Name: _________________________________________________________________________________
Seventh Grade Science Teacher: ____________________________________________________________
Page 1
Why should you do this Packet?
Dear future 8th grade student,
You are most likely asking yourself, what the heck is this and why do I have to do it? Let me try to explain. While the
SI system (metric) is actually something that is included in Pennsylvania Math Standards, it is absolutely necessary to
understand it for many fields of science including Physical Science. Years ago, the 8th grade science department took
over this standard to help the math teachers cover some of the information that was require in math. However, now
that Pennsylvania has added a science standardized test to your 8th grade year, it has become necessary to start
learning about the SI system before the start of the school year (Your standardized test next year include the PSSA
MATH & READING, PSSA WRITING, PSSA SCIENCE, and the KEYSTONE EXAMS). Your future 8th grade science
teachers are asking you to READ about, LEARN about, and try to USE the SI System (metric) before the start of the
next school year. This packet might seem like of lot of extra work to do over the summer, but if you tackle it a little
at a time, it will be more manageable. Don’t wait until the last week of summer to get started, or it might just stress
you out. You may have heard from your 7th grade teachers, but let me make one thing very clear; your 8th grade year
is going to be THE MOST difficult year at the Middle School. And here is the reason why… More Effort Is REQUIRED
than ever before. You can accomplish anything or tackle anything that you are determined to do. All that is required
is a will to learn it and an effort to do it. Those students that do not apply themselves will find 8th grade science to be
very difficult. To motivate you and start out your year in the right direction, anyone that brings a completed packet
to their 8th grade science teacher on the first or second day of school next year will earn 5 bonus points and a Free
homework pass. This offer is only good for your first or second day back to school. Additionally, there will be a
measurement test within the first few weeks of school The actual date of the test will be announced during the first
week of school). If you have questions about the packet you can email any of the 8th grade science teachers and they
will try to answer your questions. Also if you prefer a color copy or need an extra copy, you can find a link on Mr.
Racchini’s Website:
http://franklinregionalms.ss4.sharpschool.com/departments/8th_grade_houses/three_river_house/science_mr__racchini
So enjoy your summer, but try to also find some time to start to understand how to use the SI System of
measurement. We’ll see you next year!
Items you will need:
1.
Patience (Remember learning something new is one thing,
but mastering it takes time)
2.
3.
Pencil
A Metric Ruler (Target, Office Max, Office Depot, and
Walmart typically sell these for less than $1.00)
4.
Your 8th grade science teachers,
Mr. Racchini – 3 Rivers House
Mrs. Simpson – Mason-Dixon House
Mrs. Danny – Endeavour House
A Scientific Calculator (You will need one throughout
th
the 8 grade year. (Physical Science includes a lot of math)
Make sure you write your name on it with a sharpie
5.
Internet Connection. (Included in this packet are
several links to sites that will help you in your understanding of
how to measure in the SI System.) Plus use Mr. Racchini’s
website resources and Goggle
Page 2
Until the late 1700’s, there was no UNIFIED system of measurement. For example, despite the best
efforts of Charlemagne and many kings of France after him, the country’s measurement system was one
of the most chaotic in the world. In 1795 there were over 700 different units of measurements in France
alone. Many often referred to parts
of the human body: the digit, the
hand, the foot, the cubit, the pace,
and the fathom. The same thing was
true in other countries all over the
world. The biggest problem was
that these units were not fixed and
varied from country to country,
town to town, and from person to
person.
In 1790, in the midst of the French
Revolution, the National Assembly
of France requested the French
Academy of Sciences to create a
standardized system of measurement for all measurements that was SIMPLE and SCIENTIFIC. Thus the
Metric system was created. The System is a decimal system (No Fractions) based on the number 10. If
you can count to ten you can measure with the metric system. Soon after its creation it was adopted
and slowly introduced into many countries. In fact the US Congress passed a law in 1866 naming the
metric system as the official measurement system of the United States. That means we should no longer
be using inches, feet, gallons, pounds, and miles.
Do you know how tall you are in centimeters or how much you weigh in kilograms? Not many people
do. Why? It’s because it’s hard to make a change. Many people were set in their ways or didn’t have a
need or desire to learn a new system at that time. Any change will take a little time to adjust to, but will
eventually feel natural. Think about your parents or grandparents. Believe it or not, they grew up
WITHOUT CELL PHONES (first commercial cell phone call was made in 1983) or the INTERNET (AOL starts
in 1989), but now how many of them use these daily. Change does take time, but for the United States,
changing to the Metric System
has been an extremely long
process. Other countries have
already adopted an updated
version of the Metric System
called the SI System
(International System of Units)
while the US still hasn’t finished
converting over to the Metric
System.
