Keywords: | SI, metric system, base unit, kilogram, kelvin, meter, candela, second, ampere, mole, international |
Audience: | Students, Parents, Educators, General Public, Technology Coordinators, Outreach Ambassadors |
Grade Level: | 3 to Higher Education |
Subjects: | SI units, research at NIST: metrology |
This resource provides a colorful printable SI system chart, which displays the 7 SI base unit, prefix symbols, and features the Measurement League: Guardians of the SI superheroes, dedicated to the fight against uncertainty, imprecision, and inaccuracy and to improving the quality of our lives and the things we build. The superheroes include the following: Mole, Professor Second, Monsieur Kilogram, Ms. Ampere, Dr. Kelvin, Meter Man, and Candela. SI Prefix symbols featured in the chart are used to represent smaller or larger units by factors that are powers of 10. The chart provides an entertaining way to learn more about the International System of Units (SI). NOTE: Four new International System of Units (SI) prefixes (ronna, ronto, quetta, and quecto) were adopted in November 2022 and are not currently represented in this publication.
The chart may be printed on any paper size but is recommended to be at minimum 215.9 mm x 279.4 mm (8.5 in x 11 in).
Use caution when handling paper edges to prevent injury.
Explain the SI base units, unit definitions, and metric prefixes. State each base unit depends upon a defining constant. Additionally, mention the combination of SI base units creates the SI derived units. Hardcopy charts are available while supplies last. Contact the NIST Metric Program at TheSI [at] nist.gov (TheSI[at]nist[dot]gov) and include your name and U.S. mailing address.