Name _______________________
Taking Good Measurements
1) Tools we will use include the metric ruler, the thermometer, the graduated cylinder,
and a balance or scale.
2) We can never be truly exact in our measurements. There is always some uncertainty at
the next decimal level.
3) Measurements need units! Unsure? - look at the tool!
4) Measuring gives significance (or meaning) to each digit in the number recorded.
These are called Significant Digits or Significant Figures!
5) Your measurement should always contain a single, estimated digit beyond the scale
you are using. For example if a ruler has lines every 0.1 cm, then you can estimate
another digit and report a measurement to the hundredths place. If you see the measure
as being “right on the line,” you must use a 0 as your estimated digit.
Examples:
Magnified Metric Ruler: Numbers represent centimeters.
Graduation spacings are __0.1 cm _ apart.
Example #1:
Example #2:
Example #3:
Example #4:
_________
_________
________
________
Name _______________________
These thermometers graduations each represent ______ degree(s) Celsius. Record the
measurements to the correct decimal place.
Graduated Cylinders:
When using a graduated cylinder it is first important to determine what the graduations
represent. Also the liquid typically forms a curved surface at the top called a meniscus.
You must always read from the bottom of the meniscus.
Graduation Spacing: _________
________
_________
_________
Volume of liquid:
________
_________
_________
_________
Measuring Practice:
Station 1-2: Volume of liquid in Graduated Cylinder: ____________
Station 3-4: Volume of liquid in Graduated Cylinder: ____________
Station 5-6: Temperature of water in flask: ____________
Station 7-8: Width of a paper towel: ___________
Station 9-10: Height of the faucet: ____________
Station 11-12: Mass of one paper towel _______
Rank these tools in order of increasing accuracy
for measuring volume. (Worst first) Explain.