Measuring Matter Notes

Matter​: anything with mass that takes up space

            **In science, we ALWAYS measure matter with the metric system**

 

Mass: ​amount of matter in an object/substance

• measure with a balance
  • triple­beam balance
• base unit of mass is the gram (g)
  • may use milligram (mg) for light objects or kilogram (kg) for heavy objects

 

Weight: ​Measure of gravitational attraction on an object (or: pull of gravity on an object)

• equals (mass)x(gravity)
• measure with a scale
• gravity decreases away from the center of the Earth
  • weight decreases with increasing elevation

 

Length: Measure of distance between two points

• Measure with a ruler or meter stick
• Base unit of length is the meter (m)
  • Also commonly use cenitimeters (cm), millimeters (mm), or kilometers (km)

 

Volume: ​amount of space that matter takes up

• Base unit of measurement for volume is the Liter (L), usually for liquids, or the cubic meter (m³), usually for gases or solids
  • Other common forms are milliliters (mL) or cubic centimeters (cm³ or cc)
• For liquids: measure using measuring containers
  • Graduated cylinders

                                      ○    Beakers

 

• For gases: volume equals the volume of the container
• For regular solids: direct method (length x width x height)
• For irregular solids (oddly shaped):
  • Displacement method

                                                     ■    Record volume of water

                                                     ■    Submerge object in water

                                                     ■    Record combined volume

                                                     ■  (Volume of solid) = (Combined volume) ­ (Volume of water)