What are some metric measurement tools that scientists

use to make quantitative observations?

ruler

tape measure

meter stick

What tools do scientists use to measure length or distance?

What is Length?

• Length- is the distance between two points.

• How long is the screw in centimeters? It is 5.1 centimeters. • Remember to measure to the smallest place value

the tool allows and use decimals.

Metric Units

What are the metric units for measuring length or distance ?

Units include the meter, centimeter and the millimeter.

The basic unit of length in the metric system in the meter and is represented by a lowercase m.

Metric Units1 Kilometer (km) = 1000 meters

1 Meter = 100 Centimeters (cm)

1 Meter = 1000 Millimeters (mm)

Which is longer?A. 1 meter or 105 centimeters

B. 4 kilometers or 4400 meters

C. 12 centimeters or 102 millimeters

D. 1200 millimeters or 1 meter

Measuring Length

How many millimeters are in 1 centimeter?

What is the length of the line in centimeters? _______cm

What is the length of the line in millimeters? _______mm

What is the length of the line in centimeter? ________ HINT:

Measure to the smallest place value the tool allows – use decimals.

1 centimeter = 10 millimeters

The line is 3.2 cm.

Adapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net

What tools do scientists use to measure volume?

• Measuring cups

• Graduated cylinders

• Beakers

• Measuring spoons

• Rulers or meter sticks or tape measures

Metric Units

What is volume?Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.

The base unit of volume in the metric system in the liter and is represented by L or l.

Metric Units1 liter (L) = 1000 milliliters (mL)

1 milliliter (mL) = 1 cm3 (or cc) = 1 gram (with water)

Which is larger?A. 1 liter or 1500 milliliters

B. 200 milliliters or 1.2 liters

Adapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net

Graduated cylinders are tools used to find the volume of liquids. Here’s how:

Read the measurement based on the bottom of the meniscus or curve.* When using a real cylinder, make sure you are eye-level with the level of the water.

What is the volume of water in the cylinder?

*What causes the meniscus?

43 mL

The liquid in the graduated cylinder generally tends to stick to the sides of the cylinder. That is why for water and similar liquids we read the bottom.

Adapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net

Measuring Volume

Measuring Volume of Liquids

What is the volume of liquid in each cylinder?

52 mL 37 mLAdapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net

22.5 mL

Measuring Volume of Solids

10 cm

9 cm

8 cm

What tool can be used to measure the volume of an object with the shape of a rectangular prism?

We can measure using a ruler and the formula:

length ___ x width ___ x height ___ = ______ cm3

What can be used to measure the volume of irregular shaped object (rock) ?

water displacement using a graduated cylinder

Amount of H2O with object = ______

About of H2O without object = ______Difference = (rock) Volume = ______

Adapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net

What tools do scientists use to measure mass?

• Pan balance

• Triple Beam Balance

• Electronic balance

Metric Units

What is mass?Mass is the amount of matter in an object.

The base unit of mass in the metric system in the gram and is represented by g.

Metric Units

1 Kilogram (km) = 1000 Grams (g)

1 Gram (g) = 1000 Milligrams (mg)

Which is larger?

A. 1 kilogram or 1500 grams

B. 1200 milligrams or 1 gram

C. 12 milligrams or 12 kilograms

D. 4 kilograms or 4500 grams

Adapted from T. Trimpe 2008 http://sciencespot.net/

Measuring Mass – Triple-Beam Balance

– Slide the large weight to the right until the arm drops below the line. Move the rider back one groove. Make sure it “locks” into place.

– Repeat this process with the top weight. When the arm moves below the line, back it up one groove.

– Slide the small weight on the front beam until

the lines match up.

A triple-beam balance can be used to find the mass of various objects.

What tools do scientists use to measure weight?

• Spring Scale

What is weight?

• Weight is the measure of the pull of gravity on an object.

What units are used to measure weight?• Newtons (N) and grams (g)

How to use a spring scale

1. Hold the spring scale in one hand so that the hook is hanging downward.

2. Be sure that you hold it high enough so you can see the scale clearly.

3. Look at the center of the scale for the units the scale uses. It will be grams and /or Newtons.

4. Check that round platform is set at zero (x) on the scale.5. Hook the object you are weighing onto the hook that

hangs down from the scale. If there is a basket or pan suspended below the scale, place the object on the pan.

6. Wait for the spring to stop moving up and down. Once it stops moving, look at the markings on the side of the scale and record the weight. On most scales it can be recorded in both grams and Newtons.

Look at the spring scale drawings below, up to how many Newtons will they measure?

Each spring scale measures up to five Newtons (N).

How many parts is each Newton divided into? ten parts How many

Newtons?

0.7 N

What are these WEIGHT measurements?

A. B C 3.4 N 4.9 N 0.6 N

What tools do scientists use to measure temperature?

Thermometers

What is temperature?

• Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold something is.

• It is the measure of the heat or thermal energy in a substance.

• It is the average speed of the particles in a substance.

Measuring Temperature

• There are two different scales we will use to measure temperature.

• Fahrenheit scale – water freezes at 320 and boils at 2120F

• Celsius (centigrade) scale- water freezes at 00C and boils at 1000C

Brain Check

• Measurement Tool

1. Ruler /Tape measure

2. Balance

3. Spring Scale

4. Graduated cylinder

5. Thermometer

• Metric Unit

A. NewtonsB. Degrees CelsiusC. Milliliters

D. Grams

E. Centimeters

*How does measurement help us know about the world?