Study Island
Practice Test- Tools in Science
Laboratory Tools & Safety
1. Some materials, especially unknown objects, are dangerous to handle with bare hands.
Which technological advance allows scientists to handle these objects enough to feel their
properties while still protecting their hands?
A. rubber gloves
B. petri dishes
C. forceps
D. beakers
Laboratory Tools & Safety
2. Jackie has difficulty seeing the blackboard in class. Her teacher suggests that she start
wearing _______.
A. headphones
B. glasses
C. eye makeup
D. hearing aids
Laboratory Tools & Safety
3. Which of the following pieces of technology expand the sense of sight?
A. microscopes and magnifying glasses
B. eyeglasses and contact lenses
C. binoculars and telescopes
D. all of these
Laboratory Tools & Safety
4. A typical human can clearly see an item as small as 0.5 mm across. Which form of technology
has enabled humans to see objects even smaller than this?
A. a telescope
B. a mirror
C. a microscope
D. scale models
Laboratory Tools & Safety
5. Mia has a glass of water. Which of the following tools could she use to measure the amount of
time it takes her to drink the water in the glass?
A. a graduated cylinder
B. a thermometer
C. a metric ruler
D. a stopwatch
Laboratory Tools & Safety
6. A magnet can be used to _______.
A. attract metal objects
B. measure the length of an object
C. measure the temperature of an object
D. measure the mass of an object
Laboratory Tools & Safety
7. Jodie has an apple. Which of the following tools could she use to measure the length of the
apple from top to bottom?
A. a metric ruler
B. a spring scale
C. a graduated cylinder
D. a thermometer
Laboratory Tools & Safety
8.
Look at the instrument above. This instrument is read by looking at the number that the pointer
moves to when an object is placed on the hook.
What is the function of this instrument?
A. to measure the height of an object in centimeters
B. to measure the speed of an object in miles per hour
C. to measure the mass of an object in kilograms
D. to measure the weight or force of an object in Newtons
Laboratory Tools & Safety
9. A scientist is going to perform an experiment to see how a new antibiotic affects a strain of
bacteria. Which of the following pieces of equipment would be most helpful to the scientist
during the experiment?
A. a spring scale
B. a beaker
C. a Bunsen burner
D. a microscope
Laboratory Tools & Safety
10. Betty is studying vein patterns in leaves. Which of the following tools could help Betty
examine the leaves' veins in greater detail?
A. a graphing calculator
B. a hygrometer
C. a compass
D. a hand lens
Laboratory Tools & Safety
11. Technology can often be used to extend and enhance human abilities. Sometimes, different
types of technology can even be used for a similar purpose.
For example, length can be measured using a metric ruler, a meter stick, a tape measure, or a
micrometer. Which of these instruments would most precisely measure very small objects?
A. meter stick
B. micrometer
C. metric ruler
D. tape measure
Laboratory Tools & Safety
12. Which of the following is an advantage of using an electronic balance instead of a triple
beam balance?
A. higher level of precision
B. quicker and easier to use
C. less chance of user error
D. all of these
Laboratory Tools & Safety
13. When there is a lot of water vapor in the air, the weather can feel warmer or colder than it
really is. What tool is used by meteorologists to measure the relative humidity?
A. barometer
B. rain gauge
C. thermometer
D. hygrometer
Laboratory Tools & Safety
14.
barometer
A barometer is an important tool for predicting how the weather is changing. What does a
barometer measure?
A. relative humidity
B. dew point
C. air pressure
D. air temperature
Laboratory Tools & Safety
15. A barometer is used to measure air pressure or a change in pressure readings. In order to
measure an air pressure change, the set pointer is placed _______ the reading pointer. Then, the
difference in pressure can be read after a certain amount of time by determining how much the
reading pointer has moved.
A. on top of
B. to the left of
C. to the right of
D. directly opposite of
Laboratory Tools & Safety
16. The device below indicates measurements in both millibars and inches Hg.
This image is courtesy of Wikipedia.
This device is known as _______, and it is used to measure _______.
A. an anemometer; humidity
B. a hygrometer; humidity
C. a hygrometer; air pressure
D. a barometer; air pressure
Laboratory Tools & Safety
17.
