MEASUREMENTS

VARIOUS MEASUREMENTS MADE IN LIFE

Length, time, volume, mass, temperature, pressure, density, weight …..

Q1. Name the measuring instruments shown below and state the quantity that they measure.

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 QUANTITY MEASURING UNITS SI UNIT FUNDEMENTAL/
INSTRUMENTS DERIVED
Length Measuring tape, Centimetres(cm) Metre(m) fundamental
metre rule, 30cm Metres(m) quantity
ruler, vernier Millimitres(mm)
calipers, Kilometres(km)
micrometre Yards, miles,
screw gauge, feet, inches
click wheel
Mass Triple beam
balance,
bathroom scale,
electrical
balance, lever
arm balance
Time Seconds(s)
Minutes,
hours(h), weeks,
days months
Volume Measuring Derived quantity
cylinder, burette, (derived from area
and height
pippete, beaker,
V = Ah)
conical flask,
syringe ……
Temperature Fahrenheit(֯F), Kelvin (K) Fundamental
degrees quantity
Celsius(֯C),
Kelvin(K)

Weight Spring
balance/force
metre

Electric current Ammeter,

multimeter

ERRORS IN MEASUREMENTS (Zero error, Parallax error, reaction time error)

Zero error (What is it and how can it be corrected?????)

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Parallax error (what is it and how can it be minimised??????)

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 MEASURING LENGTH

MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

This is a measuring instrument used to measure very small lengths such as thickness of a thin wire.

It has a main scale and a thimble scale (small scale).

Length / diameter = main scale reading + thimble scale reading

https://youtu.be/V70pMLzc1sw (Video on reading micrometer)

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VERNIER CALIPERS
This is another instrument used for measuring small lengths such as diameter of a coffee mug.

Length/diameter = main scale + vernier (small) scale

https://youtu.be/fnp4HvDltUI (video on reading vernier caliper)

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 DENSITY
(use diagrams as much as possible to aid your description answers)

1. Define density [1]

2. Name a single instrument that can be used to measure density of a liquid [1]

3. Describe an experiment that can be done to determine density of water [4]

https://youtu.be/zs2yEvNsyl8 ( video on density of a liquid)

4. A metal block of dimensions 2cm by 3cm by 5cm has a mass of 50g.

a) calculate its density [2]

b) what would be the density of the block if its mass is doubled?
Explain your answer [2]

5. a solid has a density of 3.4g/cm3 and a mass of 25g. calculate its volume [2]

c) You are provided with an electrical balance, water in a container, a measuring cylinder, a
small stone, and a string. With the aid of diagrams, explain how you can use these to
determine density of the small stone. [6]
https://youtu.be/baqaLHV50cw (video of density using displacement method)

d) Ten identical small marbles are inserted into a container with water level at 50cm3. The
water level rises to 80cm3. The total mass of the ten marbles is 15g.

a) Calculate the mass of 1 marble [1]

b) Calculate the density of 1 marble [2]
c) What is the density of the ten marbles? [1]

e) A student performs an experiment to determine density of a rubber cork that is less

dense than water. Describe an experiment that the student can perform [6]

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 MASS & WEIGHT
MASS
It is the amount of matter in an object

Q1. What does the above definition mean?

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….. [1]

Q2. Name 3 instruments that can be used to measure mass

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [3]

Q3. Convert the following to kilograms

4500g 7500mg 55g

Weight

Q4. Define weight

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. [1]

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 The same object taken from earth to the
moon & to deep space has different
weights at these different places.
➢ Why is it that mass remains the
same regardless of where the
object is?
➢ Why does its weight change
when moved between these 3
places?

Conclusion on mass:

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Conclusion on weight

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

gearth = 10N/kg gmoon = 1.6N/kg

Q5. What is the meaning of the above?

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

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 W = mg
➢ W is weight of an object. Units are Newton (N)

➢ m is mass. Units are kilograms (kg)

NB: if units provided are not in kg then convert them to kg before solving the question

➢ g is the force of gravity. Units are Newton per kilogram (N/kg).

This depends on where the object is. If the object is on the moon then g = 1.6N/kg because
the force of gravity that it will experience is 1.6N for every kg it has.

Q6. Calculate weight of the following on earth

15kg 400g 7500mg

Q7. Calculate weight of the following on the moon

70g 5300g 2500mg 45kg

70
1000
= 0.07kg

W = mg
𝑁
= 0.07kg x 1.6𝑘𝑔
= 0.112N

Q8. An object has a weight of 900N at a certain planet where force of gravity is 12N/kg. Calculate the
weight of the object on earth

weight = ……………………………………………… [3]

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 depends on the size of bigger on the earth than on the moon
the gravitational force
mass
measured in kilograms depends only on the atoms in the body

measured with a balance measured in newtons

weight
never changes measured with a force meter

smaller on the moon same on the moon

Complete the table:

On earth (g = 10 N / kg On moon (g = 1.6 N / kg

Mass Weight Mass weight

Bag of cement 50 kg 500 N 50 kg

Four bags of 8 kg
sugar

Student 80 kg

Truck 2000 kg

Apple 1N

CENTRE OF MASS / CENTRE OF GRAVITY

Centre of gravity is a point in a body where it can be balanced against the gravity acting on it.
Centre of mass is a point in a body where the distribution of mass around it is uniform.
Quite often the two are the same but there are few times where they can be different.

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Experiment to find centre of mass of an irregular shape

Materials required:
➢ irregular shape (cut from cardboard)
➢ retort stand
➢ plump line with pin (string with pin at one end and pendulum bob at the other end)
➢ wooden or rubber cork (clamped at the top of the stand to /suspend pinned shape)

Procedure:

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STABILITY OF AN OBJECT

Q9. Mark with an X the centre of mass for every object shown hence state which of the pair is more
stable
a) A B

b) A B

A B
c)

d)

A B

Q10 . From your answers in Q9, state 2 factors that affect stability of an object.

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 Q10. Explain in terms of base area and centre of gravity, why diagram c below topples while
a and b do not topple
a b c

A very stable formula 1 car. What makes it stable

INERTIA
Q1. Define inertia

Q2. State and explain how mass affects inertia of an object

Q3. Our own inertia can kill us. Explain how this can happen when we are in a moving car and how
this is prevented

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