you multiply by the 1,000. So, multiplying the 3 by 1,000 you get 3 * 1,000 = 3,000 kg. The answer is 3,000 kg.
Example 2
Convert 5,600 grams to kilograms.
The conversion number between grams and kilograms is 1,000. This is going from smaller to larger, so you need to divide by the 1,000. So, dividing 5,600 by 1,000, you get 5,600 / 1,000 = 5.6 kg. The answer is 5.6 kg.
Lesson Summary
Let's review what you've learned. The metric mass units are the gram, kilogram, and metric ton. The metric ton can also be spelled as 'tonne.' The gram is abbreviated with a 'g.' The kilogram is abbreviated as 'kg.' And the metric ton is written with a small 't.' There are 1,000 grams in 1 kilogram. There are 1,000 kilograms in 1 metric ton. The conversion number between grams and kilograms and between kilograms and metric tons is both 1,000. Converting from larger to smaller, you multiply by the conversion number. If you are converting from smaller to larger, then you divide.
Learning Outcomes
When you are done, you should be able to:
- List the units, and their abbreviations, used to measure mass in the metric system
- Convert between metric units of mass
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