Metric Measurement Lab

Objectives:
*Student will make measurements using the metric system, these measurements will encompass mastering the
metric ruler, triple beam balance, and the graduated cylinder.
*Student will demonstrate his/her ability to convert the original measurements to lower and higher values by
moving the decimal point the correct number of places in the proper direction.

Materials:
*Lab paper
*metric stick
*graduated cylinder
*coins (nickel, dime, or quarter)
*Various size containers (jars, bottles, test tubes, etc.)
*Notepads and small books.

Procedures:
1. Use the meter stick to measure your lab desk or table. Place your measurements in the spaces below.

Length of the desk ____1.53__ M ______153____ _cm ____1530_________mm ____.00153_____km

Height of desk ____.75____M _____75_____ _cm ______750________mm ___00075_______km
Width of the desk ____1.3___M ______130_____ cm ________1300_______mm ___.0013_______km

2. Use the triple beam balance to measure the mass of the following materials. place your measurements in the
spaces below.

Mass of a coin __2.5______g _____250______ _cg ____2500___mg ______.0025_____kg

Mass of a notebook __296______g ___ 29600 ___ _cg _____29600______mg _______.296____kg
Mass of a test tube ___5.2___g 520 cg ______5200_____mg __ __.0052______kg

3. Use the graduated cylinder to

measure the volume of the following containers. place your measurements in the space below.

Volume of a test tube ___7____L ______0.7______cl _____7_____ml __.007_____kl

Volume of a beaker ___0.5____L _50___ _cl _____500_____ml ___.0005____kl
Volume of a flask ___5.2____L _12.5___ _cl ______125____ml ____.000125_____kl

4. Calculating the density of two irregular shaped objects.

a) Measure the mass of the object in grams using the balance.
b) Fill the graduated cylinder halfway with water. (Record this measurement as volume of water).
c) Place the object you are measuring in the graduated cylinder and measure the new volume of the water.
(Record this as the volume of water and object).
 d) Subtract volume of water and object from volume of water. (Record this answer as volume of object).
e) Calculate the density of object: Density = Mass/Volume

Object Mass (g) Volume of Volume of Volume of Density

(Write the name of object water (ml) water and object (ml) (g/ml)
below) object (ml)
cylinder 18 50 60 10 1.8
marble 4.5 50 55 5 0.9

Conclusion:
1.What is the metric term used for measuring length?
millimeter, centimeter, meter, and kilometer.
2. The metric prefix denoting 1000X is _______kilo__________.
3. If you are changing M to cm. what direction do you move the decimal point?
right
4. How many times larger is a decagram then a milligram?
10,000
5. Why is the decimal point important to the values in the metric system?
determines the value it holds for the number.
7. If one ml. of water equals one gram. How much does a liter of water weigh?
0.001
8. Which irregular object has the greatest mass?
cylinder
9. Which irregular object has the greatest volume?
Graduated cylinder
10. What is density?
measure of mass per unit of volume.
11. Which irregular object has the greatest density?
cylinder

12. An object will sink in water if its density is greater than the density of water (1g/ml). Steel has a high
density. Why do ship made of steel float?
The average density of a boat is very light compared to the average density of
water.