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RESEARCH I
Quarter 1 –
Measuring
Research I– Grade 7
Quarter 1 – Measuring

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Regional Director: Gilbert T. Sadsad

Assistant Regional Director: Jessie L. Amin
Use appropriate tools in measuring
objects
(SSP_RS7SPS-1d-e-4)
 MEASURING

What tools are useful in scientific

investigations?
How do you make scientific investigations? To
be reliable, scientific investigations need data, which help
prove or disprove a hypothesis. You use tools to gather data.
Do you consider the following questions when conducting scientific investigations?
• Are tools important in the conduct of a scientific investigations?
• Are the tools easily available?
• How does one handle tools?
You will find the answers to these questions as you go through this module.

At the end of the module, you should be able

to:
1. Identify appropriate tools in measuring
objects necessary to complete investigations and
experiments;
2. Explain the function(s) of the different measuring tool used in
scientific investigations of the three states of matter, the solids, liquids and
gases;
3. Classify the laboratory measuring tools into traditional measuring tools and
modern laboratory measuring tools; and
4. Appreciate the importance of measuring skills in conducting science
investigations.

To cope with the subject matter, some

prerequisite knowledge should be known by the
students. Please answer the following review
questions:
1. Arrange the following steps of the scientific
method into the correct order by placing a number in the blank:
Test the hypothesis
Identify and state the problem
Form a hypothesis
Verify the conclusion
Gather related information about the problem
Draw conclusions
For numbers 2-5, choose the letter of the correct answer.
2. Based on the photograph, which of the following statement is an observation?

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 a. The athlete is thirsty from a long practice.
b. The person is drinking Gatorade.
c. The person thinks Gatorade is better than any other
sports drink.
d. It looks like it might storm.

3. Which of the following is an observation only?

a. The piece of metal is red, so it must be hot.
b. The child’s block is orange.
c. The street is wet, it must have rained.
d. The table looks like it is made of wood.

4. When you draw a conclusion or assume about an observation you are _ ?

a. Developing a hypothesis
b. Stating the research questions
c. Analyzing an experiment
d. Making an inference

5. Which of the following statements include an inference?

a. The test has 50 questions so it must be difficult.
b. The piece of metal is red.
c. The thermometer shows that it is 86 degrees today.
d. The table is made of wood.

USE OF APPROPRIATE TOOL IN

MEASURING OBJECTS
The word laboratory comes from the Latin word
laborare, a term meaning “to work”. A laboratory is to
scientist as a kitchen is to a chief cook.

The contents of a laboratory depend on the field of scientific study.

A chemistry laboratory has bunsen and alcohol burners for heating chemicals
glass tubes, flasks, and test tubes, balances for weighing substances, and other
measuring instruments.

A physics laboratory has similar equipment for weighing and measuring but
contains special apparatus such as magnets, calorimeters, and ripple tanks.

A biology laboratory has animal and plant specimens, models of the parts of
the body and dissecting instruments, chemicals, and microscopes.

An earth science laboratory has rock samples, fossil samples, charts,

magnifiers, digging tools, plates, models, and globes.

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 Some of the laboratory measuring tools which
could either be traditional or modern measuring tools in
science laboratory are the following:

TRADITIONAL LABORATORY MEASURING TOOLS

MEASURING TOOLS USE(S)

A. MASS

A platform balance is a laboratory

apparatus which is used for weighing
objects. The balance has
two platforms either mounted on or
suspended from a cross-arm, and
weights are placed on one platform until
they balance the object being weighed.

PLATFORM BALANCE

The triple beam balance is a type of

scale that uses counterweights on a
three rider beams to counterbalance the
sample in the pan.

TRIPLE BEAM BALANCE

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B. VOLUME

A graduated cylinder, also known as

measuring cylinder or mixing cylinder is a
common piece of laboratory equipment
used to measure the volume of a liquid. It
has a narrow cylindrical shape. Each
marked line on the graduated cylinder
represents the amount of liquid that has
been measured.

GRADUATED CYLINDER

A beaker is a common container in most

labs. It is used for mixing, stirring, and
heating chemicals. It is generally a
cylindrical container with flat bottom.
Beakers come in a wide range of sizes,
from one millilitre up to a several litres.

BEAKER

A Florence flask has a round body, a

long neck, and often a flat bottom. It is
designed for uniform heating, boiling,
distillation and ease of swirling; it is
produced in a number of different glass
thicknesses to stand different types of
use. They are often made of borosilicate
glass for heat and chemical resistance.

FLORENCE FLASK

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 An Erlenmeyer flask is a type of
laboratory flask with a conical base and
cylindrical neck. The flask is named after
its inventor, German chemist Emil
Erlenmeyer, who made the first
Erlenmeyer flask in 1861. It has a narrow
neck and expands toward its base. This
allows easy mixing and swirling of the
flask without too much risk of spilling.
ERLENMEYER FLASK

Volumetric flasks are typically found in

round or pear-shaped bulb with a long thin
neck. The neck of the flask is topped by a
stopper or a rubber bung. These flasks
are used for measuring the volume of
specific liquids or substances. They are
usually graduated with metric markings
on the side for measuring the volume of
material in the container.

VOLUMETRIC FLASK

TYPES OF PIPETTES

A graduated pipette is a pipette with its

volume, in increments, marked along the
tube. It is used to accurately measure
and transfer a volume of liquid from one
container to another. It is made from
plastic or glass tubes and has a tapered
tip.

GRADUATED PIPETTES

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 Volumetric pipettes are designed to
transfer a specific amount of solution very
accurately. These pipets can only be
used to deliver the volume of liquid for
which it is calibrated. Volumetric
pipets have narrow tips and a bulb-like
expansion in the middle
VOLUMETRIC PIPETTES

C. LENGTH

A meterstick or yardstick is either a

straightedge or foldable ruler used to
measure length. They are often made of
wood or plastic, and often have metal or
plastic joints so that they can be folded
together.

METER STICK

D. HEAT A thermometer is an instrument that

measures temperature. It can measure
the temperature of a solid such as food, a
liquid such as water, or a gas such as air.
Scientists use the Celsius or Kelvin scale
to measure temperature

• The current thermometers range

from -20° to 150°C.

They are filled with a red liquid for easy

THERMOMETER reading.

MODERN LABORATORY MEASURING TOOLS

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 A pH meter is an electronic instrument
used for measuring the pH (acidity or
alkalinity) of a liquid (through special
probes are sometimes used to measure
the pH of semi-solid substances. A typical
pH meter consists of special measuring
probes (a glass electrode and a reference
electrode) connected to an electronic
pH METER
meter that measures and displays the pH
reading.

Colony counters are used to estimate a

liquid culture’s density of microorganisms
by counting individual colonies on an agar
plate, slide, mini gel, or Petri dish. Typical
applications include Ames testing,
bacterial mutation assays, and E. coli
bacterial colonies.

COLONY COUNTER

A calorimeter is an object used for

calorimetry, or the process of measuring
the heat of chemical reactions or physical
changes as well as heat capacity.
Differential scanning calorimeters,
isothermal micro calorimeters, titration
calorimeters and accelerated rate
calorimeters are among the most
CALORIMETER common types.

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 A galvanometer is an electromechanical
instrument used for detecting and
indicating an electric current. It also works
as an actuator, by producing a rotary
deflection (of a "pointer"), in response to
electric current flowing through a coil in a
constant magnetic field.

GALVANOMETER

A voltmeter is an instrument used for

measuring electric potential difference
between two points in an electric circuit.
Analog voltmeters move a pointer across
a scale in proportion to the voltage of the
circuit; digital voltmeters give a numerical
display of voltage by use of an analog-to-
digital converter.

VOLTMETER

Oscilloscopes are used to view the

signals coming directly from devices such
as sound cards, allowing the real-time
display of waves. They are used as
electrocardiograms, to test circuits and to
troubleshoot electronic devices such as
televisions.
OSCILLOSCOPE

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 Micropipettes are utilized in the
laboratory to transfer small quantities of
liquid, usually down to 0.1 uL. They are
most used in chemistry, biology, forensic,
pharmaceutical, and drug discovery labs,
among others.

Pipettes and micropipettes are used to

measure and deliver accurate volumes of
liquid. The difference between the two is
that micropipettes measure a much
smaller volume, starting at 1 microliter,
while pipettes generally start at 1 milliliter.

MICROPIPETTE

Sensors are used to detect a physical

presence such as blaze, metals, leaks,
levels, gas and chemicals, torque, etc.
Some are designed to detect physical
properties such as temperature,
pressure, or radiation, while some can
sense motion or immediacy

LABORATORY SENSORS

SUMMARY
Working in the laboratory requires familiarization with the different kinds of
laboratory equipment and apparatus and their uses. Laboratory measuring tools may
be classified as traditional measuring tools and modern measuring tools and can be
categorized in measuring mass, volume, length, temperature, and time. Proper
handling of each tool, as well as the acquisition of proper techniques in the
performance of laboratory activities, is also vital. It is also necessary to have and to
recognize safety signs and symbols in the laboratory.

Measuring, gathering data, and performing "fair tests" are used to gain the
evidence necessary to provide a consistent interpretation. With meaningful evidence,
we can answer a question or test a prediction with some certainty that the appropriate
variable is being tested and systematically measured. This means the investigator can
understand which variable will be held constant and which will be undergoing change.

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A. Classify the following tools if it is a traditional or modern laboratory measuring
tool. Write T if it is a traditional measuring tool and M if it is a modern measuring
tool. Write your answer on your answer sheet.

1. Laboratory sensor
2. Micropipette
3. Beaker
4. Calorimeter
5. Oscilloscope
6. Thermometer
7. Meter stick
8. Galvanometer
9. Florence flask
10. Colony counter

B. TRUE OR FALSE

Directions: Read each statement below carefully. Write T if you think a

statement is TRUE and F if the statement is FALSE. You can write your answer
on your answer sheet.

1. Sensors are utilized in the laboratory to transfer small quantities of liquid,

usually down to 0.1 uL. They are most used in chemistry, biology, forensic,
pharmaceutical, and drug discovery labs, among others.
2. A meterstick or yardstick is either a straightedge or foldable ruler used to
measure length. They are often made of wood or plastic, and often have
metal or plastic joints so that they can be folded together.

3. The platform balance is a type of scale that uses counterweights on a

three rider beams to counterbalance the sample in the pan.

4. A calorimeter is an object used for calorimetry, or the process of

measuring the heat of chemical reactions or physical changes as well as
heat capacity.

5. A flask is a common container in most labs. It is used for mixing, stirring,

and heating chemicals. It is generally a cylindrical container with flat bottom.
Beakers come in a wide range of sizes, from one millilitre up to a several
litres.

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1. Enumerate five ways of proper use and handling of laboratory measuring tools
and equipment to prevent accidents in the laboratory.

_
2. State the importance of laboratory measuring tools to scientists and to sciences
students.

Congratulations on finishing the learning

module! You have just had an amazing learning
journey, and for sure, you will have the same in the
succeeding modules.

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pette

Wikipedia. (2020). Florence Flask.

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