This document discusses measurements and the metric system. It provides instructions for students to measure dimensions of objects in their lab and explains how to make precise scientific measurements. It then introduces the metric system, which is based on powers of ten, making conversions between units easy. Prefixes are used to indicate multiplying or dividing the base unit by factors of ten. The document emphasizes that the metric system allows for consistent and easy conversions between units.

1. CAN YOU SOLVE THIS PROBLEM?
 Using basic school resources, find a way to
estimate the thickness of one, single sheet of
paper…

2. 1.2 DAY 2: EXPERIMENTS
How can
measurements
affect what we
discover in science?

3. MAKING MEASUREMENTS
The how-to and why of measuring…

4. MEASUREMENTS
 In your lab journal,
title a new page
“Measurements”
 Get ruler and a
“Conceptual Physics”
book from the front
of the room and measure it.
 Draw a picture of the book and record the
height, width and depth
 Measure in centimeters.
height
depth width

5. MAKING A GOOD, SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
 In order to make a scientific measurement, you always
record one decimal place more than you can know for
sure.
 How many decimal places should you measure using
this ruler?
cm
0 1 2 3

6. MAKING A GOOD, SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
 What would be a scientific measurement of this arrow?
cm
0 1 2 3

7. WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?
 What is the difference between the following
measurements?
 1
 1.0
 1.00
 1.000
cm
0 1 2

8. MAKING A GOOD, SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
 What would be a scientific measurement of this arrow?
cm
0 1 2 3

9. MAKING A GOOD, SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
 What would be a scientific measurement of this arrow?
cm
0 1 2 3

10. THINK ABOUT IT: MEASUREMENTS
Do you need to go back and adjust the
measurements you made the first time
you measured the dimensions of your
book?
 In making these measurements, what is
one way you
could be precise,
but not accurate? height
depth width

11. HOW MANY BOOKS?
How many books
would I need to
stack them up
from the floor to
the ceiling?

12. NOW WHAT?
 Working with the person next to you, find a way to
estimate the thickness of one, single sheet of
paper…
 be quiet, people around you are listening!!!

13. LAB JOURNAL ENTRY:
MEASUREMENTS
Writing procedures:
 bring in written instructions that would explain
exactly how to estimate the thickness of one sheet of
paper.
 Use full sentences.
 Write them as instructions.
 Make them simple instructions.
 Do NOT number the instructions… make a
paragraph.
 This is basically practice for writing the “Procedures”
section of a formal lab write up.

14. MEASUREMENT
meas⋅ure⋅ment [mezh-er-muhnt]
noun
1. the act of measuring.
2. a measured dimension.
3. extent, size, etc., ascertained by measuring.
4. a system of measuring or measures: liquid
measurement.

15. Term: Measurement My understanding: Fill in the circle that
communicates your level of understanding.
    
Definition:
In my own words: Visual Representation: My examples:

16. QUANTITY
quan⋅ti⋅ty [kwon-ti-tee]
–noun, plural -ties.
1. a particular or indefinite amount of anything: a small
quantity of milk; the ocean's vast quantity of fish.
2. an exact or specified amount or measure: Mix the
ingredients in the quantities called for.
3. a considerable or great amount: to extract ore in
quantity.

17. Term: Quantity My understanding: Fill in the circle that
communicates your level of understanding.
    
Definition:
In my own words: Visual Representation: My examples:

18. UNIT
u⋅nit /yoo-nit]
–noun
Also called dimension. any specified amount of a
quantity, as of length, volume, force, momentum, or
time, by comparison with which any other quantity of
the same kind is measured or estimated.

19. Term: Unit My understanding: Fill in the circle that
communicates your level of understanding.
    
Definition:
In my own words: Visual Representation: My examples:

20. WHICH UNIT?!
 Which unit would you use to measure…
 the length of a football field?
 the length of a pencil?
 the distance across the United States?
 the thickness of your desk?
 the radius of the moon?
 Why are different units useful?
 What other things can we measure?
 What are some of the different units we could use to
measure these things?

21. MEASUREMENTS?!
 The world grew!
 Countries started trading goods.
 Everyone had they’re own system for measuring
things…
 Length, for example, could be measured in…
 feet,
 inches,
 miles,
 spans,
 cubits,
 hands, furlongs, palms, rods, chains, leagues, and more.
 What to do?!

22. THE METRIC SYSTEM!
 In 1790, the French established a decimal based
system of measuring called the metric system.
 In 1960, the metric system was named the Système
International d'Unités (or SI for short).
 The metric system is currently used by most
countries except the United States.
 Changing units, or converting, in the metric system
is easy, because it is based on multiples of ten…

23. Prefix Symbol Factor
femto- f 10-15 = 0.000,000,000,000,001
pico- p 10-12 = 0,000,000,000,001
nano- n 10-9 = 0.000,000,001
micro- μ 10-6 = 0.000,001
milli- m 10-3 = 0.001
centi- c 10-2 = 0.01
deci- d 10-1 = 0.1
Base Units 100 = 1
deka- da 101 = 10
hecto- h 102 = 100
kilo- k 103 = 1,000
mega- M 106 = 1,000,000
giga- G 109 = 1,000,000,000
tera- T 1012 = 1,000,000,000,000
peta- P 1015 = 1,000,000,000,000,000

24. THE METRIC SYSTEM!
 Because the metric system is based on powers of
ten, it is very easy to convert…
 1 gram = 1,000 milli-grams
 1 meters = 1,000 milli-meters
 1 liter = 1,000 milli-liters
 The prefix holds the same value in the metric
system…
 1,000 grams = 1 kilo-gram
 1,000 meters = 1 kilo-meter
 1,000 liters = 1 kilo-liter
 So, if you know the value of the prefix, you can
convert any metric unit!

25. CONVERTING NON-METRIC UNITS…
 How do I go from one set of units to another?
 What if you are trying to make a recipe that calls for
milliliters, but you only have teaspoons, tablespoons
and cups?
 What if you go on a trip to Europe and all the speeds
and distances to the next city are posted in kilometers
per hour (km/h) and kilometers, not miles per hour and
miles?
 What if your crazy physics teacher wants you to tell
them how many millimeters are in a mile?
 There are several methods…
 I will show you my favorite!