MEASUREMENT: MASS,
VOLUME, AND LENGTH
USE OF THE TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE, BEAKERS, GRADUATED CYLINDERS, AND
RULERS
MASS VS WEIGHT
Mass
Weight
• The amount of matter in an
object
• The force of gravity acting upon an
object
• Measured in grams
• Measured in grams
• Does not change based on
location
• Changes based on location
• Stays the same whether you
are on Earth, the Moon, or
Mars
• Your weight on the Moon would be
1/6 of your weight on Earth.
• 80 kg on Earth = 15 kg on the
Moon
• 80 kg on Earth = 30.4 kg on Mars
MEASURING MASS
Measured using a triple beam balance
• Mass is measured in grams
• 3 “riders” slide back and forth on beams
• Measurement is correct when the pointer
is even with the zero mark
1. What is the mass pictured on the triple
beam balance?
100’s = 400g
10’s =
1’s =
40g
1.6g
Total = 400 g + 40g + 1.6g = 441.6g
2. What is the mass pictured on the triple
beam balance?
100’s = 100g
10’s = 60g
1’s =
4.3g
Total = 100g + 60g + 4.3g = 164.3g
3. What is the mass pictured on the triple
beam balance?
100’s = 0g
10’s = 90g
1’s =
9.9g
Total = 0g + 90g + 9.9g = 99.9g
4. What is the mass pictured on the triple
beam balance?
100’s = 200g
10’s =
1’s =
0g
7.1g
Total = 200 g + 0g + 7.1g = 207.1g
VOLUME
Volume is the amount of space an object
takes up or occupies
• measured in liters (L), milliliters (mL),
or cubic centimeters (cc).
• 1mL = 1cc
• We use beakers, flasks, and graduated
cylinders to measure volume
• Graduated cylinders are more
precise than beakers and flasks.
MEASURING
VOLUME
Graduated cylinders are used to
measure the volume of a liquid
precisely.
• Graduations are measurement
markings
• Most markings are in 1 and 2 mL
increments
• To read a graduated cylinder, look at
the lowest point of the curved
surface (the meniscus)
graduation
Meniscus
(read here)
MEASURING LENGTH
Measured using a meter stick or ruler
• Length is measured in meters (m)
• Smaller lengths are measured in
centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm)
• There are 100cm in each meter, and
1,000mm in each meter
• 1cm = 10mm
• Larger lengths are measured in
kilometers (km)