Name: __________________________

Lab Activity 2 Measurements and the Metric System

NSCI 102
The metric system is the universal system of measurement used by scientists of all disciplines. The United States is one of only three countries in the world that has not adopted the metric system which is why many !merican students are not familiar with the units involved. This activity will provide an overview of the metric system and "ive you an opportunity to practice ma#in" measurements and conversions within this system. Part 1 Introduction to the Metric System $or an introduction to the metric system and the units used to measure len"th mass and volume copy and paste the lin# below into your browser to watch a short %ouTube clip. http&''www.youtube.com'watch(v)hC*+,-2t./c 0hile you are watchin" 1or when you2re finished3 answer the 4uestions below. 1. 0hat is the basic unit used to measure length or distance in the metric system(

2. 0hat standard measurement is this unit based on 1how did they come up with the si5e of this unit3(

6. 0hat are the si* prefi*es used in the metric system to indicate lar"er or smaller units( 7ist them in order from lar"est to smallest.

8. 0hat is the basic unit used to measure volume in the metric system(

.. The basic unit for volume is based on a bo* that is what len"th on each side(

9. 0hat is the basic unit used to measure this unit based on(

eight or mass in the metric system( 0hat is

Part 2 !onversions "ithin the Metric System !s mentioned in the first video the units within the metric system are all based on multiples of 10. Therefore to convert from a lar"er unit to a smaller unit you only need to multiply by 10 1or 100 1000 etc.3. This involves simply movin" the decimal point to the ri"ht. Similarly to convert from a smaller unit to a lar"er unit you need to divide by 10 thus movin" the decimal point to the left. :nce you "et used to it convertin" from centimeters to meters for e*ample is much easier than convertin" from inches to feet; To help you "et started with these conversions there is a nice demonstration with some e*amples a"ain on %ouTube. Copy and paste the lin# below into your browser. :nce you2ve watched see if you can answer the followin" 4uestions. http&''www.youtube.com'watch(v)o-<0=>wN$4o %our te*tboo# also includes a list of measurement units in Supplement 1 on pa"e S2 in the bac# of your boo#. The units we will use the most are the meter 1m3 #ilometer 1#m3 centimeter 1cm3 millimeter 1mm3 "ram 1"3 #ilo"ram 1#"3 milli"ram 1m"3 liter 173 and milliliter 1m73 so the practice problems deal with these units as well. If you would li#e yet another e*planation of how to do conversions amon" different units you can refer to pa"e 61 of the eScience 7ab ?anual. %ou can download the manual from the eScience web site usin" the lo"in you created last wee# or you can open it directly from the C+ that is found within your #it. There are additional practice problems there as well but you do not need to turn those in @ust the ones on this sheet;

1. 2. 6. 8. .. 9. A. >. B. 10 .

1m) 1m) . cm ) 1 #m ) 17) 1") .00 cm ) >.9 cm ) 0.2. #" ) A9 mm )

cm mm mm m m7 m" m mm " cm

11. 12. 16. 18. 1.. 19. 1A. 1>. 1B. 20.

1 cm ) 1 mm ) 8A. m ) B. cm ) 6A. " ) .00 m7 ) 2.. 7 ) 8000 #" ) .00 m" ) 1 cm6 )

m m #m m #" 7 m7 " " m7

The metric system also has units for measurin" area and ener"y. $or measurin" area the metric system uses either the s4uare #ilometer 1#m23 s4uare meter 1m23 or hectare 1ha3. $or ener"y the units are @oules #ilo@oules calories and #ilocalories. Use the information in Supplement 1 to answer the followin" 4uestions. 21. 1 #m2 ) 22. 26. 1 ha ) . ha ) m2 m2 #m2 28. 2.. 29. 1 #C ) 1 #cal ) 1 cal ) C cal C

Part # !onversions bet een the Metric System and the $nglish System The system of measurement that is standard in the United States is the ,n"lish System. Defer to Supplement 1 as needed to answer the followin" 4uestions. 1. 7ist five different units used to measure len"th in the ,n"lish system. 2. 7ist three different units used to measure volume in the ,n"lish system. 6. 7ist three different units used to measure mass in the ,n"lish system. ?ost !mericans have an idea about the si5es of each of these units and can ma#e estimates without the use of a measurin" device. $or e*ample we #now the appro*imate si5e of an EinchF. This section of the lab activity will help you to "et used to the si5es of the units in the metric system by ma#in" some conversions between ,n"lish and metric. !"ain refer to Supplement 1 for help. 1. 2. 6. .. 9. A. >. B. 10 . 1 inch ) 1 #m ) 1m) 17) 1 #" ) 1 lb ) 1") 1 ha ) 1 #C ) cm miles inches m 4uarts lb " o5 acres -tu 11. 12. 16. 18. 1.. 19. 1A. 1>. 1B. 20. 60 cm ) 9. mi ) 1 foot ) 6m) 8 4uarts ) 1.0 lb ) 22A " ) 98 o5 ) . acres ) 1 #cal ) inches #m m yards 7 #" lb = ha -tu

8. 1 yard )