Page 3
The SI System basically redefined the base units of the Metric System in a more precise way. For
example, in the Metric System one meter was defined as one ten-millionth of the distance between the
equator and the North Pole and now the SI system defines one meter as the path travelled by light in a
vacuum during a time interval of 1/299,792,458 of a second. The distance is the same, but the definition
has changed. The United States is one of only THREE countries in the world that has not yet made the
complete conversion to the SI System, which is making it harder and harder for US businesses to take
part in International business. The one place in the US where the conversion is complete is in all fields
of science. Because of this, it is necessary for you to first become familiar with SI System and then
become experts on how to measure precisely and accurately with this system.
Since a lot of what happens in science relies on knowing how to measure, all students entering the
eighth grade are expected to complete this summer measurement packet before the first day of eighth
grade. Your eighth grade science teacher will be reviewing this packet with you at the start of the school
year and you will be tested on the material within the first few days of school. Don’t put it off until the
last minute. Work on this a little at a time over the entire summer.
Page 4
Section 1: Learning the “Basics”
Every type of measurement in the SI System has a BASE UNIT assigned to it and all other measurements
of that type are a variation of that base unit. By adding a prefix to the base unit we change the meaning
of the base unit and the size of our measurement. For example in the Imperial System of measurement
that we are used to using, the measurements of distance we had to commit to memory the meanings of
INCHES, FOOT, YARD, MILES, and LEAGUES. To measure volume, you had to remember the difference
between, FUILD OUNCES, CUPS, PINTS, QUARTS, and GALLONS. For measuring mass, you had to know
OUNCES, POUNDS, and TONS. However, in the SI System you only have to remember the METER, LITER,
and GRAM and what happens to them when you attach one of the standard prefixes to it. (The same
prefixes will be used for all measurements; distance,
volume, and mass).
What are the SI Prefixes?
There are 20 expectable prefixes that may be used
with SI measurements. Each prefix changes the
meaning of the base unit by some factor of 10. The
chart to the right, list all of the SI Prefixes, however,
the ones in the middle of the range are the ones that
you will use the most (kilo, hector, deka, deci, centi,
and milli) and will be expected to know. It is
important to know the order of these prefixes from
largest to smallest and try get an understanding of
the size of each measurement. Most likely you will
use some of these more often than the others. In
most science and math classes, students will use
Milli, Centi, Kilo, and the base unit more than any of the others, but it is still important to know what the
others are and what they mean.
An easy way to remember these middle range prefixes is to use
the following pneumonic device:
Did you know that King Henry Died By Drinking Chocolate Milk
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Page 5
To start let’s think about distance. The base unit for distance is one meter. A meter stick is slightly
longer than a yard stick (A Yard stick is 36 inches long while a meter stick is about 39.37 inches long)
So what is a kilometer? (1 meter
x 103 = 1000 meters long)
Tar Hollow RD
Middle
School
Cline Hollow RD
Giant
Eagle
= ONE kilometer
= ONE mile
The distance from Cline Hollow Road to Forest Lane is just about one mile.
The distance from Cline Hollow Road to the High School entrance is about ONE KILOMETER
So what is a hectometer? (1 meter
FR Stadium for FOOTBALL
(End zone to End zone = 100yd)
x 102 = 100 meters long)
FR Stadium for SOCCER
(Goal line to Goal line = 1 Hectometer)
Page 6
So what is a decameter? (1 meter
x 10 = 10 meters longs)
Olympic diving competitions
are held at two heights:
1. a springboard dive set at 3m above the
water
2. and a platform dive, set at 1 decameter
So what is the Base
Unit for length? (1 meter)
One Yard Stick
ONE METER STICK
So what is a decimeter? (1 meter
1
2
3
4
5
6
x 10-1 = 0.1 meters long)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
(Looking more closely at a meter stick)
Page 7
So what is a centimeter? (1 meter
1
2
3
4
5
6
x 10-2 = 0.01 meters long)
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
11
12
13
(Looking more closely at a meter stick)
So what is a millimeter? (1 meter
1
2
3
4
5
6
x 10-3 = 0.001 meters long)
7
8
9
10
(Looking more closely at a meter stick)
The easiest way to think about it is this: EVERY SPACE in the Si system is evenly divided into 10
spaces. If you can count to ten, than you can measure with the SI system. You never have to
worry about fractions again (except in Math class).
There are 10 millimeters that make up 1 centimeter.
There are 10 centimeters that make up 1 decimeter.
There are 10 decimeters that make up 1 meter.
And so on….
