Introduction to Metric System

The metric system is

much more easier to
calculate and measure
than the imperial
system.

1 foot is divided into 12 inches
1 yard is divided into 3 feet
1 inch is divided into halves, quarters, 1/8ths
and1/16ths
All these deferent dividing factors and units make
calculations complicated

The metric system is easy

It is based on the number 10
All units are either multiplied or divide by 10
Decimal points only need to be shifted
The advantage of the metric system
Example:
1.25m x 1.5 m = 1.25
x1.5
625
+125
1.875 m
2




The advantage of the metric system
multiplied by feet and inch is very
complicated. In the metric system
multiplication is easy. See the
example:



The advantage of the metric system
Example:
1.25m x 1.5 m = 1.25
x1.5
625
+125
1.875 m
2




The Metre
The metre is the internationally accepted
unit of length
It is displayed as a Platinum bar in Paris


How Long Is a Metre ?
Measure with a tape one
metre on your body
How long is your arm?
How long is your foot?


1m
Walk a Metre on the Floor
Show a Metre between both hands
1m
The Metre is divided into ten
decimetres
0
METREs
DECIMETRES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
The decimetre is divided into ten
centimtres
0
DECIMETRES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
METRES
DECEMETRES
2
0
1
METRES
1 2 3 4 6 8 10 5 7 9
DECIM

CENTIMETRES
10 cm = 1 Decimetre
01 dm = 10 cm
Measure 10 cm
between thumb
and finger
0
CENTIMETRES
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
DECIMETREs
The Centimetre is divided into ten
Milimetres
DECEMETRES
2 3 4 5
0
1
DECIMETREs
MILIMETREs
1 2 3 4 6 8 10 5 7 9
CENT

A Finger Is 1.5 Centimeters Wide
1.5cm
Visualize the Size of the Centimeter
A pen is about a
centimeter thick

Measure with steel or linen tapes

There are two common types of tapes.
1.steel tapes
2.linen tapes
2 1 3 5 6 4
Measure with steel or linen tapes

1 0 zero Marking of various tapes differs from one
another
Before you measure an object make sure where the
zero mark is.
1
2 1 3 5 6 4
1
0 2 3 4 0 1 5 6
Measure with steel or linen tapes

linen tapes will stretch with
the extensive use and will
show erroneous readings
Always use a steel tape,
because,
The Conversion From Inches Into
Metric
1 = 2.54 cm Example
12 inches = ? cm
= 12 X 2.54
~ 30.5 cm


0 1 2 3
0 1
Inches
5 4
2
Conversion from feet to mtr
1 foot = 30.5 cm
1m
3.27 ft
1 2 3
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
Example
4 ft = ?m
= 4 x 0.305
= 1.22 m
Computation of Areas
Floor Area
Wall Area
Ceiling Area
Roof area
Shuttering Area


Computation of Areas
Rectangles,
squares,circles &
triangles
Polygons
Surface area of three
dimensional objects

The area of a rectangle

Area = length X breadth
= l x b


l
b
The area of a square

Area a ceiling sheet
The length of a one side is 1.2m
Then the area is
= length x width
= 1.2m x 1.2m
= 1.44 sq.m

The Area of a Triangle
The area of a triangle is
computed as:
1/2 x base x height.


base
height
base
Example:

If the base of a gable wall is
5m and the height of the
wall is 4m then the
area is = 1/2 x 5m x4m
= 10 sq.m

height
The Circle
radius
diameter
Diameter:
Is the distance
between two
points on
circumference
through the
origin
centre
The Circle
radius
diameter
centre
Radius:
Is the distance from
the centre to
circumference
Area and circumference of a circle

Area
= 3.14 x (radius)
2

Circumference
= 2 x 3.14 x radius
The surface area of a Circular
Column or a cylinder
Surface area = Circumference (C)
X height
h= height
Surface area
= C x h
= ( 2 x 3.14 x r ) x h
radius
height
Computation of Volumes

Computation of Volumes
The volume of a cube
= l x b x h
= l b h
h
l
b
Volumetric units in construction
industry
International unit of measuring larger volumes
is cubic metre (m
3
)

Commercially used unit in local construction
Industry is 100 cubic feet (ft
3
) and is called a
Cube
Compare two units
One Cube is
= 10 X 10 X 1
= 100 ft
3

in metric units
= 10 feet x10 feet x 1 foot
= 3.048m x 3.048 x 0.3048
= 2.86 m
3
Make a Note
Make sure that all volumes are converted to
commercial cubic measures before placing
your order at your supplier.

Divide your quantity by 2.86

Example
required
quantity of rubble = 50m
3

Order quantity in cubes
= 50/2.86
= 17.48 cubes
Guage Box
Cement , Sand and Metal are measured with a
Guage Box.

Volume of a gauge box :

= volume of 50 kg cement (1 bag)

= 0.038 m
3




Dimensions of a Gauge box

Dimension of one side:

= 3 volume

= 3 0.038

= 0.336 m
0.336 m
0.336m
0.336m
Liquid Volumes
What is a litre?
A litre is one cubic decimetre
1dm
1dm
1dm
Liquid Volumes
Observe various types of cans.
Measuring Weight- Symbol Is W
1 kg = 1000 grams.

1 kg water = 1ltr
Units of weights: imperial & metric
1 pound (lbs) = 0.454 kg

1 cwt 112(lbs) ~ 50 kg


Measuring Weight
larger units
1000 kg = 1 Metric ton.

2240 lbs = 1 Imperial ton
Metric Ton ~ Imperial Ton

1 kg = 2.2 lbs

1 metric Ton = 1000 kg
= 1000 x 2.2 lbs
= 2200 lbs ~ Imperial Ton
If we want to draw a
big object in a small
paper, we always
use an appropriate
scale to reduce its
size.

Working With Scales
Working With Scales
In any drawing , there
is a scale.
Consider 1:10 scale.
1:10 means 1 unit in
paper represents 10
units in the actual
object.
20cm
30cm
25cm
45cm
Scale : 1:10
Working With Scales
Common scale in
construction drawings
is 1 is to 100
Scale : 1:100
Kitchen Pantry
B.room
M.Bed
room
Room
Garage
T.V.area
S.room
10.668 m