Unit 2- Measurement

I. Standard Systems of Measurement

A. Why do scientists need to use a standard system of measurement?

1. It minimizes confusion among scientists all around the world.

2. It gives scientists a common language to compare data and

communicate their scientific results.

B. The Metric System

1. a universal system of measurement based on the number ten

2. developed by scientists in France

II. The International Standard of Units (SI)

A. Definition- a version of the Metric System used by modern scientists

B. Common SI Prefixes

1. kilo (k)- 1,000

2. hecto (h)- 100

3. deka (da)- 10

4. basic unit- 1

5. deca (d)- 0.1 / one-tenth

6. centi (c)- 0.01 / one-hundredth

7. milli (m)- 0.001 / one-thousandth

III. Scientists all over the world use SI units to measure:

A. Length

1. Definition- the distance from one point to another

2. Common Units of Measure

a) meter (m)

(1) the basic unit of length

 (2) approximately from the tip of an adult’s nose to the tip
of his finger

(3) approximately five cinder blocks high

(4) approximately from the floor to a doorknob

b) centimeter (cm)

(1) one-hundredth of a meter (1 meter = 100 cm)

(2) approximately the width of your little finger

(3) approximately the width of a thumb tack

(4) approximately the width of a large paperclip

c) millimeter (mm)

(1) one-thousandth of a meter (1 meter = 1,000 mm)

(2) 1 cm = 10 mm

(3) approximately the thickness of a small paperclip

(4) approximately the space between the teeth of a fine

comb

d) kilometer (km)

(1) one thousand meters (1 km = 1,000 m)

(2) the distance from the front of the school, out to the
traffic light, and down to Wendy’s

e) light year

(1) the distance light travels in one year (9.5 trillion

kilometers)

(2) Light travels at 300,000 kilometers per second

(186,000 miles per second).

(3) The closest star system, after the sun, is 4 light years
away!
 3. Tools for Measuring Length

a) meter stick

b) metric ruler

c) metric measuring tape

B. Mass

1. Definition- the amount of matter an object has

2. Common Units of Measure

a) gram (g)

(1) the basic unit of mass

(2) the mass of a large paperclip

b) kilogram (kg)

(1) used for measuring larger masses

(2) one thousand grams (1 kg = 1,000 g)

c) milligram (mg)

(1) used for measuring fine masses like chemicals in foods

and medicines

(2) one-thousandth of a gram (1 g = 1,000 mg)

3. Tools for Measuring Mass

triple-beam balance- compares the mass you are measuring to a

known mass
 4. What is the difference between mass and weight?

a) Weight is the measure of the force of gravity acting on an

object.

b) Your weight will change depending on the gravity of the object

you are on.

c) You would weigh less on the Moon and more on Jupiter.

d) Mass is constant, weight is not.

C. Volume

1. Definition- the amount of space an object takes up

2. Common Units of Measure (liquid volume)

a) liter (L)

(1) the basic unit of liquid volume

(2) Soda is sold in 1, 2, and 3 liter bottles.

b) milliliter (mL)

(1) one-thousandth of a liter

(2) 1 L = 1,000 mL

3. Tools for Measuring Liquid Volume

graduated cylinder

(1) The liquid in the graduated cylinder forms a curve

called a meniscus

(2) to read the volume, read the bottom of the meniscus

4. Common Units of Measure (solid volume)

cubic centimeters (cc or cm³)

(1) a cube that is one centimeter long on all sides

(2) 1 cm³ = 1 mL = 1 g
 5. Tools for Measuring Solid Volume

a) Metric Ruler

(1) used to find volume of a rectangular solid

(2) volume = length x width x height

b) Water Displacement Method

(1) used to find volume of an irregular solid

(2) measure volume of water in a graduated cylinder, add

irregular solid and measure new volume, find the
difference

D. Density

1. Definition- the measure of how much mass is contained in a given

volume

2. density = mass ÷ volume

3. Common Units of Measure

An object’s density is expressed as a combination of two units.

(1) g/cm³

(2) g/mL

4. Water has a density of 1 g/mL

a) Objects with a density less than 1 g/mL will float in water.

b) Objects with a density greater than 1 g/mL will sink in water.

E. Time

Common Units of Measure

a) second (s)- the basic unit of time

b) millisecond (ms)

(1) one-thousandth of a second

(2) 1 s = 1,000 ms
 c) minute- 60 seconds

d) hour- 60 minutes

F. Temperature

1. Definition- the measure of how hot or cold something is

2. Common Units of Measure

a) Celcius Scale (Cº)

(1) commonly used by scientists to measure temperature

(2) freezing point of water = 0ºC

(3) boiling point of water = 100ºC

(4) normal body temperature = 37ºC

b) Kelvin Scale (K)

(1) the official SI unit for measuring temperature

(2) Absolute Zero- the coldest temperature possible = 0 K

= -273ºC

(3) freezing point of water = 273 K

(4) boiling point of water = 373 K

3. Tool for Measuring Temperature

thermometer