INTRODUCTION TO

SCIENCE
I. Measurement in Science
A. Two Main Systems of
Measurement

1. Metric system (SI)

2. British system (lb-ft-in)
B. All major countries use the
Metric system except the U.S.,
Liberia & Burma
 today even the US is beginning
to use Metric in some areas
(science, cars, medicine)
D. Comparison of British System & Metric System
Ease of Use –
Metric British
easier to use & learn harder to use & learn
Base units -
Metric British
one base unit many base units
Additional units –
Metric British
multiples of 10 many different multiples
 Key Temperatures -
Metric British
freezing point = 0°C freezing point = 32°F
boiling point = 100°C boiling point = 212°F
 E. Metric Prefixes

 
milli- = 1/1000x centi- = 1/100x deci- =1/10x
 
micro- = 1/1000000x nano - = 1/1000000000x

BASE UNIT = 1x

 
deca- = 10x hecto- = 100x kilo- = 1000x

Mega- = 1000000x Giga- = 1000000000x

F. Length

1. (def) a measure of distance

2. (measured with a) meter stick,
ruler, tape measure
3. Metric base unit - meter (m)

4. Other forms: width, height, area, volume

 
5. Area (def) amount of surface
within set boundaries (2-D)

6. Formula for area = length x width

G. Volume
1. (def) how much space an
object occupies (3-D)
 2. (measured with a) graduated
cylinder, beaker, meter stick
 3. Metric base unit - liter (L)
 
 4. Three ways to determine
volume:

a. for rectangular solids - measure the length, width,

and height & then use the
formula: volume = length x width x height
1 cm³ = 1 mL (milliliter)
b. for liquids - pour into a graduated cylinder and read
the meniscus (lowest point of half circle)
 c. for irregular shaped objects -
use overflow cup & graduated
cylinder
 - fill up overflow cup with water and let excess run out into
collecting cup, pour out
- put empty collecting cup under spout
- carefully place object in overflow cup

- the water that pours out into the collecting cup is equal to the
volume of the object

- carefully pour the water from the collecting cup into the graduated
cylinder

- read the meniscus

F. Mass and Weight
1. not the same - mass is the same everywhere,
weight is a force and changes due to location
ex. on Earth - mass = weight
  the moon - mass stays the same, weight is less
on
2. mass (def) the amount of
matter in an object
 weight (def) a measure of
gravitational force
 
ACTUAL CAT OF MR. MUELLNER
This is not an actor
4. mass (Metric base unit) -
grams (g)
weight (Metric base unit) -
Newtons (N)