Converting and Calculating Units of Mass

Q: What unit of mass is equal to 1000 kilograms?

The tonne is equal to 1000 kilograms. It is the largest of the four metric units of mass covered here. We commonly use tonnes for the weight of heavy cargo. This is the kind of load that machines usually lift rather than people carry.

Q: How do you convert kilograms to grams?

To convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1000. This works because 1 kilogram equals 1000 grams and grams are the smaller unit. For example, 21 kilograms becomes 21 × 1000 = 21,000 grams. Whenever you move to a smaller unit, you multiply by 1000.

Q: Why must you use the same unit before adding or subtracting masses?

You must standardise to one unit first. You can only add or subtract masses measured in the same unit. For example, to add 3.25 kg and 30 g, first convert 30 grams to 0.03 kilograms. Then add to get 3.28 kilograms. You may align to the larger or the smaller unit.

Key concept

Units of mass are measured in milligrams (mg), grams (g), kilograms (kg), and tonnes (t). Each unit is 1000 times the one below it, so 1 kg = 1000 g. To convert, multiply for a smaller unit and divide for a larger one.

Converting and Calculating Units of Mass - introduction visual

Video Lesson

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$Converting and Calculating Units of Mass poster$

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Flashcards

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Units of mass conversion chart showing milligrams, grams, kilograms, and tonnes with examples: 10 mg pills, 500 g pasta, 5 kg rice, and 8 t crane.

Converting 21 kilograms to 21000 grams and 560 kilograms to 0.56 tonnes using multiplication and division by 1000.

Adding and subtracting units of mass by converting to one unit first, showing 3.25 kg + 30 g = 3.28 kg and 3.25 kg - 30 g = 3.22 kg as examples.

What are Metric Units of Mass?

Mass is measured in milligrams (mg), grams (g), kilograms (kg), and tonnes (t).
The conversion rates you have to know: $1000 mg = 1 g$ , $1000 g = 1 kg$ , and $1000 kg = 1 t$ .

Practice Questions

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Q1Easy

Convert 2500 milligrams to grams.

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Interactive Activity

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Select Base Unit

Mass Value

50 kg

Equivalent Values

Milligrams (mg)50000000

Grams (g)50000

Kilograms (kg)50

Tonnes (t)0.05

Select a unit and drag the block to see conversions.

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Students Also Ask

The questions students bump into most on this topic

What are the units of mass?

The four metric units of mass are the milligram, the gram, the kilogram, and the tonne. They run from smallest to largest. Each unit is 1000 times the size of the one below it. So 1 gram is 1000 milligrams, 1 kilogram is 1000 grams, and 1 tonne is 1000 kilograms.

What unit of mass is equal to 1000 kilograms?

The tonne is equal to 1000 kilograms. It is the largest of the four metric units of mass covered here. We commonly use tonnes for the weight of heavy cargo. This is the kind of load that machines usually lift rather than people carry.

How do you convert kilograms to grams?

To convert kilograms to grams, multiply by 1000. This works because 1 kilogram equals 1000 grams and grams are the smaller unit. For example, 21 kilograms becomes 21 × 1000 = 21,000 grams. Whenever you move to a smaller unit, you multiply by 1000.

Do you multiply or divide when converting units of mass?

It depends on the direction of the conversion. To convert to a smaller unit, you multiply by 1000. To convert to a larger unit, you divide by 1000. So kilograms to grams multiplies by 1000. And 560 kilograms divided by 1000 gives 0.56 tonnes.

Why must you use the same unit before adding or subtracting masses?

You must standardise to one unit first. You can only add or subtract masses measured in the same unit. For example, to add 3.25 kg and 30 g, first convert 30 grams to 0.03 kilograms. Then add to get 3.28 kilograms. You may align to the larger or the smaller unit.

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