Metric Measurement Lab. Hypothesis This laboratory activity does not require the production of a hypothesis.

Transcription

1 Purpose Metric Measurement Lab The metric system is a decimal system based on the meter, liter, and gram as units of length, capacity, and weight or mass. The system was first proposed by the French astronomer and mathematician Gabriel Mouton ( ) in 1670 and was standardized in France under the Republican government in the 1790s. Unlike the English system which has multiple units for length (inch, foot, yard, mile), the metric only has one the meter (m). Similarly, there are four basic metric units: Length meter (m) Mass gram (g) Volume liter (l or L) Time second (s) Base unit values can be modified (made larger or smaller) through the use of prefixes (ex. kilo, 1000; hecto, 100; deka, 10; deci, 0.1; centi, 0.01; milli, 0.001). The purpose of this laboratory activity is to learn how to make measurements using the metric system; master utilizing the metric ruler, gram scale, graduated cylinder, and thermometer; and to demonstrate the ability to convert the original measurement to lower or higher values by moving the decimal point the correct number of places in the proper direction. Hypothesis This laboratory activity does not require the production of a hypothesis. Materials Cold Isopropyl Alcohol Currency (Penny & Dollar) Glassware: Graduated Cylinders Glassware: Beakers Metric ruler Meter stick Plastic cup Scale Textbook Thermometer Vinegar Water (Ice, Room Temp, & Boiling)

2 Procedures Part 1: Linear Measure 1. Use the meter stick to measure the items listed below: a. Diameter of penny b. Height of lab counter c. Width of textbook d. Length of the room 2. Record your measurements in Table 1. Linear Measure. Use conversion rates to determine the other units of length. Part 2: Mass/Weight Be sure to check the unit on the scale to verify that you are measuring in grams (g) not oz or ct. 1. Use the scale to mass the following materials: a. Mass of penny b. Mass of dollar c. Mass of empty 10 ml graduated cylinder d. Mass of 10 ml graduated with 10mL of water 2. Use subtraction to determine the mass of the 10mL of water. 3. Record your measurements in Table 2. Mass/Weight. Circle the unit you used to directly measure each item. Use conversion rates to determine the other units of mass. Part 3: Volume (of liquids) 1. Use the glassware provided to measure the volume of the following containers: a. Volume of vinegar b. Volume of water c. Volume of plastic cup (held vinegar) 2. Record your measurements in Table 3. Volume (of Liquids). In the last column of the table write which glassware you used to measure the liquid & water with. (ex. 10 ml graduated cylinder, 50 ml graduated cylinder, 50 ml beaker, 100 ml beaker, 100 ml graduated cylinder)

3 Part 4: Temperature 1. Use the thermometer to measure the temperature of the following items: a. Ice water b. Boiling water c. Room temperature d. Cold Isopropyl alcohol 2. Record your measurements in Table 4. Temperature. Circle the temperature/s which you were able to measure directly. Use conversion rates to determine the other temperature values. Results Table 1. Linear Measure Diameter of a penny Height of lab counter Width of textbook Length of the room

4 Table 2. Mass/Weight Mass of penny g. cg. mg. kg. Mass of dollar g. cg. mg. kg. Mass of empty graduated cylinder Mass of graduated cylinder with 10ml of water Mass of 10 ml of water g. cg. mg. g. cg. mg. g. kg. kg. Table 3. Volume (of Liquids) Volume of vinegar L _cl. ml. Volume of water L _cl. ml. Volume of the bottle L _cl. ml. Table 4. Temperature Ice water F C K Boiling water F C K Room temperature F C K Cold Isopropyl alcohol F C K

5 Questions & Answers (Q&A) Linear Measure: 1. Did you use the same unit to measure each item? Explain why you selected the units you did. Mass & Weight: 2. What is the difference between weight and mass? 3. Why are weight and mass used synonymously on Earth? Volume (of Liquids): 4. Do all of the glassware measure with the same degree of accuracy? Explain 5. What determines which glassware you measure with? 6. What is a meniscus? Why is it necessary to know about it when measuring liquids? Temperature: 7. How did you determine the values for K? Conclusion (Modified) 1. What is the metric SI unit used for measuring length?. 2. The metric prefix denoting 1000X is. 3. If you are changing M to cm. what direction do you move the decimal point?. 4. How many times larger is a centigram than a milligram?. 5. What is the metric value for mass?. 6. What is the metric value for length or distance?. 7. What is the prefix value for 100X?. 8. What is the prefix value for 1/100?. 9. If we are moving from a large value to a small value, we move the decimal point to the.

6 10. If we are moving the decimal point to the right we are moving from a value to a value. 11. What sources of error would account for differences in measurement of the same thing?