Wendy wants to know which colors of light are emitted by her flashlight. Which tool could help
her?
A. an anemometer
B. a psychrometer
C. a spectroscope
D. a laser pointer
Laboratory Tools & Safety
18. Which of the following tools is used to observe objects that are very far away?
A. a microscope
B. a telescope
C. a anemometer
D. a hand lens
Laboratory Tools & Safety
19. Germaine wants to know exactly how acidic lemon juice is. Which of these can tell him the
pH most precisely?
A. indicator solution
B. pH paper
C. red cabbage juice
D. pH probe
Laboratory Tools & Safety
20. According to the Big Bang theory, the universe—all of the stars, planets, and galaxies
everywhere—began as a very small, dense mass. This mass expanded suddenly in an incredibly
hot explosion-like event, and it has spent the last 13.7 billion years rapidly expanding and
cooling.
In 1964, which of the following space technologies provided scientists with the best evidence
that the universe was created in the Big Bang?
A. a radio telescope
B. a Mars rover
C. a weather satellite
D. a lunar module
Laboratory Tools & Safety
21. Space telescopes, including the Hubble Space Telescope shown below, have made it possible
to look much farther and deeper into space than traditional, land-based telescopes ever could.
This image is courtesy of NASA.
Why are optical space telescopes able to see deeper into outer space than land-based optical
telescopes?
A. because they are larger than land-based telescopes
B. because they are above the Earth's atmosphere
C. because they look through the Earth's atmosphere
D. because they are smaller than land-based telescopes
Laboratory Tools & Safety
22. Which of the following are ways that technology may be used in an investigation of clouds
over Kansas City?
A. A digital camera takes hourly pictures of clouds over many months.
B. Computer software is used to analyze the types and shapes of clouds from pictures.
C. A modeling program uses past data to predict future types and shapes of clouds.
D. all of these
Laboratory Tools & Safety
23. Andy is using a graduated cylinder to measure the volume of water. Which of the following
are correct procedures for reading the volume of water in a graduated cylinder?
I. He should hold the graduated cylinder in his hand so the surface of the water is at eye level.
II. He should place the graduated cylinder on a flat surface and bend down so the surface of the
water is at eye level.
III. He should take the reading from the bottom of the curve of the surface of the water.
IV. He should take the reading from the highest point of the surface of the water.
A. I and III only
B. I and IV only
C. II and IV only
D. II and III only
Laboratory Tools & Safety
24. Select the correct sequence of steps for lighting a Bunsen burner.
A. Apply the spark above the barrel of the Bunsen burner.
B. Open the gas adjustment at the base of the Bunsen burner.
C. Connect the burner hose to the gas outlet.
D. Open the gas valve on the gas outlet.
A. C, B, D, A
B. C, D, B, A
C. C, D, A, B
D. C, A, D, B
Laboratory Tools & Safety
25. Microscopes are often used to examine specimens which are too small to see in detail using
only the human eye. Which of the following procedures should be followed prior to placing a
specimen slide on the stage of the microscope?
A. Close the diaphragm so no light can enter.
B. Spit on the eyepiece to make sure that it is clean.
C. Turn the objective lens to the lowest magnification setting.
D. Focus the microscope on the light source.
Laboratory Tools & Safety
26. Stephanie wants to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object. Which of the
following describes the steps that would need to be followed in order to do this?
A. Measure the mass of the object on a balance. Measure the height of the object using a
ruler. Multiply these measurements together to find the volume of the object.
B. Fill a graduated cylinder halfway with water. Drop the object into the water. Measure the
new volume of water. Subtract the initial volume of water from the final volume of water.
C. Measure the length, width, and height of the object using a ruler. Multiply these
measurements together to find the volume of the object.
D. Fill a beaker with water. Measure the initial mass of the beaker. Place the object in the
beaker. Subtract the initial mass of the beaker from the final mass of the beaker plus the
object.
Laboratory Tools & Safety
27. Tim and Jim finished their lab experiment earlier than their classmates. What should they do
while they wait for the others to finish?
