Ch. 15: Using Tools to Measure
Physical Properties
Vocabulary:
physical property, meter stick, volume,
graduated cylinder, mass, pan balance,
weight, scale, temperature, thermometer
Measuring Physical Properties
• A physical property is something you can
detect with your senses or measure with a tool.
• Some examples of physical properties are:
–
–
–
–
Color
Smell
Height
Weight
Texture
Taste
Sounds
Length
Mass
Density
Temperature
Volume
Tools for Measuring Length and
Distance
• Length and distance are how
long, tall, or wide an object
is.
• To measure a flat object,
scientists and engineers
usually use a ruler or meter
stick, because it is rigid and
easy to use.
• To measure an object that is
not flat or very long, they
will usually use a tape
measure because it is
flexible and longer.
Ruler
Meterstick
Tape Measure
Tools for Measuring Volume
•
•
•
Measuring Spoon
•
•
•
Graduated Cylinder
Measuring Cup
Volume is the amount of space an
material takes up.
Tiny amounts of volume can be
measured with a measuring spoon.
If there is a small amount of the
material its volume can be
measured with a graduated cylinder.
Measuring cups are used to measure
a larger volume of a material.
On the sides of the measuring cup
and the graduated cylinder are
milliliter marks.
When measuring volume, always
put the tool at eye level and make
sure that the liquid, gas, or solid
goes all the way up to the line on
the cylinder or cup, or the edge of
the spoon.
dDwxNTM
Tools for Measuring Mass
• Mass is the amount of
matter, or stuff, that
makes up an object.
• Scientists and engineers
use a pan balance to
measure mass.
• A pan balance puts an
object on one side an
weights on the other to
determine the correct
mass of the object.
Pan Balance
Tools for Measuring Weight
Standard Scale
Spring Scale
• Weight is the amount of
pull gravity has on an
object.
• Weight can be measured
by using a scale.
Tools for Measuring Temperature
Thermometer
• Temperature measures how hot or
cold something is.
• Temperature can be measured
with a thermometer.
• Thermometers are usually glass
tubes with red liquid in them.
• When the liquid gets warmer, it
takes up more space and moves
up the thermometer registering a
higher temperature on the marks
next to the liquid.
• To read a thermometer, read the
number on the line next to the top
of the liquid
Questions About Chapter 15
1. What tool would you use to measure the
distance around a pumpkin?
2. What do you measure with a graduated
cylinder?
3. What do you measure with a pan balance?
4. What tool would you use to measure weight?
5. Pick three tools. Tell how you would use
them in everyday life.