EXPERIMENTAL QUANTITIES

MASS

•The quantity of matter in an

object.
•Not synonymous to weight.
•Must be measured on a balance
(not a scale)
• Use the appropriate mass scale for the
size object.
• A dump truck is measured in tons.
• A measured is measured in kg or pounds.
• A paperclip is measured in g or ounces.
• An atom?
• For atoms, we use the atomic mass unit (amu)
• 1 amu = 1.661 x 10 -24 g
 WEIGHT
•constitutes the force exerted on
matter by the gravitational attraction
of the Earth.
•mass x acceleration due to the
force of gravity.
 MASS VS WEIGHT
• If an object has a mass
of 1kg on the earth, it
would have the mass
of 1 kg on the moon,
even though it would
weigh only one-sixth
as much.
 LENGTH
• The distance between two points.
• Long distances are measured in km.
• Distances between atoms are
measured in nm.
• 1 nm = 10-9 m
 VOLUME
• The space occupied by an object.
• The liter is the volume occupied by 1000
grams of water at 4 degrees Celsius (oC)
• 1 mL = 1/1000 L = 1 cm3
• The milliliter and the cubic centimeter
are equivalent
 TIME

•The base unit is the second.

 TEMPERATURE
• The degree of “hotness” of an object.
Several Temperature scales are in common
use:

•Celsius Scale based on degrees

Celsius ( C), closely related to the
o

Centigrade scale. 
•Fahrenheit Scale based on degrees
Fahrenheit ( F), commonly used in
o

North America.
• Kelvin scale is another temperature scale.
Absolute zero!
• the SI unit of temperature. 
• 273 K
• It is of particular importance because it is
directly related to molecular motion.
• As molecular speed increases, the Kelvin
temperature proportionately increases.
 TEMPERATURE CONVERSIONS
• Fahreheit to Celsius
• oC = ( oF – 32)/1.8 or 5/9 (oF – 32)
• Celsius to Fahrenheit
• oF = (1.8 x oC ) + 32 or (9/5 x oC) + 32
• Celsius to Kelvin
• K = oC + 273
• Kelvin to Celsius
• oC = K - 273
Example:

•Convert 212 F to Celsius

o

o
C = 5/9 x (oF - 32)
o
C =  /9 x (212 - 32) = 100 C
5 o
Exercise:
• a. Convert 100oC to kelvin
• b. Convert 298.15K to Celsius
• c. Convert 30oC to Fahrenheit
• d. Convert 80oF to kelvin
• e. Convert 293.15K to Fahrenheit
 ENERGY
•The ability to do work.
•Kinetic energy – the energy of
motion.
•Potential energy – the energy of
position (stored energy).
Energy can also be categorized by form:

• Light
• Heat
• Electrical
• Mechanical
• chemical
 CHARACTERISTICS OF ENERGY

• Energy maybe converted from one form to

another.
• Energy cannot be created or destroyed.
• All chemical reactions involve either a
“gain” or “loss” of energy.
• Energy conversion always occurs with less
than 100% efficiency.
 ENERGY TRANSFORMATION
• An energy
transformation is the
change of energy from
one form to another. 
• Energy
transformations occur
everywhere every second
of the day.
• Energy conversion always occur with less than 100% efficiency.
 UNITS OF ENERGY
• Calorie or joule
• 1 calorie (cal) = 4.184 joules (J)
• A kilo calorie (kcal) also known as the large
Calorie. This is the same Calorie as Food Calories.
• 1 kcal = 1 Calorie = 1000 calories
• 1 calorie = the amount of heat energy required to
increase the temperature of 1 gram of water 1oC
 CONCENTRATION
•Concentration is the number of
particles of a substance, or the mass
of those particles, that are
contained in a specified volume.
 DENSITY
• Density is a characteristic property of a
substance.
• The relationship between the mass of a
substance and how much space it takes up
(volume).
• The ratio of mass to volume.
• d = mass/volume or m/V
Example 1:
• A piece of tin has a mass of 16.52 g and a
volume of 2.26 cm3. What is the density of tin?
• Known: m = a6.52 g ; V = 2.26 cm3
• Unknown: d = ?
• Equation to use: d = m/V
• Solution: d = 16.52 g / 2.26 cm3
= 7.31 g/cm3
Example 2:
• What is the mass of an object that has a
density of 8 g/cm3 and a volume of 64 cm3 ?
• Known: D = 8 g/cm3 V = 64 cm3
Unknown: m = ?
• Equation to use: M = D V
• Solution: M = (8 g/cm3) (64 cm3)
= 512 g
 SPECIFIC GRAVITY
• Specific gravity is the ratio of the density of the
object in question to the density of pure water at
4oC.
• Specific gravity is a unitless term.
• Specific gravity = density of object (g/mL) /
density of water (gmL)
• Often the health industry uses specific gravity to
test urine and blood samples.