Note that the list of devices is not all-inclusive. The students have been expected to read vernier scales
before and they may see those devices again.
How to use a Vernier Caliper
An ordinary vernier caliper has jaws you can place around an object, and on the other side jaws made to fit inside an object.
These secondary jaws are for measuring the inside diameter of an object. Also, a stiff bar extends from the caliper as you open
it that can be used to measure depth.
The basic steps are as follows:
1. Preparation to take the measurement:
a.
Loosen the locking screw and move the slider to check if the vernier scale works properly.
b.
Before measuring, do make sure the caliper reads 0 when fully closed. If the reading is not 0, adjust the caliper’s jaws
until you get a 0 reading. If you can’t adjust the caliper, you will have to remember to add to subtract the correct offset
from your final reading.
c.
Clean the measuring surfaces of both the vernier caliper and the object, then you can take the measurement.
2. Take the measurement:
a.
Be careful not to pull on the jaws. Using the screw, close the jaws lightly on the item which you want to measure.
b.
If you are measuring something round, be sure the axis of the part is perpendicular to the caliper. Namely, make sure
you are measuring the full diameter.
3. How to read the measured value:
a.
Read the centimeter mark on the fixed scale to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. (10mm on the fixed caliper)
b.
Find the millimeter mark on the fixed scale that is just to the left of the 0-mark on the vernier scale. (6mm on the fixed
caliper)
c.
Look along the ten marks on the vernier scale and the millimeter marks on the adjacent fixed scale, until you find the
two that most nearly line up. (0.25mm on the vernier scale)
d.
To get the correct reading, simply add this found digit to your previous reading. (10mm + 6mm + 0.25mm= 16.25 mm)
4.Maintenance
Clean the surface of the vernier caliper with dry and clean cloth (or soaked with cleaning oil) and stock in a dry environment if it
stands idle for a long time.
Metric Estimation Game
1. Divide the class into teams.
2. One representative from each team stands at the board with chalk and a paper taped to the
board which covers up the team member's answer until it is called for.
3. Teacher selects an item to estimate. (ie: mass of pen, height of door frame, volume of liquid in
coffee cup) and has contestants guess the metric quantity. Team members who are still sitting
at their seats can shout out numbers to help the contestants.
4. The contestant coming closest stays up for round 2 while other contestants are replaced by new
team members. Team which "goes through" the fewest contestants WINS a bonus point.
5. Don’t forget to take advantage of the opportunity to show them how to measure the value.
If desired, instead of a long game you can do just an item or two as filler between other activities. Don’t
forget to vary the units – change from m to cm or mm, for example.
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
Measurement Mania
NCSO Sample Event
2010 Elementary Tournament
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 1
Use the spring scale to find the weight of each item in grams
1. Bottle
2. Washers
3. Duct tape ball
(NCSCoS S4.3.03)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 2
Measure the object.
4. What is the height?
5. What is the width?
6. What is the length?
7. What is the total volume?
(NCSCoS 4.3.09)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 3
8. What is the sum of all the acute angles?
(NCSCoS 4.3.08)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 4
9. Which object has a greater volume, the rock or the fishing
weight?
(NCSCoS 4.3.07)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 5
10.
What is the length of the red line in cm?
11.
What is the length of the green line in mm?
12.
What is the total length of both lines together in meters?
(NCSCoS 4.3.09)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 6
13.
What is the diameter of part A in mm?
14.
What is the radius of part B in mm?
15.
What is the circumference of part C in mm?
(NCSCoS 4.3.06)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 7
16.
What is the mass of item A?
17.
What is the mass of item B?
18.
What is the mass of items C and D together?
(NCSCoS 4.3.04, 4.3.08)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 8
19.
What is the perimeter of the shape in cm?
(NCSCoS 4.3.07)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 9
Assume the volume of A is 20 cm3
20.
What is the volume of B?
21.
What is the Volume of C?
Assume the volume of D is 12 cm3
22.
What is the volume of E?
23.
What is the volume of F?
(NCSCoS 4.3.05)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
STATION 10
24.
How many liters of dark soda are there total?
25.
How many mL of light soda are there total?
26.
If you subtract the light soda from the dark soda, what is left in
mL?
(NCSCoS 4.3.06)
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
2010 Measurement Mania
NCSO Sample Event- Student Response Sheet
Names: _____________________________ , ______________________________
School: ____________________________________________________________
Station 1:
1. __________
2. __________
3. __________
Station 2:
4.
5.
6.
7.
__________
__________
__________
__________
Station 6:
13. __________
14. __________
15. __________
Station 7:
16. __________
17. __________
18. __________
Station 8:
Station 3:
19. __________
8.
__________
Station 9:
Station 4:
9. __________
Station 5:
10. __________
11. __________
12. __________
20.
21.
22.
23.
__________
__________
__________
__________
Station 10:
24. __________
25. __________
26. __________
North Carolina Science Olympiad Elementary Division 2010
Measurement Mania
2010 Measurement Mania
NCSO Sample Event- Student Response Sheet
ANSWER KEY
Station 1:
1. ____48g______
2. ____75g______
3. _____28g_____
Station 2:
4.
5.
6.
7.
____8 cm______
____10 cm______
____10 cm______
____800 cm______
Station 6:
13. ____32 mm______
14. ____13 mm______
15. ____18 mm______
Station 7:
16. ___89 g_______
17. ___361 g_______
18. ___89 g_______
Station 8:
Station 3:
19. ____58 cm______
8.
____285°______
Station 9:
Station 4:
9. ____rock______
Station 5:
10. ___8.4 cm_______
11. ___130 mm_______
12. ___.214 m_______
20.
21.
22.
23.
____10 cm3______
____5 cm3______
____24 cm3______
____48 cm3______
Station 10:
24. ____1.228 L______
25. ____533 mL______
26. ____695 mL______