A. bring their math textbooks to the lab area and finish tonight's homework
B. look for an interesting experiment in their lab manual and perform that experiment
C. grab a snack out of their backpacks and eat it in the lab area
D. look over their answers to the lab questions and check for errors
Laboratory Tools & Safety
28. Before using glassware in the lab, it is important to _______.
A. know the location of the classroom broom, dustpan, and broken glassware container
B. carefully inspect the glassware for cracks and chips
C. make sure that the glassware is clean and dry
D. all of these
Laboratory Tools & Safety
29. Which of the following may be considered a hazard in the laboratory?
A. open-toed shoes
B. long hair
C. loose-fitting clothing
D. all of these
Laboratory Tools & Safety
30. Ramone was boiling a beaker of water on a ring stand over the open flame of a bunsen burner
when some of the water bubbled over and extinguished the flame.
What should Ramone immediately do next?
A. He should try to reignite the bunsen burner.
B. He should turn off the gas.
C. He should notify his teacher.
D. He should remove the beaker from the ring stand.
Collecting Data
31. When scientists use one of their five senses to gather information, they are
A. making an observation.
B. making an inference.
C. drawing a conclusion.
D. predicting a relationship
Collecting Data
32. Quantitative observations always include _______.
A. symbols
B. words
C. numbers
D. time
Collecting Data
33. Tony recorded data from his chemistry experiment in the following table.
Sample
Color
Volume
Temperature
Mass
A
yellow
150 mL
20°C
40.1 g
B
red
125 mL
20°C
15.2 g
C
clear
175 mL
20°C
26.3 g
D
green
150 mL
20°C
81.4 g
Which of the categories from Tony's data table includes qualitative observations?
A. volume
B. mass
C. color
D. temperature
Collecting Data
34. Dr. Wong conducted an experiment in his laboratory. He wrote down a list of things he
observed during the experiment. Which of the following is a qualitative observation?
I. The liquid in the beaker smelled like rotting eggs.
II. The liquid in the beaker became hot after Dr. Wong added a chemical.
III. The liquid in the beaker turned from clear to blue after Dr. Wong added a chemical.
IV. There was less liquid in the beaker after Dr. Wong conducted the experiment than before he
conducted the experiment.
A. I only
B. II and III only
C. I and IV only
D. I, II, III, and IV
Collecting Data
35. An example of a qualitative observation would be ___________.
A. a product of a reaction was solid
B. an object makes a crackle noise
C. an object feels smooth
D. all of these
Collecting Data
36. The mass of a block was measured in grams using a triple beam balance. Using the picture,
determine the mass of the block.
A. 709.4 g
B. 94.71 g
C. 1793.9 g
D. 179.39 g
Collecting Data
37. As a part of a laboratory investigation, Emily measured the volume of water in a graduated
cylinder. Which of the choices correctly identifies the volume of water in the graduated cylinder?
A. 33.0 mL
B. 33.5 mL
C. 34.0 mL
D. 35.0 mL
Collecting Data
38.
The triple-beam balance shown above measures in grams. What is the mass of the chick?
A. 175 g
B. 10 kg, 7.5 g
C. 10.75 g
D. 17.5 g
Collecting Data
39. The image below is a stopwatch whose small hand keeps track of minutes to the nearest half
minute. Its large hand keeps track of seconds.
How much time does the stopwatch show has passed?
A. 12 minutes, 37.3 seconds
B. 12 minutes, 7.3 seconds
C. 12.37 minutes
D. 12.57 minutes
Collecting Data
40.
How long is the grasshopper from the hind end of its body to the tips of its antennae?
A. 6.65 in
B. 6.65 cm
C. 13.65 cm
D. 13.65 in
Collecting Data
41. The thermometer below measures temperature in degrees Celsius. The thermometer is sitting
outside in the sunlight.
What temperature does the thermometer show?
A. 36.2°C
B. 35.1°C
C. 41.2°C
D. 30.51°C
Collecting Data
42. Which of the following should be measured with a meter stick, not a tape measure?
A. the circumference of an orange
B. the size of a student's waist
C. the length of ribbon needed to tie around a vase
D. the distance from the ground to the top of a ramp
Collecting Data
43. Colin wants to know the length of a pencil. He measures it with a metric ruler that is shown
in the picture below.
What is the length of Colin's pencil?
A. 9.03 cm
B. 8.46 cm
C. 10.03 cm
D. 9.2 cm
Collecting Data
44.
The picture above shows a scale being used to measure the mass of a tomato. How much mass
does the tomato have?
A. 67 g
B. 52 g
C. 57 g
D. 62 g
Collecting Data
45.
The scale above measures the mass of objects in grams. How much mass does the flower have?
A. 1.3 grams
B. 4.5 grams
C. 3.9 grams
D. 6.0 grams
Collecting Data
46. The temperature outside is 25°C. Which of the following thermometers shows that the
temperature is 25°C?
A. X
B. Y
C. Z
D. W
Collecting Data
47. Abby timed how long she ran using a stopwatch. She started the timer when she started
running and stopped it when she had finished running. The stopwatch is shown below after Abby
stopped it.
How long did Abby run?
A. 59 sec
B. 57 sec
C. 51 sec
D. 54 sec
Collecting Data
48. Tanya is running a race in her gym class. Her teacher times her, then shows her the timer.
How long did it take Tanya to complete the race?
A. 47 minutes and 42 seconds
B. 46 minutes and 18 seconds
C. 48 minutes and 54 seconds
D. 56 minutes and 30 seconds
Collecting Data
49. Jessica poured a liquid into the graduated cylinder below.
What is the volume of the liquid?
A. 15.2 mL
B. 10.7 mL
C. 17.5 mL
D. 16.9 mL
Collecting Data
50. Kaylee wants to measure the volume of water that she has left over from an experiment. She
pours the water into a graduated cylinder. She reads the graduated cylinder shown below.
What is the volume of the water?
A. 1.5 mL
B. 16.3 mL
C. 16.0 mL
D. 15.0 mL
Collecting Data
51. The milliliter is a metric unit for
A. length.
B. volume.
C. temperature.
D. mass.
Collecting Data
52. The cubic centimeter, which is often abbreviated as cc or cm3, is a metric unit for _______.
A. mass
B. volume
C. length
D. temperature
Collecting Data
53. Which of the following units can be used to measure the mass of a grain of salt?
A. milligrams
B. millimeters
C. milliseconds
D. milliliters
Collecting Data
54. Which of the following correctly lists the prefixes in order from smallest to biggest?
A. micro-, milli-, deca-, centi-, kiloB. milli-, micro-, centi-, kilo-, decaC. micro-, milli-, centi-, deca-, kilo-
D. centi-, milli-, micro-, deca-, kilo-
Collecting Data
55. Which of the following units would be the most appropriate for measuring the mass of a
child?
A. centigrams
B. milligrams
C. kilograms
D. grams
Collecting Data
56. The level of closeness between a measured quantity and the actual or standard value is called
__________.
A. similarity
B. congruency
C. accuracy
D. precision
Collecting Data
57.
The target above can be best described as an example of
A. low accuracy and low precision.
B. low accuracy and high precision.
C. high accuracy and high precision.
D. high accuracy and low precision.
Collecting Data
58. Genevieve was working on a science lab. In her lab, she was combining two chemicals and
timing how long the reaction took to form a precipitate. She repeated the investigation a total of
five times. Her times are shown below.
trial
time (min:sec)
1
08:37
2
07:59
3
08:16
4
08:21
5
08:03
The next day, the instructor told Genevieve that the standard time for her investigation should
have been 8 minutes 7 seconds. Which of the following choices describes Genevieve's work in
the lab?
A. Her test trials had a high level of accuracy but a low level of precision.
B. Her test trials had a low level of accuracy but a high level of precision.
C. Her test trials had a high level of accuracy and a high level of precision.
D. Her test trials had a low level of accuracy and a low level of precision.
Collecting Data
59. Lisa is using a spring scale to measure the weight of a wooden block. She weighs the wooden
block a total of five times with the spring scale. She records each reading in the data table below.
Trial Weight (N)
1
22.3
2
22.2
3
22.2
4
22.1
5
22.3
If the actual weight of the wooden block is 17.5 newtons, which of the following is true about the
spring scale Lisa is using?
