Mass and VolumeMass and Volume

Mass

MASS OF A SOLID

To calculate the mass of a solid,

use a triple-beam-balance.

Before you place the solid on the

triple beam balance, make sure it is

zeroed. If it isn’t, use the knob

on the left to adjust it. Now all

you need to do is place the solid on

the balance and adjust the sliders,

starting with the biggest one. Make

sure they click into place! Once

the pointer is re-aligned to zero,

add up all the numbers. Now you

have the mass of your solid. The

unit of measure for the mass of

solids is grams (g).

DEFINITION: Mass is how much matter is in an object.

Mass

Click on the picture to play with a really

cool animation about the triple

beam balance!

Mass

MASS OF A LIQUID

Since you cannot pour the liquid directly on to the

triple-beam-balance, measuring the mass of a liquid is

slightly more complicated. First you need to find the

mass of a container, such as a beaker or a graduated

cylinder. Record the mass.

Next, pour the liquid into the container and take the

mass.

To find the mass of the liquid, subtract the mass of the

container from the mass of the container and the water.

The unit of measure for the mass of liquids is grams (g).

Measuring Mass

Worksheet

Volume

VOLUME OF A RECTANGULAR SOLID

To calculate the volume of a rectangular prism, just

measure the length, width, and height of the prism with

a ruler, then multiply all three numbers. Use cm3 as

your unit of measure.

DEFINITION: Volume is how much space an object takes up.

Volume = length x width x

height

= 8 x 5 x 7

= 280 cm3

7 cm

8 cm5 cm

VolumeVOLUME OF A LIQUID

Measuring the volume of a liquid is easy. All you

need to do is pour the liquid into a graduated

cylinder. You will see that the water forms a curve

called a meniscus. Read the number on the graduated

cylinder that lines up with the bottom of the

meniscus. That number is the volume of the liquid.

The unit of measure for the volume of liquids is

milliliters (ml).

Volume

To find the volume of a liquid, pour the liquid into a graduated cylinder

and read under the meniscus.

The volume in this graduated cylinder is 43

ml.

Volume

Click on the picture to practice reading different graduated

cylinders.

Make sure you have clicked the “PRACTICE” circle.

Volume

VOLUME OF AN IRREGULAR SOLID

If your solid is an unusual shape,

you need to use the water

displacement method. First pour

some water into a beaker or

graduated cylinder and record how

much water you have.

Then place your object into the

beaker or graduated cylinder.

Record the volume of the water now.

The last step is to subtract the

two numbers. The amount the water

went up is actually the volume of

your object. Use cm3 as your unit

of measure.

4.8 ml 5.6

ml

volume = 5.6 - 4.8

= 0.8

cm3

Water Displacement

Method

Volume

If your object floats, use the tip of a pencilto push it slightly under the water

before reading the volume.

If your object floats, use the tip of a pencilto push it slightly under the water

before reading the volume.

Calculating Volume

Worksheet