Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Florida Benchmark
• SC.5.N.1.1 Define a problem, use appropriate
reference materials to support scientific
understanding, plan and carry out scientific
investigations of various types such as: systematic
observations, experiments requiring the
identificiation of variables, collecting and
organizing data, interpreting data in charts,
tables, and graphics, analyze information, make
predictions, and defend conclusions.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Field Trips
• Field scientists go “on location” to investigate the
natural world.
• Field scientists may use tools such as a collecting
net, a hand lens, and a camera to complete
investigations.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Into the Lab
• In the lab, computers and other heavy or
expensive instruments can be used to complete
investigations.
• Some instruments used by scientists in the lab
include light microscopes, droppers, electron
microscopes, and pipettes.
• All scientists must be comfortable using numbers
to complete investigations.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Light Microscope
• Microscopic things are too small to see with just
your eyes.
• Light microscopes magnify things, or make them
look bigger.
• Light passes through objects placed on a glass
slide and then through lenses. An eyepiece
magnifies the object.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Dropper
• A dropper is a tube with a rubber bulb on one end.
• Liquids can be sucked up the tube and dropped
out of the tube by squeezing and releasing the
bulb.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Electron Microscope
• A scanning electron microscope (SEM) can
magnify an object up to 1 million times.
• The SEM shoots a beam of electrons at the object.
• A computer screen shows the surface of the
object.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Pipette
• Pipettes are similar to droppers, but more exact.
• Markings on a pipette can help a scientist to
measure the volume of a liquid.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Measuring Up
• When you measure, you make an observation
involving numbers and units.
• Scientists use International System (SI) units, or
the metric system, to make observations involving
numbers.
• Metric system units are based on multiples of 10.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Measuring Length
• Length is the distance between two points.
• The base metric unit of length is the meter.
• Rulers, metersticks, calipers, and tape measures
are tools used to measure length.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Measuring Time
• Time describes how long events take.
• The base unit of time is the second.
• Clocks, stopwatches, timers, and calendars are
some of the tools used to measure time.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Measuring Temperature
• Temperature describes how hot or cold something
is.
• Scientists measure temperature in degrees
Celsius.
• Another unit used to measure temperature is
degrees Fahrenheit.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Pan Balance
• Mass is the amount of matter in an object. The
base unit of mass is the kilogram.
• A tool used to measure mass is called a balance.
An example of a balance is a pan balance.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Pan Balance
• A triple-beam balance is more exact than a pan
balance.
• An electronic balance calculates the mass of an
object and displays the results on a screen.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
How Strong?
• A force is a push or a pull.
• Scientists use a spring scale to measure force.
• The base unit of force is called a newton.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
More Measuring
Units of Volume
• Volume is the amount of space a solid, liquid, or
gas takes up.
• The base metric units for measuring volume are
the cubic meter and the liter.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Finding Volume
• Multiplying the length times width times height of
a rectangular object will give the volume of that
object.
• Liquid volume can be measured using a measuring
cup, beaker, or graduated cylinder.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Finding Volume
• One cubic centimeter (cm3) is equal to about one
milliliter (mL).
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Finding Volume
• You can find the volume of an irregular solid by
dropping it into a graduated cylinder that contains
liquid.
• Record the volume of liquid before inserting the
object. Then, record the volume after inserting the
object.
• The volume of the object is equal to the final
liquid volume minus the starting liquid volume.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Finding Volume
• Liquids form a meniscus, or curve, in a glass
graduated cylinder.
• Always measure liquids from the center of the
meniscus.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Accurate Measurements
• When a measurement is close to the true size, it is
accurate.
• There are many things you can do to make your
measurements more accurate.
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Unit 1 Lesson 5 What Are Some Science Tools?
Accurate Measurements
• Handle each tool properly.
• Use each tool the same way every time.
• Measure to the smallest place value the tool
allows.
• Measure twice.
• Record your measurements carefully.
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