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 g2.4 g

600

+ 2.462.4 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