Metric Mastery

Metric Mastery tests the students' ability to quickly and accurately estimate and measure the physical properties of objects in metric units. Properties to be measured can include mass, volume, density, area, force, distance, time, and temperature. This event was last held in 2014. Practice is the only way to be successful in this event!

Part one involves estimating measurements of various items without handling them. There will usually be around 20 stations, making it imperative to go fast (~30 seconds per measurement). Some stations will be direct estimation, while some stations will require some calculation.  

Part two involves measuring objects with various instruments. This is where it is important to know how to use various instruments. You will get roughly 60 seconds per station. Some will be direct measurements while others will need to be calculated.

• Practice using a vernier scale such as seen on calipers.

• Practice using a vernier caliper to find internal diameter (ID), outside diameter (OD) and depth.

• Practice using micrometers.

• Practice using instruments with a reversed scale such as on some pipettes.

• Practice using double pan or Harvard Trip balances.

• Practice calculating mass by using tare mass (measuring the mass of an empty container and then subtracting it from the mass of the container and the substance it contains).

Part three involves metric unit conversion (converting units from metric to metric). The metric prefix table is important for this, along with two special units - the metric ton or tonne which is 1 megagram or 1000 kilograms, and a Kelvin which is a temperature in Celsius plus 273.15.