Measuring Matter / Study Guide

Measuring Matter / Study Guide

A person can take different measurements to compare and classify matter. Weighing an object is one way to measure matter. Weight is a measure of the force of gravity on an object. The weight of the peppers in this picture pulls down on parts inside of the hanging scale, causing springs to move and display the weight. The Earth has a more forceful attraction with more massive objects, so these objects will stretch the spring more, indicating a greater weight.

Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an object. Gravitational force does not affect mass, since there is always the same amount of matter in an object. For example, if an astronaut travels to the Moon from the Earth, her mass will be the same in both places. Her weight will change based on the gravitational force of her location. The Moon is about one-sixth the size of the Earth; therefore, it exerts a smaller gravitational force on objects.

Multiple Choice

Are measurements of matter, like weight or mass, physical or chemical properties?

Multiple Choice

If the gravitational force changes, an object's ________ will be affected, but its _______ will remain the same.

• mass; weight

• weight; mass

Multiple Choice

This sponge and brick take up the same amount of space. Which statement is correct?

• The brick contains more matter, so it has greater mass than the sponge.

• The sponge contains more matter, so it has a greater mass than the brick.

• Since the objects have the same volume, they have equal masses.

Multiple Choice

All matter has mass. Does all matter have weight?

Scientists all around the world us a standardized system called the International System of Units, or SI. The abbreviation SI comes from the system's French name, Syteme International d'Unites. The gram (g) and the kilogram (kg) are the SI units used to measure mass and weight. Grams are used to measure smaller amounts of matter, and kilograms are used to measure more massive objects. There are 1,000 grams in one kilogram.

In the United States, all measurements completed by science students or professional scientists are made using SI units. However, SI units are not required to be used in everyday life in the U.S. For example, a person may purchase one pound (lb) of potatoes at the store or Chemistry lift a 30-pound (lb) weight at the gym. The pound is a unit that is used to measure weight in the United States, but pounds are not SI units and are not used in most other countries.

Multiple Choice

Measures the amount of matter in an object

• weight

• mass

• both weight and mass

Multiple Choice

changes based on gravitational force

• weight

• mass

• both weight and mass

Multiple Choice

measured in grams and kilograms

• weight

• mass

• both weight and mass

Multiple Choice

Which of these objects most likely has a mass of about 7 kilograms?

Multiple Select

Which of these objects would best be measured in grams?

• an elephant

• a mouse

• a paperclip

• a car

• a pen

Multiple Select

Which of these objects would best be measured in kilograms?

• an elephant

• a mouse

• an adult person

• a car

• a pen

To find the exact mass of an object, a triple beam balance or a balance with a set of standard weights can be used.

Multiple Choice

What is the mass of the red coffee mug being weighed on a balance scale at left? (click to enlarge)

Multiple Choice

Two students are trying to use a balance to find the mass of a carrot. They determine that the mass of the carrot is 75 grams (click to enlarge). Are they correct?

• Yes

• No

Multiple Choice

What is the mass of the apple at left? (click to enlarge)

The books are taking up all of the available space in this locker, and the juice is taking up almost all of the space in this glass.

The SI units for volume are the cubic meter (m³), cubic centimeter (cm³), liter (L), and milliliter (mL). Cubic meters and cubic centimeters are usually used to find the volume of solid matter with a well-defined shape, like a cube. There are 100 centimeters in one meter, so cubic centimeters are used to express the volume of smaller solid objects, and cubic meters are used for larger solid objects. Liters and milliliters are usually use to show the volume of liquids or irregularly shaped solids.

If a solid has a well-defined shape, like a cube or rectangle, a person can measure the dimensions of the object and calculate the volume. The dimensions include the length, height, and width of the object.

Multiple Choice

Find the volume of the briefcase at left (click to enlarge).

Not all objects are cubes or rectangles. Some objects, like a key, rock, or chess piece, are irregularly shaped. One way to find the volume of an irregularly-shaped object is by finding how much water the object displaces.

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of this ring? (Click to enlarge)

• 200 mL

• 100 mL

• 10 mL

• 2 mL

Multiple Choice

Which of the two words below would fit definition #1 at left (click to enlarge).

• Mass

• Volume

Another property of matter that can be measured is density, which combines the properties of mass and volume. Density is a ratio of the amount of mass per unit of volume.

Two objects may take up the same amount of space but have different masses, or amounts of matter, inside that space. If two objects have the same volume but different masses, they will have different densities. Since density is a comparison of mass and volume, a person can easily tell which object has a greater density if the two objects have the same volume and different masses.

The SI units for density are grams per milliliter (g/mL) or kilograms per liter (kg/L). At room temperature, the density of water is 1 g/mL or 1g/cm³.