A. The spring scale has a low level of precision and a high level of accuracy.
B. The spring scale has a high level of precision and a high level of accuracy.
C. The spring scale has a high level of precision and a low level of accuracy.
D. The spring scale has a low level of precision and a low level of accuracy.
Collecting Data
60. The diagram below shows the displays of three different digital laboratory scales.
If Annie needs 47.29 grams of sodium chloride for her experiment, which of the above scales
should Annie use to precisely measure the mass?
A. scale 1 or 2 only
B. scale 1 only
C. scale 2 or 3 only
D. scale 1, 2, or 3
Answers
1. A
2. B
3. D
4. C
5. D
6. A
7. A
8. D
9. D
10. D
11. B
12. D
13. D
14. C
15. A
16. D
17. C
18. B
19. D
20. A
21. B
22. D
23. D
24. B
25. C
26. B
27. D
28. D
29. D
30. B
31. A
32. C
33. C
34. D
35. D
36. D
37. A
38. D
39. A
40. B
41. A
42. D
43. A
44. C
45. C
46. D
47. D
48. B
49. D
50. D
51. B
52. B
53. A
54. C
55. C
56. C
57. D
58. A
59. C
60. A
Explanations
1. Rubber gloves allow scientists to handle many objects that are too dangerous to be handled
by bare hands. However, there are still many objects that should not be handled, even with
rubber gloves. Also, some people are allergic to rubber and must use other kinds of gloves.
2. If Jackie is having difficulty seeing the blackboard, her teacher would likely suggest that she
wear glasses or contacts. These pieces of technology enhance the sense of sight.
3. There are many pieces of technology that have helped humans expand the sense of sight, such
as microscopes, magnifying glasses, eyeglasses, contact lenses, binoculars, and telescopes.
Any type of technology that makes objects appear larger or allows humans to see more clearly
can be considered to expand the sense of sight.
4. A microscope is a tool built particularly to help magnify small objects. Binoculars and
telescopes magnify objects that are far away. A scale model can be built of a very small object,
but it is generally not the same as observing the actual object.
5. A stopwatch is used to measure the amount of time that has passed from one point to another.
This would be the best tool for Mia to use to measure the amount of time it takes her to drink the
water in the glass.
6. A magnet can be used to attract metal objects. Certain kinds of metal, including iron, cobalt,
and nickel, are attracted by magnets.
7. A metric ruler is used to measure the length of an object. This would be the best tool to
measure the length of the apple from top to bottom.
8. The instrument in the picture is a spring scale. It is used to measure the weight or force of
an object in Newtons.
In order to use a spring scale, an object is placed on the hook, and the number that the pointer
moves to is read as the weight or force of the object.
9. Bacteria are microscopic organisms. Microscopes magnify small objects, so they would be
helpful in studying microscopic organisms.
10. Betty could us a hand lens to examine the leaves' veins in greater detail. Hand lenses make
objects close behind them appear larger. If Betty uses a hand lens, it will be easier for her to
observe the patterns she is studying.
11. Tape measures and meter sticks are usually used to measure long distances. A metric ruler is
usually used to measure lengths that are less than 30 cm. A micrometer is used to precisely
measure small objects.
To use a micrometer, an object is inserted between two rods. Then, the moveable rod is twisted,
like a screw, until it is positioned snugly against the object. Finally, the object's length is
measured using the scale on the micrometer.
12. An electronic balance has all of these advantages over a triple beam balance.
Most obviously, an electronic balance is quicker and easier to use. When the specimen is placed
on the balance platform, the reading is given almost instantly.
Usually, electronic balances can measure mass to a higher degree of precision than a triple beam
balance, sometimes to the nearest thousandth of a gram.
Also, triple beam balances require much more manual operation than electronic balances do, so
they are more prone to user error.
13. The relative humidity an important factor used to predict the weather. The combination of
humidity, the air temperature, and the barometric pressure help predict whether precipitiaton will
fall.
Meteorologists measure the realtive humidity using a hygrometer.
14. A barometer measures the air pressure, called the barometric pressure, for a given location.
Variations in the barometric pressure often correspond to changes in the weather.
