CP Chemistry
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Lab #2-1
SI Scavenger Hunt Lab
Introduction
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the
International System of Units, universally abbreviated SI (from the
French Le Systéme International d’Unités), is the modern metric system
of measurement. Long the dominant system used in science, the SI is
rapidly becoming the dominant measurement system used in
international commerce. In recognition of this fact along with the
increasingly global nature of the marketplace, the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988
designated “the metric system of measurement as the preferred system of weights and measures for
United States trade and commerce.” As a result, SI is expected to be increasingly used in areas other
than science throughout America for the foreseeable future.
Purpose
To become familiar with SI units, measurement, and conversion.
Prediction
What would you predict the dimensions of the classroom are (length x width) in meters?
Equipment
electronic balance
graduated cylinder (100 mL)
meter stick
ruler
Materials
various (see procedure)
Safety Considerations
• None for this lab beyond standard lab safety procedures.
Procedure:
Part A – Length
1.
Determine the length of a teammate's foot, in meters.
2.
Determine the width of the classroom, in centimeters.
3.
Determine the thickness of a calculator, in millimeters.
4.
Find a person in the class who is approximately 1.6 meters tall and determine his or her exact
height, in millimeters.
Part B – Volume
1.
Determine the volume of a paperback book, in cm3.
2.
Determine the volume of one coin, in mm3.
3.
Determine the volume of a piece of jewelry, in mL.
4.
Find an object with a volume of around 100 cm3 and determine its volume, in cm3.
CP Chemistry
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Lab #2-1
Part C – Mass
1.
Determine the mass of a dollar bill, in grams.
2.
Determine the mass of a ring, in centigrams.
3.
Determine the mass of a piece of chalk, in milligrams.
4.
Find a single object different from those already used that has a mass between 100 and 200
grams and determine its mass, in grams.
5.
Find a single object different from those already used that has a mass between 10 and 25 grams
and determine its mass, in grams.
Part D – Density
1.
Determine the density of a coin, in g/mL.
2.
Determine the density of a piece of jewelry, in g/cm3.
3.
Find a single object different from those already used that is more dense than water and
determine its density, in g/mL.
Data – you should create a data table in your lab write-up that looks something like this:
Station
Measurement
Calculation Result
A1
A2
Calculations
A1. Calculate the length of your teammate’s foot in decimeters.
A2. Calculate the width of the classroom in millimeters.
A3. Calculate the thickness of the calculator in meters.
A4. Calculate the height of the person measured in Procedure A4 in micrometers.
B1. Calculate the volume of the paperback book in milliliters.
B2. Calculate the volume of the coin in cm3.
B3. Calculate the volume of the piece of jewelry in microliters.
B4. Calculate the volume of the object measured in Procedure B4 in Liters.
C1. Calculate the mass of the dollar bill in milligrams.
C2. Calculate the mass of the ring in kilograms.
C3. Calculate the mass of the piece of chalk in grams.
C4. Calculate the mass of the object measured in Procedure C4 in micrograms.
C5. Calculate the mass of the object measured in Procedure C5 in decigrams.
D1. Calculate the density of the coin in g/L.
D2. Calculate the density of the piece of jewelry in kg/mL.
D3. Calculate the density of the object measured in Procedure D3 in kg/L.
Questions
1.
What method did you use to determine the volume of jewelry used in Procedure B3? Why did you
use this method?
2.
What method did you use to determine the density of the coin used in Procedure D1? Why did
you use this method?
3.
Do you find it difficult to use SI units as compared to American customary units? Why or why not?
CP Chemistry
Theodore Roosevelt High School
Lab #2-1
Errors
Describe two possible errors you may have committed in this lab that may have somehow affected your
results. Explain the specific steps you will take to avoid each of these errors in the future.
Conclusion
Write two or more paragraphs summarizing your results, examining the validity of your prediction, and
describing what you learned while doing this lab.
CP Chemistry
Theodore Roosevelt High School
SI Scavenger Hunt Lab workspace:
Lab #2-1