Measuring Matter

Measuring Matter

Learn about the tools we use to accurately measure the properties of matter.

Property: MASS

Tool: Triple-Beam Balance

• Measures mass the amount of matter in an object

• Unit of measurement is grams (g)

• An object's mass stays the same.

  MASS IS DIFFERENT FROM WEIGHT, which can change. Weight is the measure of the force of gravity on an object.

Property: LIQUID VOLUME

Tool: Graduated Cylinder

• Measures liquid volume

• Unit of measure is milliliters (mL)

Property: VOLUME OF IRREGULAR OBJECTS

Tool: Graduated Cylinder

Method: Liquid Displacement

• The volume of an irregular object is equal to the difference in water levels.

  60 - 50 = 10.0 cm³

• The volume of the yellow disk is 10.0 cm³

Property: VOLUME OF REGULAR OBJECTS

Tool: Ruler

Formula: Length X Width X Height

• Use a ruler to measure the length, width and height of a box or rectangular prism

• Multiply all three measurements

• 2 x 5 x 2 = 20.0 cm³

Property: DENSITY

Tools: triple beam balance and graduated cylinder OR ruler

• Density measures how tightly packed an object's molecules are.

  Density formula is mass divided by volume.

• Formula - mass divided by volume

• Units: g/cm³ - solids

• Units: g/mL - liquids

DENSITY OF WATER = 1.0 g/mL

A. The object is floating, its density is less than 1.0 g/cm3

B. The object is suspended (hovering) its density is equal to 1.0 g/cm3

C. The object sunk, its density is greater than 1.0 g/cm3

Multiple Choice

Matter is anything that has ______ and takes up space.

• Weight
• Volume
• Density
• Mass

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of water inside this graduated cylinder?

• 10.3 mL

• 13.0 mL

• 14.0 mL

• 15.0 mL

Multiple Choice

What is density?

• the amount of matter in an object

• the amount of space an object takes up

• how tightly packed an object's molecules are

• how long an object is

Multiple Choice

What is the object pictured used to measure?

• Weight
• Density
• Volume
• Mass

Multiple Choice

Put the liquids in order from most dense to least dense?

• 4, 3, 2, 1
• 1, 2, 3, 4
• 3, 4, 2, 1, 
• 4, 3, 1, 2

Multiple Choice

What object is pictured here?

• Scale
• Pan balance
• Mass balance
• Triple beam balance

Multiple Choice

What is weight?

• The amount of matter in an object
• The amount of space an object takes up
• The measure of the pull of gravity on an object
• An object's ability to sink or float

Multiple Choice

What is mass?

• The amount of matter in an object
• The amount of space an object takes up
• An object's ability to sink or float
• An object's weight

Multiple Choice

What is this object used to measure?

• Density
• Mass
• Volume
• Amount

Multiple Choice

What is an example of matter?

• air
• juice
• atom
• all of the above

Multiple Choice

What metric unit of measurement is used to measure mass?

• grams

• meters

• liters

• centimeters