Measurement Basics Physical Science

Why is it important to make accurate and precise measurements? Accuracy is the correctness of a measurement. If your measurements are accurate, it means they are very close to the actual value of the object. Precision is the exactness of a measurement. The more detailed you are the more precise you are. For example, when measuring your foot your precision would be better if you measured in millimeters than if you measured in centimeters.

Measuring Distance Distance: the degree of separation between two points. Length: distance between two points, measured in meters (m). –To measure length you use a meter stick or metric ruler.

Measuring Mass and Weight Mass: amount of matter an object contains, measured in grams (g). –To measure mass you use a triple beam balance. Force: a push or a pull, measured in newtons (N). Weight: the measure of the force of gravity on an object, measured in newtons (N). –To measure weight you used a spring scale or an electric balance.

Measuring Volume Volume: amount of space an object occupies, measured in liters (liquid) or m 3 (regular solids). –To measure volume of a liquid you use a graduated cylinder or a beaker. –To measure volume of a regular solid you measure the length, width, and height of the object and multiply the three numbers together.

Measuring Temperature Temperature is the measurement of the movement of the particles in an object. –The faster the motion, the higher the temperature. The slower the motion, the lower the temperature. Temperature is measured with a thermometer and is measured in degree Celsius (°C) or degree Kelvin (°K). –The Fahrenheit (°F) scale is the common scale for the US.

Calculating Density and Area Density: mass per unit of volume, measured in g/l or g/m 3 ….Density = mass ÷ volume Area: length x width, measured in m 2