Measuring Volume: Graduated Cylinders & Reading a Meniscus

Volume: * The amount of space occupied by an object

ALL Graduated Cylinders are NUMBERED using: milliliters Units: Base Unit for Volume = Liter ALL Graduated Cylinders are NUMBERED using: milliliters

Units: *ml- most common unit for describing liquids and gases * cm3 - commonly seen describing solids

Meniscus Upward curve that forms due to the shape of the container in which the liquid is held

Meniscus

Meniscus Read the meniscus at eye level Read the bottom of a meniscus

Meniscus *If you read the meniscus from above eye level, your measurement will be too high * If you read the meniscus from below eye level, your measurement will be too low

Steps to reading a Graduated Cylinder: Determine the scale of the graduated cylinder . (The value of each unnumbered line)

Meniscus Look at the Graduated Cylinder and find two numbered lines next to each other (ex: 40 and 30) Subtract them Divide your answer by the number of SPACES (not lines) between them. 10 ml ÷ 10 = 1 ml each

Steps to reading a Graduated Cylinder: Add in one more place value for the space between each line – this is your best guess

Meniscus What volume is this meniscus reading? 4 2 .9 ml

Meniscus What is the Scale of this Graduated Cylinder? 1 ml ÷ 10 = 0.1 ml

Meniscus What volume is this meniscus reading? 3.50 ml

Precision: The smaller the cylinder the more precise it reads, therefore you will have more digits after the decimal point

Practice Reading the Graduated Cylinder What is this reading? 36.5 ml

Practice Reading the Graduated Cylinder What is this reading? 47.0 ml

Practice Reading the Graduated Cylinder What is this reading? 61.2 ml

Practice Reading the Graduated Cylinder What is this reading? 18.0 ml