Page 8
Section 2: How to Measure with accuracy and precision
Every time you measure something you always need to measure to the precision of the tool you are
using plus one estimated digit (also called your “Best Guess”) For example, if you are measuring the
pencil below in centimeters using the ruler below it, your answer would be:
12.35 cm
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
3 millimeters
1 decimeter
2 centimeters
From zero
From the last
measurement
From the last
measurement
(This is the
Precision of the
tool [THE
SMALLEST written
lines])
5
10
of the way through the
empty space is your
12.35 cm
estimated digit
The decimal point is placed after the digit of the unit that you wish to record the measurement. In this case we are
measuring in centimeters so the decimal point is placed after the 2 since that is the centimeter measurement.
Page 9
If we wanted to measure the same pencil from the previous page in millimeters, the answer would be
123.5 mm
The decimal point is placed after the digit of the unit that you wish to record the measurement. In this case we are
measuring in millimeters so the decimal point is placed after the 3 since that is the millimeter measurement.
Notice each individual digit is still the same, and just the location of the decimal point was changed.
We can even record the length of the pencil in kilometers if we want to. Just remember your prefixes
(King Henry).
0 0 0 0 1 2 3 5
km
hm dam
m
dm
cm mm Best
Guess
0.0001235 km
The decimal point is placed after the digit of the unit that you wish to record the measurement. In this case we are
measuring in kilometers so the decimal point is placed after the first zero since that is the kilometer
measurement. Notice each individual digit is still the same, and just the decimal was changed.
ABOUT THE BEST GUESS:
The estimated digit is very important as it tells everyone that looks at your measurement that all of the
numbers before it are absolute numbers and were actually read from the tool. The last number written is
always assumed to be a guess / opinion of the person reading the tool. THAT MEANS A BEST GUESS (or
estimated) DIGIT MUST ALWAYS BE RECORDED, even if the object is estimated to not have gone into the
empty space of the tool. In this case the best guess (estimated) digit would be recorded as a ZERO.
Page 10
Different tools in the SI system all measure to different precisions. It doesn’t matter what tool you are using as
long as you remember to always measure to the smallest written lines on that tool PLUS one estimated digit
for the empty space between the smallest lines. Below are several different SI measurement tools. Read each
tool and record the measurement to the precision of the instrument PLUS one estimated digit.
1.) Record the length of the marker below in centimeters (cm).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
11
10
12
13
2.) Record the length of the Model Rocket below in centimeters (cm).
20
30
1
3.) Record the width of the SD Memory Card in centimeters (cm).
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
Page 11
Section 3: Measuring Distance with a meter stick
Score
Name: ______________________ Pd: _____ Date: _______
Learning to read a meter stick
Directions: Using your knowledge of SI rulers, write the correct measurement for each numbered
location on the rulers below. (For 1- 8 measure in cm [Don’t forget your decimal point])
1.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
BG
90
0
#8
#1
91
1
2.)
___
dm
3.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
BG
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
BG
92
2
93
3
#2
#4
94
4.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
4
BG
95
#6
5
5.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
BG
6
6.)
___
dm
#5
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
BG
96
97
7
#3
7.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
98
8
BG
99
9
8.)
___
dm
___ ___ ___
cm
mm
#7
BG
Page 12
Name __________________________________________________ Pd______ Date ________________
Score
Let’s Practice measuring distance using the SI System
1) Complete the list below of SI system units of length from largest to smallest:
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
dam
m
cm
Best
Guess
Guess
2) Use your Metric Ruler to measure the following lines in the label listed at the right of each line. Write the answer on each line.
cm
cm
cm
mm
mm
mm
m
m
m
Page 13
3) Measure the total distance of each bent line in the label listed at the right of each line. Write the answer for each segment on
each line and then CIRCLE the Total distance.
cm
cm
mm
mm
m
Page 14
C
Name: __________________________________ Pd: ______ Date: _________
Measuring Length Practice
1) Measure the longest side of this paper in km.
A
km
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
mm
BG
m
dm
cm
mm
BG
mm
BG
2) Measure the shortest side of this paper in mm
km
hm
dam
3) Measure on this page the distance longest side of the Title box in cm
km
hm
dam
4) Measure the height of this “M” in dm
km
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
B
m
dm
cm
mm
BG
5) Measure the following line in m _______________________________________
km
hm
dam
m
dm
cm
mm
BG
Measure the distance between the following DOTS on this page. (Edge of the DOT to the
Edge of the DOT).
