Measurement
The best measurements are both accurate and precise.
• Accuracy: the degree to which the
experimental result agrees with the accepted
value.
- How correct the measurement is
• Precision: the degree to which
measurements agree with one other.
- How specific the measurement is; or how
consistent multiple measurements are to each
other
Precise and Accurate Precise but not Accurate
Accurate but not Precise Not Accurate or Precise
Measurement
The best measurements are both accurate and precise.
• Example #1: If a student knows 85% of the
material for the test but makes a 70% on the test, is
the measurement accurate, precise, or neither?
– Answer: The measurement isn’t precise or accurate.
• Example #2: Mrs. Joyner’s dog, Millie, is known to
weigh 65 lbs. Millie goes to the vet and is weighed
three times at 71 lbs, 70.5 lbs, and 71.1 lbs. Are
these measurements accurate, precise, or neither?
– Answer: The measurements are precise but not accurate.
Measurement
Often when we make measurements in labs to collect data, you will have to
find the average.
• Average: Add up all values and divide by the
total number of values.
• Example #3: Callie measures her flower to be 30
cm tall. Jeff measures the plant to be 45 cm tall.
Liam measures the plant to be 36 cm tall. Find the
plant’s average height.
30 cm + 45 cm + 36 cm 111 cm
= = 37 cm
3 3
Standard Units
• Standard: an exact quantity that people use
for comparison.
• SI System: the system used by scientists
around the world to make measurements.
Prefixes are
Each type of used with base
measurement units that are
has a base unit. based on
multiples of ten.
Units
• Length: distance between two points.
- Unit = meter = m
- Often measured using a meter stick or ruler
• Mass: amount of
matter in an object
- Unit = kilogram = kg
- Often measured using a
digital scale or a spring
scale
Units
• Volume: amount of space
occupied by an object When measuring
with a graduated
- Unit = Liter = L cylinder, always
- Often measured using a measure to the
bottom of the
graduated cylinder or can be meniscus (the
calculated with a geometric curve in the liquid)
equation.
• Time: interval between
two events.
- Unit = seconds = s
- Often measured using a
stopwatch.
Units
• Temperature: the amount of heat
in an object.
- Unit = Kelvin = K
- The metric system uses Celsius (°C)
- The U.S. uses Fahrenheit (°F)
- Often measured using a thermometer.
- Note: we will learn a more scientifically accurate
definition in the future.
• Temperature conversions:
K = °C + 273
°C = 5/9 (°F - 32)
°F = (°C * 9/5) + 32
Temperature Conversions
K = °C + 273
°C = 5/9 (°F - 32)
°F = (°C * 9/5) + 32
Example #4: Mrs. Smith is going on vacation to Greece
for her anniversary and the weather is predicted to be
27°C. Mrs. Smith lives in the U.S. though and doesn’t
know what to pack for this weather. Help her to
determine the temperature in °F so she can pack.
°C = 27 °F = (27 * 9/5) + 32
°F = ?
°F = (48.6) + 32
°F = (°C * 9/5) + 32
°F = 80.6 °F
Practice Time!
1. Convert 23°C to °F.
73.4°F
2. Convert 48°F to °C.
8.89°C
3. Convert 83°F to Kelvin.
301.3K
Prefixes
These prefixes are used to avoid very large or very small numbers.
They attach to the unit name. Ex. Milligram = mg
1 Mega (M)= 1,000,000 units
1 Kilo (k) = 1,000 units
1 hecto (h) = 100 units Remember, the
1 deka (da) = 10 units unit is either m,
L, s, or g
(m, g, L, s)
UNIT depending on
10 deci (d) = 1 unit what you are
measuring
100 centi (c) = 1 unit
1000 milli (m) = 1 unit
1,000,000 micro (u) = 1 unit
1,000,000,000 nano (n) = 1 unit
Metric Conversions
1. Write down given number and unit.
2. Draw picket fence.
3. Use chart to fill in appropriate conversion
factors, making sure matching units are on
opposite sides of fence to cancel out.
4. Multiply the top line across and the bottom
line across.
5. Divide the top by the bottom.
Metric Conversions
Example #5: How many meters are there
in 48 km?
48 km 1,000 m 48, 000 m
= = 48,000 m
1 km 1
Metric Conversions
Example #6: How many kilograms are
there in 45,456 mg?
45,456 mg 1g 1 kg
=
1000 mg 1000 g
45,456 kg
= .045456 kg
1,000,000
Practice Time!
1. Convert 6.1 ks to s.
6,100 s
2. Convert 0.859 mg to cg.
0.0859 cg
3. Convert 65.4 m to mm.
65,400 mm