15. When using a barometer to measure a change in air pressure, the set pointer is placed on top
of the reading pointer. Then, if the reading pointer changes position, the change in pressure can
be determined.
16. A barometer is a tool that scientists use to measure air pressure.
Air pressure is most often measured in millibars but is sometimes measured in inches of mercury
(inches Hg). Inches of mercury are units used to describe the height (in inches) of a column of
liquid mercury that rises and falls depending on atmospheric pressure. One inch of mercury is
equal to about 33.86 millibars.
17. A spectroscope is a tool that divides light into the different colors that make it up. Most light
sources—including light bulbs, flashlights, and the Sun—emit many different colors, but not all
colors. A spectroscope can help an observer determine which colors are released by the light
source and which colors are not.
18. A telescope makes objects that are very far away appear larger. This makes them easier to
observe. Objects like stars and planets are often observed through telescopes.
19. A pH probe connects to a computer to display and record the numerical value for the pH of a
solution. Indicator solutions, red cabbage juice, and pH paper can only give an approximate pH
value.
A pH meter can also give the numerical value of a solution's pH, but it does not need to be
connected to a computer.
20. One of the most important discoveries in physics and astronomy occurred in 1964, when
astronomers Arno Penzias and Robert Wilson first observed the universe's cosmic background
radiation with a very sensitive radio telescope.
Cosmic background radiation is essentially heat that is left over from the heat of the Big Bang.
This heat is spread evenly across the universe and is found even in the darkest spaces between
stars and galaxies. Shortly after it was discovered, scientists realized that the best explanation for
this heat is that it was left behind by an incredibly hot event in the universe's past. This event was
most likely the Big Bang.
21. Optical telescopes have been used by astronomers for hundreds of years. Galileo first used an
optical telescope to observe Jupiter and the Moon in the early 1600s. But images created by landbased optical telescopes have always been blurred by the Earth's atmosphere.
The air surrounding the Earth bends and scatters light coming from stars, making the stars appear
to "twinkle." Space telescopes, such as NASA's Hubble Space telescope, are above Earth's
atmosphere. This vastly increases their ability to see great distances with incredible detail.
22. Digital cameras, computer software, and predictive models are all technologies that may be
useful in an investigation.
23. When reading the volume of a liquid in a graduated cylinder, the cylinder should be placed
on a flat surface (like a lab table) and the person reading the volume should bend down so the
surface of the liquid is at eye level. It is important to take readings at eye level to avoid error
caused by perspective. Also, graduated cylinders should not be held up in a person's hand. When
being held, the cylinder may be tilted, resulting in a skewed reading.
When water or other liquids are contained in graduated cylinders, the surface of the water curves
upward. This curvature is called the meniscus and is caused by the interaction between the
molecules of the liquid and the molecules of the container. Readings should always be taken
from the bottom of the meniscus.
24. The sequence of steps for lighting a Bunsen burner is as follows:
1. Connect the burner hose to the gas outlet.
2. Open the gas valve on the gas outlet.
3. Open the gas adjustment at the base of the Bunsen
burner.
4. Apply the spark above the barrel of the
Bunsen burner.
25. Before placing a slide on the stage of the microscope, it is always best to make sure that the
objective lens is turned to the lowest magnification setting. This procedure is recommended to
prevent scratching both the lens and the surface of the slide.
26. In order to measure the volume of an irregularly shaped object, it is necessary to use the
water displacement method. In this method, you must...





fill a graduated cylinder halfway full with water,
measure the initial volume of water by looking at the bottom of the meniscus,
drop the object into the water,
measure the final volume of water by looking at the bottom of the meniscus,
subtract the initial volume of water from the final volume of water to determine the
volume of the object.
27. If a laboratory experiment is completed early, it is best to look over the answers to the lab
questions and check for errors. It is never appropriate to perform an experiment that has not
been assigned by the teacher, clutter the lab area with books or papers that are not related to the
lab, or eat or drink in the lab area.
28. All of these are important to do before using glassware in the lab:

carefully inspect it for cracks and chips to reduce the chance of the glassware breaking or
cutting yourself during lab,

make sure that the glassware is clean and dry so that your experiment will not be
contaminated by leftovers from a previous experiment,

and know the location of the classroom broom, dustpan, and broken glassware container
in case it is needed.
29. Long hair, loose-fitting clothing, and open-toed shoes may all be considered
hazards in the laboratory.
Before entering the lab, it is important to tie back long hair, roll up loose sleeves, and put
on protective equipment, such as safety goggles, a lab apron, gloves, or shoe covers.
30. If the flame of a bunsen burner goes out for any reason, the gas should immediately
be turned off. If this procedure is not followed, gas could build up in the classroom and
cause a fire or explosion. Students may also become ill from inhaling the gas.
31. When scientists use one of their five senses to gather information, they are making
an observation.
Much of scientific knowledge has been gained through observation. By using the senses
of sight, smell, touch, taste, and hearing, there are many things about the world that can
be learned.
32. Quantitative observations always include numbers. The word quantitative comes
from the word quantity.
33. An observation that includes only words in the description is qualitative because it
describes the quality of an object. Color is an example of a qualitative observation.
Temperature, volume, and mass are all examples of quantitative data because they
involve quantities, or numbers.
34. A qualitative observation describes the properties of an object, such as color, smell,
relative volume, or relative temperature. I, II, III, and IV are all qualitative observations
that Dr. Wong made during the experiment.
35. An example of a qualitative observation would be an object makes a crackle noise,
an object feels smooth, and a product of a reaction was solid.
Qualitative observations are descriptions about an object's characteristics, such as color,
appearance, smell, taste, and texture. Qualitative observations do not involve making
measurements.
36. The rider on the back beam is at 70 g.
The rider on the middle beam is at 100 g.
The rider on the front beam is past the 9.3 g mark and very close to the 9.4 g mark; so a
reasonable estimate is 9.39 g.
The total mass of the block is equal to the sum of these numbers.
100 g + 70 g + 9.39 g = 179.39 g
So, the total mass of the block is 179.39 g.
Triple beam balances measure mass. Common units of mass include grams or kilograms.
37. When using analog tools, measurements should not be rounded to the smallest unit.
Instead, measure how many complete smallest units there are, then estimate the fraction
of the last smallest unit.
Each increment on the scale of the graduated cylinder represents 1 mL. Since
measurements should include one estimated value, measurements taken with this
graduated cylinder should be written to the nearest tenth of a milliliter.
When reading the volume of a liquid using a graduated cylinder, the measurement is read
at the bottom of the meniscus (i.e., the curve of the surface of the liquid in the container).
In this example, the bottom of the meniscus is at a volume of 33.0 mL.
38. There are three indicators on the triple-beam balance: one measures hundreds of
grams, another tens of grams, and the last one single grams. They are set to 0, 10, and
7.5, respectively. The mass of the chick is 0 g + 10 g + 7.5 g = 17.5 g.
39. The small hand is on 12.5 minutes, and the large hand is on 7.3 seconds. This
indicates that the amount of time that has passed is 12 min + .5 min + 7.3 s = 12 min + 30
s + 7.3 s = 12 minutes, 37.3 seconds
There is a second way to read this stopwatch. A total of twelve minutes and more than 30
seconds has passed. Since the number of seconds is greater than 30, it is indicated by the
red numbers on the inside of the dial instead of the black numbers on the outside of the
dial. The large hand is pointing to 37.3 seconds. This gives a total of 12 minutes, 37.3
seconds.
40. The ruler has two different units. The larger ones (on the top) are inches. The smaller
units (on the bottom) are centimeters. The arrow shows that the hind end of the
grasshopper's body is lined up with the 7.00 cm mark. Its antennae reach almost to
13.7 cm, so 13.65 cm is about right.
13.65 cm - 7.00 cm = 6.65 cm
41. The temperature is indicated by the top of the red-colored alcohol in a thermometer.
The top is just slightly above the line that indicates 36°C, so a good answer would be
36.2°C. It's hot out there!
42. Meter sticks are best for measuring straight distances such as the distance from the
ground to the top of a ramp. Tape measures are best for measuring things that are not
straight, like the distance from one point on the surface of a ball to another.
