Name_____________________________________________Date________________Period__________
METRIC MEASUREMENTS LAB
Introduction
In many Earth Science investigations, precise measurements must be made before observations can be
interpreted. For everyday measuring, we still use English units such as the inch, quart and pound. For
scientific work, and for everyday measuring in most countries, the International System of Units (SI) is
used. Like our money system, SI is a metric system. All units are based on the number 10. In the SI
system, it is easy to change one unit to another because all units are related to one another by a power of
10.
In this investigation, you will review SI units for measuring length and mass. You will also learn how to
use some common laboratory equipment used for measuring.
Purpose
To determine how metric units of measurement are used in the laboratory.
Pre-Lab Discussion
Read the entire investigation. Then, answer the following questions in complete sentences.
1. Why is it easy to change from one unit to another in the SI system?
2. Why is it difficult to convert miles to yards, feet and inches?
Materials (per group)


Meter stick
Metric ruler


Paper clip
Electronic scale
Procedure
Part A: Measuring Length
1. Use the meter stick to measure the height of your lab partner in meters. Record your
measurements to the nearest hundredth of a meter in Data Table 1.
2. Convert the measurements from meters to centimeters and then to millimeters. Record these
measurements in Data Table 1.
3. Use a metric ruler to measure the length of a paper clip in centimeters. Record your measurements
in Data Table 2.
4. Convert the measurements from centimeters to millimeters. Record these measurements in Data
Table 2.
Data Table 1
Partner Height Measurements
Dimension
m
cm
mm
Height
Data Table 2
Paper Clip Measurements - Length
Dimension
cm
mm
Length
Part C: Measuring Mass
1. Using your scale, measure the mass in grams of the paper clip. Convert grams to micrograms.
Record these measurements in data table 3.
Data Table 3
Paper Clip Measurements - Mass
Dimension
g
μg (10-6)
Mass
Part D: Testing a Hypothesis
You’ve probably observed that tall people have long arms, whereas shorter people have shorter arms. Let
us construct a hypothesis.
Hypothesis: the length of a person’s arm in cm is equal to 0.4 of his or her height in cm.
Since you have already measured your height in cm, you can determine what we expect the length of the
arm to be by multiplying your height in cm by 0.4. Enter this number into the table below.
Data Table 4
Student
Height in cm
Expected arm length in
cm (height in cm x 0.4)
Observed arm length in cm
(measured with meter
stick)
Deviation from
expected (cm)
METRIC MEASUREMENTS LAB
Analysis and Conclusions
1. How do you convert meters to centimeters? Centimeters to millimeters?
2. In part D, according to the results, what is the relationship between height and arm length?
3. Did you accept or reject your hypothesis? Why or why not?
3. Do you think the US should change to a metric system of measurement? Why or why not? Provide
at least three reasons to back up your argument. Feel free to do some research on your own.
Reference Tables: