Observation and Measurement of the Environment

http://www.fims.uwo.ca/

I. Observation- Interaction of our senses with our environment.

A. The senses include- Sight- Hearing- Touch/Feel- Taste- Smell

http://artfiles.art.com/images

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B. Testing your powers of observation

1. Use only the sense of sight to make observations to determine

A. Which, if any, of the three center circles

is largest or smallest?

Largest Equal

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Testing your powers of observation

• Use only the sense of sight to make observations to determine

B. Which, if any, of the three blocks is the Tallest (front, middle, or back)?

They are all the same height

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Testing your powers of observation

• Use only the sense of sight to make observations to determine

C. Which, if any, of the labeled pairs of lines

are parallel (ab or xy)?

ab and xy are both parallel

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Here are some other optical Illusions.

http://www.moillusions.com

The vertical lines are parallel

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The red lines are straight.

http://www.moillusions.com

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It looks like the circles cross, but they don’t.

http://www.moillusions.com

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The red lines are parallel.

http://www.moillusions.com

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It looks like it spirals into the center, but it is smaller circles inside of larger ones.

http://www.moillusions.com

The motion occurs due to a flip in color.White turns black then white again.

http://www.moillusions.com

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Stare at the image for 30 seconds then look at something white.

http://www.moillusions.com

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2. How can we determine if our power of observation using only sight was accurate? Measure with a ruler C. Our powers of observation are limited by our senses D. Instruments can be used to improve or extend our powers of observation. These devices have been invented by people to extend the human senses beyond their normal limits, and thus enable us to make observations that would otherwise be impossible or highly inaccurate.

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Graduated Cylinder

MicroscopeWind Vane

RulerMagnifying GlassCompass

TelescopeTriple Beam Balance

ThermometerSpring Scale

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F. Which instruments can be used to accurately measure each of these?

MicroscopeTelescope 1.Graduated

Cylinder2. Thermometer

3. Triple BeamBalance

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II. Inference – An interpretation of an observation based on one’s knowledge and/or experienceA. For example, if you observed the

appearance of more and more clouds that were darker and darker in color, you might infer that It will rain

B. List the observations and inferences that you can make based on this picture

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1. Observation:

2. Inference:

4 dogs, 1 large & 3 small

Large dog is the mother, Puppies are hungry

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C. Identify each statement as either an observation or an inference:

This activity does not go with the picture in notes

Example

1. (a.) The dog is growling

(b.) The dog is angry

Observation

Inference

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2. (a.) The pebble is smooth and rounded.

(b.) The pebble was carried by the stream. (c.) The pebble is light brown in color.

3. (a.) By tomorrow, the stream will overflow its banks. (b.) The river is high, muddy and flowing swiftly. (c.) The rainfall has been continuous and very heavy.

4. (a.) The tire has a leak. (b.) The tire is flat.

O

O

O

O

O

I

I

I

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4. (a.) The tire has a leak.

(b.) The tire is flat.

5. (a.) There is a track on this trail.

(b.) The track was made by a large deer.

6. (a.) The leaves on the trees are moving.

(b.) The leaves on the trees are moving, so the

wind must be blowing.

O

O

O

I

I

I

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III. Classification

A. A classification system is based on

properties or characteristics of an object.

B. A classification system enables an

investigator to

C. Classify the following animals using the

classification system on the next page. Place the name of the animals in the diagram

organize data/objects in ameaningful way.

4

4-5

Sea

Hor

se

Sha

rk

Pira

nha

Eag

le

Mam

mot

h

Gor

illa

Bat

Ost

rich

Pen

gui

n

Cob

ra

Tur

tle

Cro

codi

le

Liza

rd

Kill

er

Wha

le

Birds Mammals

4-5

IV. Measurement

A. A measurement is a way of expressing an observation with greater precision. It provides a numerical value for some property of the object or event being observed.

1. All measurements consist of: (a.) numerical value (b.) Label2. Properties that can be measured include,

length, area, volume, mass, weight, temp, density, time, etc.

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B. Linear Measurement (or “one dimensional measurement”)

Distance between two points

1. Instrument-

2. Unit – meter

(a.) centi – 1/100 meter cm = 1 m

(b.) milli – 1/1000 meter mm = 1 m

(c.) kilo – 1000 meters km = 1000 m

3. Using the model below, give the value of

each dot to the nearest tenth of a centimeter,

and then convert to millimeters.

Ruler

100

10001

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(a.) A centimeters, or millimeters

(b.) B centimeters, or millimeters

(c.) C centimeters, or millimeters

(d.) D centimeters, or millimeters

(e.) E centimeters, or millimeters

(f.) F centimeters, or millimeters

(g.) G centimeters, or millimeters

2.5 25

.3 3

4.0 40

111.1

161.6

3.4 34

2.0 20

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4. What is the length indicated by the arrow in

each of the following pictures?

.9 cm 5.6 cm 7.0 cm 3.3 cm

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5. Measure each line segment to the nearest

tenth of a centimeter, and then convert to

Millimeters.

a. cm, or mm

b. cm, or mm

c. cm, or mm

d. cm, or mm

e. cm, or mm

.9-1.1

3.8-4.05.5-5.7

4.0-4.2

6.3-6.5

40-42

9-11

63-6538-40

55-57

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C. Area (or “two dimensional measurement”)

1. Instrument – 2. Formula: 3. Units – “square” units a. sq. cm or b. sq. m or c. sq. km orDetermine the area of each figure below.(They have been drawn to scale.)

Amount of surface space

Ruler

cm²

km²m²

A = length x width

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4 cm

2 cm

8 cm ²

4 cm

7 cm

4 cm

2 cm

A = length x width

2 cm x 4 cm = 8 cm ²

8 cm ²

28 cm ²

20 cm ²

4 cm x 7 cm = 28 cm ²

2 cm x 4 cm = 8 cm ² 28 cm ² - 8 cm ² = 20 cm²7

D. Volume (or “three dimensional measurement” sometimes referred to as “size” of an object.

1. Volume of liquids a. Instrument – b. Units – c.

d. What is the liquid in the graduated cylinders illustrated below?

57 ml

37 22 8.6

Amount of space an object occupies.

Graduated cylinderMilliliters

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2. Volume of a rectangular solidsa. Instrument:

b. Formula:

c. Units – “cubic” units

1. cu. cm or or

2. cu. m or

d. cubic centimeter = milliliter

e. determine the volume of the objects in each illustration

27 cm³ 144 m³ 160 cm³

Ruler

Volume = length x width x height

cm³cc

m³1 1

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Volume Displacement

Archimedes was a Greek mathematician, inventor and physicist who lived from 287 - 212 B.C. A king once gave him a difficult task. The king had a crown. He had paid for pure gold. He was afraid that the crown-maker had mixed silver with the gold. He wanted Archimedes to figure out whether or not the crown was pure gold or mixed with silver. Now, you know that all he had to do was to figure out the density of the metal. Silver's specific gravity is 10.5 and the specific gravity of gold is 19.3. It should be easy to detect the difference. The problem was to determine the volume of the crown. The king did not want Archimedes to harm the crown in any way. How do you calculate the volume of a crown?

9b

Archimedes went home to think about the problem. He stepped into his bath, and watched the water rise and overflow when he sat. Suddenly, his problem was solved! The story tells that he ran out into the street, naked and dripping, shouting "Eureka!", which means "I have found it!"

9b

What did he find?

When an object is submerged in water, the level of the water rises. This is because the object has moved some of the water out of the way, to make room for itself. When Archimedes sat down in his bathtub, his body took up so much room that the water overflowed onto the floor. He realized that the water that he pushed out of the tub was the same volume as his body.

9b

If he submerged the crown in water, he could measure the volume of the crown. It was easy to measure the mass of the crown. He could compare the volume of the crown to the volume of an equal mass of pure gold. If the volume of the crown was greater than the volume of the pure gold, then the crown was a fake.

9b

50 ml 5 ml55 ml

Volume Displacement

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E. Mass –

1. Instrument –

2. Units:

The amount of matter an

object possessesTriple Beam Balance

a. grams

b. kilograms10

We will use electronic scales.

http://www.herbach.com/Merchant2/merchant

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3. Determine the mass by reading the scales of the beams in the illustrations below

499.O g 578.6 g 389.3 g

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F. Weight –

1. Instruments –

2. Units: English –

The amount of gravity acting on an object.

spring scale

ounces and pounds

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Factors that cause weight or effect weight:

a. The amount of the object possesses.

Factors that cause weight or effect weight:

b. The amount of acting on the object.

mass

gravity

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G. Density –

Increasing density

Cover

D = M / VM

D V

÷x

Concentration of matter in an object;

ratio of mass per unit volume.

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We can make three formulas

D = M ÷ V

V = M ÷ D

M = D x V

M

VD

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2. Instruments:

a. Density of a liquid

b. Density of a solid

3. Units: a.

b.

4. Solve the density problems below:

a.

M = 150 g

V = 10 cm³

D = M ÷ V so D = 150 g ÷ 10 cm³ = 15 g/cm³

graduated cylinder + balance

Ruler + balanceg/ml

g/cm³

15 g/cm³

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D = M ÷ V so D = 80 g ÷ 25 ml = 3.2 g/ml

M = 80 g

V = 65 ml - 40 ml

V = 25 ml

3.2 g/ml

40 ml

65 ml

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M

VD

V = M ÷ D

D = 5.5 g/cm³

M = 44 g

V = M ÷ D so V = 5.5 g/cm³ ÷ 44g = 8cm³

44g8cm³

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3. Since object Y is a perfect cube, determine the length of each side of the cube.

Remember it’s volume is 8cm³

Volume = length x width x height

Volume = 2 cm x 2cm x 2cm = 8cm³

2 cm

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H. Density Relationships

= 1 gram particles 6 g

1 cm³6 g/cm³ 6 g/cm³

4 cm³24 g

b. Relationship:

Size Density

Siz

e

Den

sityc.

The size of an object does not determine/ effect it’s density.

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2. Density in Relation to Temperature

Increases (expands)Remains the sameDecreases

b. Relationship:

c.

Temperature

De

nsi

ty

As temperature increases,density decreases.

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3. Density in Relation to State of Matter

a. Model Problem

b.

Decreasing Density

c. Water

d.

Solid Liquid Gas

has a maximum density as a liquid

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4. Density in Relation to Pressure (on a gas)

DecreasesRemains the sameIncreases

b. Relationship:

c.

Pressure

Den

sity

As air pressure increases, density increases.

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I. Temperature –

1. Instrument – 2. Units – degrees:

a. Fahrenheit

b. Celsius

c. Kelvin

Average kinetic energy of a material.

Thermometer

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3. Complete the diagram below by using page 13 of the ESRT.

373

-40

32

70

98

0

293

-273

-40

0

100

Room Temp

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Page 13 in ESRT

Works Cited

http://www.rit.edu/~vjrnts/courses/matter/labs/volume_displacement/

http://www.eo.ucar.edu/skymath/Kelvin.jpg

www.observatorio.ufmg.br