Multiple Choice

Object A and Object B have the same volume of 10 cm³. Object A has a mass of 20 grams. Object B has a mass of 50 grams. Which object will have the same density?

• Object A

• Object B

Multiple Choice

Which equation can be used to find the density of an object?

Multiple Choice

What is the density of this metal block (click to enlarge)?

• 3 g/cm³

• 9 g/cm³

• 12 g/cm³

• 15 g/cm³

Density can also determine if an object will sink or float. The density of water at room temperature is 1 g/cm³. If an object or substance has a density that is greater than the density of water, the object will sink. Objects or substances that are less dense than water will float. The plastic balls on the left have a density of 0.3 g/cm³, which means that they float in water. The marbles on the right have a density of 2 g/cm³, which means that they sink in water.

Multiple Choice

An object's _______ determines if it will float or sink in a substance, like water.

• density

• mass

• size

• state

• volume

Multiple Choice

The basketball and wooden block have a density that is ______ the density of water. The penny and the golf ball have a density that is _______ the density of water

• less than; less than

• greater than; greater than

• less than; greater than

• greater than; less than

Multiple Select

Which of these objects will sink in water?

• billiard ball

• golf ball

• soccer ball

• tennis ball

• marble

Multiple Choice

Which of the following explains why this balloon is floating in air?

• The balloon is filled with helium, a gas is denser than air

• The balloon is filled with helium, a gas that is less than air.

Multiple Choice

Carrie poured several different liquids in one container to see the different differences in density. After the liquids settled into place, Carrie took a picture of her experiment (click to enlarge). Which list shows the colors of the liquids from the densest to the least dense?

• blue, clear, red, green

• red, green, blue, clear

• green, red, clear, blue

• blue, green, red, clear

Multiple Choice

Janet mixed water and olive oil in a bottle. She shook the bottle for several minutes, and then she let the mixture rest. After a few minutes, all of the oil had risen to the top of the water.

This shows that oil is not as dense as water.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

What is weight?

• a measure of the amount of matter in an object

• a ratio of the amount of mass per unit of volume

• a measure of the amount of space that matter occupies

• a measure of the force of gravity on an object

Multiple Choice

What is the International System of Units (SI)?

• a standardized procedure that scientists use to conduct experiments

• a standardized system that scientists use to describe the elements

• a standardized procedure that scientists use to teach chemistry

• a standardized system that scientists use to measure the properties of matter

Multiple Choice

What is volume?

• a measure of matter's ability to float

• a ratio of the amount of density per unit of volume

• a measure of the amount of space that matter occupies

• a ratio of the amount of mass per unit of volume

Multiple Choice

What is density?

• a measure of the thickness of an object?

• a ratio of the amount of mass per unit of volume

• a measure of matter's ability to float

• a ratio of the amount of volume per unit of weight

Multiple Choice

Aaron travels to Jupiter, which is much larger than Earth and has a much greater gravitational force. Aaron's ______ will change, but his _____ will remain the same.

• volume; density

• weight; mass

• mass; weight

• density; weight

Multiple Choice

Eliza needs to know how much soil to buy for her new planter. Calculate the volume of the planter.

• 748 cm³

• 2,002 cm³

• 3,094cm³

• 68,068cm³

Multiple Choice

Annika has measured the mass and volume of this chess piece (click to enlarge). What is the density of her chess piece?

• 1.0

• 1.5

• 2.5

• 5.0

Multiple Select

Connor wants to find the volume of a small rock. Which items will he need to find the rock's volume?

Select all that are needed.

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of Connor's rock?

• 10 mL

• 15 mL

• 50 mL

• 100 mL

Multiple Choice

An apple has a mass of 130 grams. Which of the following statements are true?

• The apple takes up 130 grams of space.

• The gravitational pull on the pull is equal to 130 grams.

• The apple contains 130 grams of matter.

• The apple will always sink in water.

Multiple Choice

Alex wants to find the volume of this chess piece. Which of the following procedures should he follow?

• He should place the piece on a triple beam balance.

• He should place the piece in water to see if it sinks or floats.

• He should measure the length, width, and height of the piece using a ruler.

• He should use a graduated cylinder filled with water to find how much water the piece displaces.

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of the chess piece (click to enlarge)?

• 20 mL

• 25 mL

• 100 mL

• 125 mL

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of Hannah's jewelry box ? (click to enlarge)

• 3,105 cm^3

• 2,090 cm^3

• 47 cm^3

• 1, 051 cm^3

Multiple Choice

How is density calculated?

• amount of water displaced divided by mass

• weight divided by volume

• volume divided by mass

• mass divided by volume