Lab Measurements

Derived Measurements

by Tony Robinson

​A DERIVED Measurement is one where you have to calculate it using two or more other measurements.

​SPEED

• ​Distance an object moves in a certain time.

• ​Measure DISTANCE moved in meters (or kilometers for really fast things like cars)

• ​Measure TIME in seconds (or hours for really fast things)

• ​Divide the Distance by the Time

Multiple Choice

Which answer best represents the swimmers speed?

• 0.5 m/s

• 1 m/s

• 2 m/s

• 2.5 m/s

Fill in the Blanks

Usain Bolt holds the 200.0 meter dash world record at 19.19 seconds. What was his speed during this race? Write your answer below in the following form:

25.6 m/s (This is an example)

​VOLUME

• ​Last class we measured liquid volume.

• ​But what about an irregular solid like a rock?

• ​Use water displacement method.

• ​Write down starting water level in a graduated cylinder.

• ​Place object in tube without splashing any water out!

• ​Write down ending water level.

• ​Subtract the starting water level from the ending water level to find the volume in milliliters (mL)

Multiple Choice

What is the volume of the hammer?

• 65 mL

• 70 mL

• 69 mL

• 4.0 mL

Fill in the Blanks

What is the volume of the cylinder? Write your answer in the following form:

25 mL (This is an Example)

​DENSITY

• ​Density is the amount of matter in an object per unit volume.

• ​Measure Mass in grams.

• ​Measure Volume in milliliters.

• ​Divide Mass by Volume to give you an objects Density.

• ​Gold is more dense than rock which is why you can pan for it!

Multiple Choice

You measure the mass of a gold nugget at 500.0 grams.  The nugget also has a volume of 26.0 milliliters.  What is it's Density?

• 19.2 g/mL

• 474 g/mL

• 0.052 g/mL

• 13,000 g/mL

Fill in the Blanks

You are wondering if the "diamond" ring your significant other gave you is really a diamond. You measure the mass of the diamond at 25 grams and its volume at 11.4 mL. What is the stones density? Answer should look like:

19.4 g/mL (This is an Example)