Video Transcript
Which unit of measurement is the
most appropriate for measuring the mass of a car?
Let’s check our understanding of
the word “mass.” Mass is the amount of matter that
an object contains. We can measure mass using many
different units. For example, we can measure mass in
grams, kilograms, and metric tons. Let’s think about a car. The mass of a car is about one
metric ton. One metric ton is the same as 1000
kilograms. So, we can say that the mass of a
car is 1000 kilograms.
Now, one kilogram is the same as
1000 grams. This means that one metric ton is
the same as one thousand thousand grams. This is the same as one million
grams, sounds like a very big number. Even though they are different
numbers, they all show the same mass. So, which unit seems best, or most
appropriate, to measure the mass of a car?
Smaller numbers are much easier to
work with. They’re easier to say, to write,
and there’s much less chance that we’ll make a mistake with small numbers. So, which unit is best? Metric tons! Metric tons are the most
appropriate unit for measuring the mass of a car.
