Measurement

Biology

‘BIO-’ means lifeEx: biography

-’OLOGY’ means the study of Ex: radiology

What do you think BIOLOGY means?

Metric System

The metric system is also known as the International System of Units (SI)

We will be using the metric system in Science for any measurement

United States is 1 of the 3 countries that does NOT use the Metric System We use inches, pounds, Fahrenheit, etc….

Four Main types of Measurement

1. Volume2. Temperature3. Mass4. Length

1. Volume Definition: Used to measure space in an object

Volume of a Solid Object (LxWxH) Volume of Liquid

Base Unit: Liter (L) kL, L, mL

Measurement Tool: Graduated Cylinder or Beaker

Graduated Cylinder

When you read the volume of a liquid in a graduated cylinder, you must read the MENISCUS Meniscus: curved surface of a liquid in a

tube

2.Temperature

Definition: How hot or cold something is

Unit: Celsius (NOT FAHRENHEIT!!!) -Equipment: Thermometer

3. Mass

Definition: How much mass (stuff) is in an object

Unit: Gram (kg, g)Equipment: Scale

Mass vs. Weight

Mass: the actual measure of the AMOUNT of matterWeight: the measure of the amount of matter effected by gravity

Weight = mass x gravity W=mg

Question: Why is it important to think of matter in terms of mass (and not weight)?

4. Length

Definition: Distance between two points

Base Unit: Meter (km, m, cm, mm)

Equipment: RulerAlways start at 0 cm

WE DO NOT USE INCHES IN SCIENCE!!!

Kilo-liter>Liter (base word)> Centi-liter > Milli-liter

Which is bigger? 50 liters or 50 milliliters?

Abbreviations:Kilo: K Kilogram: KgCenti: C Centigram: cgMilli: M Milligram: mg