The metric system also uses a different scale for measurin" temperature. In the ,n"lish system we are used to hearin" about temperatures in de"rees $ahrenheit. The metric system however uses the Celsius scale. Use the formulas in Supplement 1 to answer the followin" 4uestions. 21 . 22 . 26 . 62 G$ ) 0 G$ ) 212 G$ ) GC GC GC 28. 2.. 29. H10 GC ) 22 GC ) A0 GC ) G$ G$ G$

Part % A&&lying 'our (no ledge :#ay now it is time for you to practice by ma#in" a few measurements of your own. $or this section you will need either a #itchen scale or a bathroom scale as well as the followin" items from your #it& ruler thermometer 1in bubble wrap3 test tube 1in bubble wrap and labeled Etest tube.F -e careful unwrappin" it as it is made of "lass;3 and the 100 m7 "raduated cylinder 1lon" narrow tube with blac# base and yellow on one side and mar#in"s 2.H100 on the other side3. %ou will also need your te*tboo# as well as a couple of other items from around your house that you can measure. 1. Start with your ruler and notice that it has inches on one side and metric on the other. The numbers that are mar#ed 11H603 are centimeters and the smaller lines are millimeters. Use the ruler to measure the dimensions of your te*tboo#. Decord your answers in centimeters to the nearest tenth. len"th ) width ) hei"ht 1thic#ness3 ) cm cm cm

2. Use the ruler to measure the len"th of one of your inde* fin"ers. Decord your answer in centimeters to the nearest tenth. len"th ) cm

6. Use the ruler to measure the len"th of one other item. 0hat is the item you are measurin"( len"th )

Cm

8. Ne*t remove your thermometer from its protective casin". +oes your thermometer measure temperatures in $ahrenheit or Celsius(

.. 0hat is the temperature in the room where you are now( 9. ?easure the temperature of one other item or location. If you are brave 1or if it is a rare EwarmF day3 you can "o outside. If you2d rather stay indoors find somethin" else that would most li#ely be a different temperature than the room. Ierhaps the inside of your refri"erator a "lass of ice water or a mu" of hot water. :r maybe there is a room in your home that you don2t heat or maybe you can thin# of somethin" else; It may ta#e a few minutes for the thermometer to ad@ust to the new conditions. 0ait until the red column stops movin" before recordin" the measurement. 0hat are you measurin"( temperature )

JC

A. Carefully unwrap your test tube if you have not done so already. The test tube is "lass and you will need it later so use caution; $ill your test tube with as much water as it will hold. ?easure the volume of water in the test tube by pourin" the water from the test tube into the 100 m7 "raduated cylinder. 0hen readin" the volume your eyes should be level with the level of the water 1you may have to crouch down3. The water mi"ht form a sli"ht dip or curved line in the cylinder. The lowest part of that curve is called the meniscus and this is the level at which the volume should be read. ,ach line represents 1 m7. If the meniscus is between two lines you can estimate to the nearest half 122.. m7 for e*ample3. Depeat your volume measurement three times 1usin" the same test tube each time3 and record your values below. 0hen finished calculate the avera"e of the three values 1add them all up and divide by 63. Trial 1 2 6 !vera"e& +ry out your test tube and "raduated cylinder as much as possible. ! small paper towel rolled into a narrow EwandF wor#s well. %ou may wish to wrap your test tube in the bubble wrap a"ain for safe stora"e until it is needed later. >. $inally use your #itchen or bathroom scale to measure three items of your choosin". -e sure to choose items that are appropriate to the type of scale. $or e*ample if you are usin" a bathroom scale you will want to wei"h heavier items such as a "allon of mil# your te*tboo# a potted plant a ba" full of "roceries etc. If you are usin" a #itchen scale choose li"hter items such as a piece of mail a handful of potato chips a Test tube volume 1m73

spoon a soc# etc. If your scale has metric units on it you may record your answer in those units. :therwise record your answer in the ,n"lish system 1lb or o53 and then perform the appropriate conversion to #" for lar"er items or " for smaller ones. Type of scale used& Item 0ei"hed 0ei"ht 1,n"lish3 0ei"ht 1?etric3

Part ) Pre&aring *or Ne+t "ee,-s Lab $or the ne*t lab assi"nment you will watch the documentary E!n Inconvenient TruthF and answer a set of 4uestions while you watch. There is also a short web activity to complete. To prepare you will need access to the documentary either via an online service li#e Netfli* or !ma5on or an actual +<+ copy from a local library. The I7C on the Kuad Cities campus has one copy available for viewin" in the lab and there is another copy available in -uildin" 2 on the Kuad City campus durin" limited hours 1contact instructor for details3. .eedbac, on /his Lab The followin" 4uestions will not be "raded but your answers will help to improve this lab in the future. 1. !ppro*imately how lon" did it ta#e you to complete this lab activity( a. 7ess than 1 hour b. 1H2 hours c. 2H6 hours d. 6H8 hours e. ?ore than 8 hours 2. +id this activity enhance your understandin" of the metric system and ta#in" measurements( 0hy or why not(

6. +id you e*perience any frustrations or difficulties while wor#in" on this activity(