Scientific Tools and Measurement

Scientific Measurement Scientific Measurement uses the metric system The metric system is based on the number 10 The metric system uses prefixes and root words The metric system can be used to measure length(distance), volume, mass and temperature

Length Using the metric system, the base unit of length is measured in meters (m) The tool used to measure length is the metric ruler or meter stick Millimeters (mm), Centimeters (cm) and Meters (m) can be measured with metric rulers and meter sticks.

Length There are centimeters and millimeters on the ruler below. There are 10 mm in every cm! (1 cm=10 mm) To find mm, multiply the number of cm by 10 One cm (10 mm) (66 mm) 6.6 cm

Mass Mass measures how heavy something is The base unit of mass is measured in grams The tool used to measure mass is the balance (three beam balance or electric)

Using the three beam balance Move all of the riders until the arrow points to zero Add the riders together to get the total mass of the object Virtual Triple Beam Balance 60 g 0 g 2.4 g g

Volume Volume is the amount of space something takes up The base unit of volume is measured in liters The tool used to measure volume is the graduated cylinder Milliliters (mL) are the unit when using the graduated cylinder

How to measure volume Measure the volume using the lowest point of the meniscus (the curved line of fluid) 43 mL

Volume via displacement Displacement is the amount of fluid moved when an object is placed in the fluid The volume of an object can be calculated by calculating the amount of fluid that was displaced. For example: You start out with 20 mL of fluid, drop an object into the beaker and and the fluid level raises to 24 mL. The volume of the object is 4 mL Displacement Animation