Metric system
![]() |
Contents |
[edit] Introduction
The metric system is a decimalised measurement system used widely throughout the world for weights and measures in everyday life, trade, science and industry. It can be used for example to express the weight of vegetables, the speed of a train, the height of a child, the intensity of light, the volume of water and so on.
One of the benefits of the metric system is its relative ease of understanding and application. Being a decimalised system, it is based on the power of 10 and parts of ten. So, there are 10 millimetres (mm) in a centimetre (cm); 100 centimetres in a metre (m) and 1,000 metres in a kilometre (km).
This can be contrasted with the relative complexity of the Imperial system which was based on irregular bases, eg 12 pence in a shilling, 20 shillings in a pound (240 pence); 12 inches in a foot (ft), three feet in a yard (yd) and 1,760 yards (yds) in a mile.
The imperial system also involved fractions that were more problematic when adding up, eg 1ft 3 3/4in plus 4ft 3 5/8in equals 5ft 7 3/8in. The metric equivalent of this addition is 396mm + 1310mm = 1706mm or 1.706m.
[edit] International System of Units
The term ‘metric system’ has been superseded by the ‘International System of Units (SI)’ and the units that are used for measuring, such as kilograms and metres, are called SI Units.
There are seven SI base units that form the foundation of the metric system:
Quantity measured | Unit | Symbol |
Length | metre | m |
Mass | kilogram | kg |
Time | second | s |
Electrical current | ampere | A |
Thermodynamic temperature | kelvin | K |
Amount of substance | mole | mol |
Luminous intensity | candela | cd |
From the seven SI base units in the table above, other quantities can be derived (derived quantities) by using quantity equations to cover other measurement requirements:
[edit] Derived units
Entity | SI derived unit | Symbol |
Area | square metres | m2 |
Volume | cubic metres | m3 |
Speed, velocity | metres per second | m/s |
Mass density | kilogram per cubic metre | kg/m3 |
Specific volume | cubic metre per kilogram | m3/kg |
Luminance | candela per square metre | cd/m2 |
Current density | ampere per metre | A/m |
Dynamic temperature | degree Celsius | °C |
Some SI derived units have been given special names and symbols such as watt (W) to represent power and radiant flux; joule (J) to represent energy, work and quantity of heat, and newton (N) to represent force.
Traditionally, metric conversion charts and tables would have been used to convert between different units in the metric system. For example, a table for length and area measurements may show the formulae for how to convert from square kilometres to square metres, or from square metres to square millimetres. Similarly, conversion tables or formulae might be used to convert from imperial units to metric units. More recently, the advent of the internet has ushered in a host of on-line calculators that allow instant and highly accurate conversions once the value to be converted is inputted.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
ECA Industry Awards 2024 shortlist revealed
22 leading businesses from across the electrotechnical and engineering services sector.
Government unveils Skills England strategy
Skills England to transform opportunities and drive growth.
New Government Hub for York Given Planning Green Light
For up to 2,600 civil servants, due for completion by 2028.
Construction Skills Certification Scheme cards
July update on Professionally Qualified and Academically Qualified Person Cards.
BSRIA Briefing 2024, November 22
Sustainable Futures: Redefining Retrofit for Net Zero Living.
The CLC on driving competency in the retrofit sector
Previously published roadmap on skills for net zero.
The first labour government King's speech in fifteen years
Construction industry reactions, support and some concern.
CIOB Retrofit of Buildings Technical Information Sheet
What retrofit is, the approach to be taken and processes to be followed.
Adapting Historic Buildings for Energy and Carbon Efficiency
Historic England advice note 18, free download published.
10 retrofit projects revisited 10 years after completion.
Information orders, building liability orders and SPVs
Key BSA terms and how they impact special purpose vehicles.
Listed despite problems with its design.
Zen and the art of cycling exploration.
Design Council Homes Taskforce launched
To support government 1.5 million homes target within UK climate commitments.