How do Scientist Use Tools

How Do Scientists Use Tools

Scientist use tools to give them SUPER-vision! These tools help scientists observe objects and collect information about them.

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Make It Clear!

​Lets us see tiny objects by using a light source and lenses or mirrors inside the microscope.

Light microscope

​A magnifying box has a lens in its lid.

Magnifying box

A hand lens has one lens with a handle.

Hand lens

We use forceps to pick up tiny objects to view with magnifiers.

Forceps

Use a dropper to move small amounts of liquids for viewing.

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Dropper

Close, Closer, Closet!

Magnifying tools

Magnifying tools make objects look larger. Hold a hand lens close to one eye. Then move the hand lens closer to the object until it looks large and sharp. A magnifying box is like a hand lens in that it also has one lens. You can put things that are hard to hold, such as an insect in it.

Close, Closer, Closet!

Magnifying tools

A microscope magnifies objects that are too tiny to be seen with the eye alone. Its power is much greater than that of a hand lens or magnifying box. Most microscopes have two or more lenses that work together. All of the these tools help you observe to collect data. Observed data are collected using the five senses, but they are not measured data.

Draw

Draw a picture of how a bug might look if it was magnified.

Measure It!

Measuring uses numbers to describe the world around you. Many kinds of data are measured.

A balance has a pan on either side. Put the object you want to measure on one pan and add masses to the other pan until they are balanced. The basic unit of mass is the gram.

Pan Balance

The units on measuring tapes can be centimeters and meters or inches and feet.

Measuring tape

Graduated Cylinder has units of volume marked to its side.

Graduated Cylinder

Every tool has its purpose! You can measure length with rulers and tape measures. Mass is measured with a pan balance. The volume of a liquid can be measure with a graduated cylinder or a measuring cup or spoon.

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Length, Mass and Volume

You can also use these tools to find the volume of solids that can be poured, such as sugar or salt.

Data that include units of measurement are measured data. Length, mass, and volume all have units of measurement, such as meters, grams, and liters. You can use numbers to report measurements and compare objects. You can also order things using measurements. You can put pencils in order from shortest to longest.

Measuring cups and spoons also measure volume.

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Time and Temperature

How long did that earthquake shake? Which freezes faster, hot water or cold water? Time and temperature are also measured data!

When you count the steady drip of a leaky faucet, you are thinking about time. You can use time and space relationships. Clocks and stopwatches are tools that measure time. The base unit of time is the second. One minute is equal to 60 seconds. One hour is equal to 60 minutes.

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Time

When you say that ovens are hot or freezers are cold, you are thinking about temperature. A thermometer is the tool used to measure temperature. The base units of temperature are called degrees, but all degrees are not the same.

Scientists usually measure temperature in degrees Celsius. Most people around the world use Celsius, too. In the United States, however, degrees Fahrenheit are used to report the weather, body temperature, and in cooling.

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Temperature

Multiple Choice

A tool used to measure mass

• forceps

• pan balance

• graduated cylinder

• hand lens

Multiple Choice

A tool used to pick up tiny objects

• forceps

• hand lens

• stopwatch

• magnifying box

Multiple Choice

A tool used to measure volume

• pan balance

• thermometer

• graduated cylinder

• hand lens

Multiple Choice

A tool you hold against your eye to make objects look bigger

• microscope

• stopwatch

• thermometer

• hand lens

Multiple Choice

How hot or cold something is

• temperature

• thermometer

• Celsius

• Fahrenheit

Multiple Choice

A tool that measure temperature

• pan balance

• thermometer

• hand lens

• ruler

Multiple Choice

Something measured with a stopwatch

• temperature

• mass

• time

• volume