6) Measure the distance from the DOT “A” to DOT “B” in centimeters
7) Measure the distance from the DOT “C” to DOT “D” in meters
8) Measure the distance from the DOT “A” to DOT “D” in kilometers
9) Measure the distance from the DOT “A” to DOT “C” in millimeters
10) Measure the distance from the DOT “B” to DOT “D” in meter
11) Measure the distance from the DOT “B” to DOT “C” in centimeters
D
Page 15
Name: ___________________________________ Pd: _____ Date: _________
Score
No other city can Measure up to Pittsburgh’s Firsts
Directions: Using a metric ruler and your knowledge of how to measure length, following
the directions below to discover some of the things that Pittsburgh was first in. for every
question always start at the dot in the “START HERE” box (ONLY START HERE FOR
NUMBER ONE OF EACH QUESTION). Then using the color indicated, draw the path that
was used to find the answer. (You may first use a pencil and then trace over it with the color later.)
1. The world’s first theater devoted to motion pictures, opened on
Smithfield Street in Pittsburgh in 1905. What was its name?
RED
(1) Measure DOWN 13.50cm, then LEFT 4.60 cm (2) Measure UP 12.50 cm, then RIGHT 12.45 cm (3)
Measure DOWN 0.85 cm, then LEFT 10.00 cm (4) Measure LEFT 5.25 cm, then DOWN 11.55 cm (5) Measure
RIGHT 2.40 cm, then UP 4.95 cm (6) Measure UP 4.65 cm, then RIGHT 0.95 cm (7) Measure DOWN 6.30 cm,
then LEFT 0.55 cm (8) Measure UP 6.90 cm, then RIGHT 4.80 cm (9) Measure DOWN 5.25 cm, then LEFT
5.25 cm (10) Measure DOWN 1.60 cm, then RIGHT 0.30 cm (11) Measure DOWN 3.45 cm
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
2. What was the name of the world’s first true baseball stadium was that was built in
Pittsburgh in 1909?
BLUE
(1) Measure RIGHT 3.35cm, then DOWN 2.10 cm (2) Measure DOWN 8.00 cm, then LEFT 7.95 cm (3)
Measure UP 6.10 cm, then RIGHT 11.55 cm (4) Measure DOWN 4.45 cm, then LEFT 7.00 cm (5) Measure
LEFT 4.90 cm (6) Measure DOWN 5.20 cm, then RIGHT 12.95 cm (7) Measure UP 7.80 cm, then LEFT 4.55
cm (8) Measure UP 3.80cm (9) Measure UP 1.05 cm, then RIGHT 4.55 cm (10) Measure DOWN 7.45 cm,
then LEFT 12.80 cm (11) Measure RIGHT 0.90 cm, then UP 4.65 cm (12) Measure RIGHT 4.30 cm, then UP
0.60 cm
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
#11
#12
GREEN
3. Game 4 of the 1971 World Series in Pittsburgh was the first World Series ________.
(1) Measure DOWN 13.40 cm, then LEFT 4.60 cm (2) Measure UP 12.50 cm, then RIGHT 12.55 cm (3)
Measure DOWN 2.55 cm, then RIGHT 2.95 cm (4) Measure DOWN 9.65 cm, then LEFT 5.30 cm (5) Measure
LEFT 7.35 cm, then UP 7.65 cm (6) Measure RIGHT 11.00 cm, then DOWN 0.25 cm (7) Measure RIGHT 1.60
cm, then UP 2.30 cm (8) Measure RIGHT 2.65 cm, then DOWN 6.50 cm (9) Measure DOWN 0.60 cm, then
LEFT 9.25 cm (10) Measure LEFT 3.30 cm, then UP 2.25 cm
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____
#1
#2
#3
#4
#5
#6
#7
#8
#9
#10
Page 16
.
.
Z
.
P
START
HERE
.
J
.
C
.
F
.
D
.
L
.
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.
G
.
Y
.
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.
E
.
O
.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Page 17
Section 4: How to use measure Volume
The process for measuring volume is very similar to the process for measuring distance. The major difference
is the tool that you use. Volume is the measurement of how much space something takes up. There are
several different ways to find volumes. The state of matter and shape of the object will determine which way
you measure its volume. Volumes are typically recorded in ml or cm3. They represent the same amount of
space. In fact 1ml of water will fit perfectly into a box that is 1cm x 1cm x 1cm. Liquids and gases are usually
measured in ml, while solids are always measured in cm3.
Volumes of Liquids:
In order to find the volume of liquids you will have to use a graduated cylinder. A Graduated cylinder is read
very similarly to the way a meter stick is read. They come in different sizes, so make sure you first identify its
size and precision before trying to use it.