43. When using analog tools, measurements should not be rounded to the smallest unit.
Instead, measure how many complete smallest units there are, then estimate the fraction
of the last smallest unit.
The ruler measures the length of objects to the nearest tenth of a centimeter. So,
measurements should be recorded to the nearest hundredth (0.01) of a centimeter.
9.03 cm is a good estimate for the length of Colin's pencil.
44. The measurement on the scale shows that the mass of the tomato is 57 g.
45. When using analog tools, measurements should not be rounded to the smallest unit.
Instead, measure how many complete smallest units there are, then estimate the fraction
of the last smallest unit.
The scale measures the mass of objects to the nearest gram. Since measurements should
also include one estimated value, measurements should be recorded to the nearest tenth
(0.1) of a gram.
The arrow on the scale in the picture rests just above the 4 g mark, so 3.9 grams would
be a reasonable estimate for the mass of the flower.
46. Thermometer W shows that the temperature outside is 25°C.
47. The stopwatch shows that Abby ran for 54 sec.
Time is usually measured using a stopwatch. Time is commonly recorded in units of
hours, minutes, and/or seconds.
48. The stopwatch shows that Tanya completed the race in 46 minutes and 18 seconds.
A stopwatch is read by reading the smaller circle first to determine minutes, then the
outer (larger) circle to determine seconds.
49. When using analog tools, measurements should not be rounded to the smallest unit.
Instead, measure how many complete smallest units there are, then estimate the fraction
of the last smallest unit.
The volume of a liquid should be read where the bottom of the curve or meniscus rests.
Since each unit on the graduated cylinder is equal to 1 mL, the measurement should be
estimated to the nearest tenth of a milliliter. 16.9 mL is a good estimation of the liquid's
volume.
50. A graduated cylinder is read by finding the very bottom of the curve of liquid in the
cylinder. This curve of liquid is called a meniscus. The bottom of the meniscus falls just
around the 15 mL line. This graduated cylinder measures volumes to the nearest
milliliter, so the measurement should include an estimation to the nearest tenth of a
milliliter. Since the water rests just at the 15 mL line, the volume could be best estimated
to be 15.0 mL.
51. The milliliter is a metric unit for volume. Volume may also be measured in cubic
centimeters, cubic meters, or liters.
52. The cubic centimeter is a metric unit for volume.
One cubic centimeter is equivalent to one milliliter.
53. The gram is a unit for mass. So, the most appropriate unit for measuring the mass of a
grain of salt would be milligrams.
54. The prefix micro- represents 10-6. The prefix milli- represents 10-3. The prefix centirepresents 10-1. The prefix deca- represents 101, and the prefix kilo- represents 103.
So, from smallest to biggest, the prefixes should be listed as follows:
micro-, milli-, centi-, deca-, kilo55. In the metric system, masses are measured using grams as the base unit. Prefixes can
then be added to the base unit when appropriate.
In this problem, the most appropriate unit for measuring the mass of a child is kilograms.
56. The level of closeness between a measured quantity and the actual or standard value
is called accuracy.
57. Accuracy is the level of closeness between a measured quantity and the actual or
standard value. Precision is the level of closeness between multiple measurements of the
same quantity. On the target, the marks are near the bulls-eye but relatively far apart. This
represents high accuracy and low precision.
58. Accuracy is the level of closeness between a measured quantity and the actual or
standard value. Precision is the level of closeness between multiple measurements of the
same quantity. For Genevieve's test trials, the times are all close to the expected time of 8
minutes 7 seconds, but relatively far apart from each other. This represents high
accuracy and low precision.
59. Accuracy is the level of closeness between a measured quantity and the actual or
standard value. Precision is the level of closeness between multiple measurements of the
same quantity.
In this case, the multiple measurements of the wooden block are close together, but far
from the actual value. This means that the spring scale has a high level of precision and a
low level of accuracy.
60. To precisely measure any given mass, the scale used should include at least as many
digits to the right of the decimal as the mass to be measured.
Since 47.29 grams includes 2 digits to the right of the decimal, the scale that is used must
also include at least 2 digits. So, only scale 1 or 2 can be used.