Metric Units of Length, Capacity, and Mass

The metric units of length are millimeter (mm), centimeter (cm), meter (m), and kilometer (km)

1 cm = 10 mm; 1 m = 100 cm; 1 km = 1000 m

1 mm is about the thickness of a dime; 1 cm is about the width of a fingernail

1 m is about the width of a single bed

1 km is about the distance around a city block

The metric units of capacity are milliliters (mL), centiliters (cL), and liters (L)

1 cL = 10 mL; 1 L = 100 cL; 1 L = 1000 mL

A drop of water has the capacity of about 1 mL

A tablespoon has the capacity of about 1 cL

A blender container has the capacity of about 1 L

The metric units of mass are milligram (mg), centigram (cg), gram (g), and kilogram (kg)

1 cg = 10 mg; 1 g = 100 mg

1 kg = 1000 g

The mass of a small insect is about a milligram

The mass of a paperclip is about 1 g and the mass of a camera is about 1 kg