Steps to reading a Graduated Cylinder
1. Determine the cylinders maximum capacity.
(The maximum capacity of the GC to the left is 50 ml)
2. Determine the values of the unnumbered graduation lines
a. It takes ten lines to go from 30 ml to 40 ml
b. So the change in volume ÷ number of lines
10 ml ÷ 10 lines = 1 ml per line
3. This now tells you that the smallest measurement that you
can make with Graduated lines on this graduated cylinder
is in the Ones place. THIS IS THE PERCISION OF THIS TOOL.
4. Just as you did with the meter stick, you will need to
estimate how far the liquid is into the empty space
between lines. This estimated number is the next smallest
place holder (In this case it is the tenths place)
5. The liquid in a graduated cylinder tends to have a
curvature to it. This curved shaped is called a Meniscus.
a. It is a scientific standard to always read the
meniscus from its lowest point.
b. For example, the liquid
in the graduated
cylinder to the left is
reading 42.9 ml
Page 18
Volumes of Solid Objects:
In order to find the volume of solid objects you might have to use a meter stick and a calculator. All standard
geometric shapes (Cubes, Cylinders, Spheres, etc.), have a mathematical formula for determining volume.
Below are some of those formulas:
Volume of Cube = Length x Width x Height
(V = L x W x H)
Volume of Cylinder = π x Radius2 x Height
(V = πR2H)
R = 1.92 cm
H = 7.00 cm
H = 2.35cm
W = 3.08 cm
L = 7.81 cm
V = π x R2 x H
V=LxWxH
V = 7.81 cm x 3.08 cm x 2.35 cm
V = π x (1.92 cm x 1.92 cm) x 7.00 cm
V = 56.23 cm3
V = 81.03 cm3
Notice that the label for volume (cm3) is created
when 3 centimeter measurements are
multiplied together.
cm x cm x cm = cm3
Page 19
Some solid objects are not perfect geometric shapes (Cubes, Cylinders, Spheres, etc.), so mathematical
formulas will not work. The volume can still be found if you understand the concept of displacement. The
Universal Law of Displacement states that no two things may occupy the same space at the same time. For
example if you enter your classroom and someone is sitting in your seat, they will have to move in order for
you to sit there. Or think about getting into a bath. You put some water in the tub. Then you get in. what
happens to the level of the water? As you get in, you push some of the water out of the way and this makes
the water level rise. When you get out, the water level will go back down. The neat thing is, that the amount
of water that moved out of the way is equal to the volume of the person that got in.
We can use this same concept to find the volume of irregularly shaped objects. You put a known amount of
water into a container (Graduated Cylinder), and drop an irregularly shaped object into the water. The water
will be displaced and the change in volume for the water will be equal to the volume of the object.
Direct Displacement
Volume After = 55.5 ml
Volume Before = 44.7 ml
Volume AFTER
-
55.5 ml
-
Volume BEFORE
Volume of water displaced
Volume of water Displaced
10.8 ml
44.7 ml
10.8 ml
=
Volume of Object
=
10.8 cm3
Volume Labels
Solids = cm3
Liquids = ml
Gases = ml
Since the rock is a SOLID object, the volume should be recorded in cm
3
Page 20
Name: _________________________________
_______
Period: ____ Date:
Score
Measuring Volumes
Directions: Determine the volume of the following objects. Make sure you show your work.
Height = 5.50 cm
(1) Volume =
Width = 3.50 cm
Length = 12.60 cm
Height = 3.14 cm
(2) Volume =
Width = 2.75 cm
Length = 15.33 cm
R = 2.86 cm
(3) Volume =
H = 1.90 cm
R = 0.54 cm
(4) Volume =
H = 6.13 cm
Page 21
(5)
(6)
30
30
20
20
10
10
Answer all of the following questions
about this Graduated Cylinder?
Answer all of the following questions
about this Graduated Cylinder?
(a) Maximum Capacity: _________________
(a) Maximum Capacity: _________________
(b) Value of each unnumbered line: _______
(b) Value of each unnumbered line: _______
(C) Volume of the gray liquid: ____________
(C) Volume of the gray liquid: ____________
(7)
(6)
3
300
2
200
1
100
Answer all of the following questions
about this Graduated Cylinder?
Answer all of the following questions
about this Graduated Cylinder?
(a) Maximum Capacity: _________________
(a) Maximum Capacity: _________________
(b) Value of each unnumbered line: _______
(b) Value of each unnumbered line: _______
(C) Volume of the gray liquid: ____________
(C) Volume of the gray liquid: ____________
Page 22
REMEMBER:
Anyone that brings a completed packet to their
8th grade science teacher on the first or second
day of school next year will earn 5 bonus points
and a Free homework pass. This offer is only
good for your first or second day back to school.
Additionally, there will be a measurement test
within the first few weeks of school.
Page 23