Final answer:
The basic unit of weight in the metric system is the kilogram, which is a unit of mass. There are four fundamental units in the metric system: meter, kilogram, second, and ampere. One kilogram is approximately equal to 2.2 pounds.
Step-by-step explanation:
The basic unit of weight in the metric system is the kilogram, which is a unit of mass. Mass and weight are related but not the same; mass measures the quantity of matter, while weight measures the gravitational pull on that matter. In the metric system, the four fundamental units are the meter (m) for length, the kilogram (kg) for mass, the second (s) for time, and the ampere (A) for electric current. To understand the size of these units, consider that 1 gram is the mass of a paperclip, while a kilogram is roughly equivalent to the mass of a liter of water.
When converting between metric and customary units, it's important to know that one kilogram is approximately equal to 2.2 pounds. This means that to convert kilograms to pounds, you can multiply the number of kilograms by 2.2.