A nickel coin weighs 5 grams. How many milligrams does it weigh?
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
A nickel coin weighs 5,000 milligrams.
Explanation
To convert the weight of a nickel coin from grams to milligrams, we use a simple unit conversion based on the metric system.
The metric system is a decimal-based system of measurement, which means each unit is related to the others by powers of ten. The gram (g) is a basic unit of mass in this system. The milligram (mg) is a smaller unit and is often used for measuring lighter weights. The relationship between grams and milligrams is:
1 gram = 1,000 milligrams
This means that to convert grams to milligrams, you multiply the number of grams by 1,000.
In this case, a nickel coin weighs 5 grams, so:5 grams×1,000=5,000 milligrams5 \text{ grams} \times 1,000 = 5,000 \text{ milligrams}5 grams×1,000=5,000 milligrams
So, a nickel coin weighs 5,000 milligrams.
Understanding this conversion helps in many real-world contexts, especially in science, medicine, and everyday situations where precise measurement is important. For example, many medication doses are given in milligrams, and knowing how to convert between grams and milligrams ensures proper understanding and safety.
In educational settings, questions like this test your understanding of the metric system and your ability to use multiplication for unit conversion. It’s also a reminder of how consistent and logical the metric system is—unlike some other systems, it’s based on units of 10, making calculations straightforward.
To summarize: start with the known quantity (5 grams), multiply by the conversion factor (1,000 milligrams per gram), and you get 5,000 milligrams. The answer makes sense because milligrams are smaller units, so it takes more of them to equal a gram. This simple but important skill helps build a solid foundation in measurement and scientific thinking.
