http://oncampus.richmond.edu/academics/education/projects/webunits/measurement/
This site is an introduction to measurement for upper elementary students. Come learn about length, mass, temperature, time, and volume. Click on the topics listed below and then complete the worksheet.
Length is a measure how long something is from end to end. This may also include distance, which is defined as the space between points or objects. When you measure the distance around an object, you are finding its perimeter.
We use units to measure both length and distance. There are two systems of measurement: the Metric System and U.S. Customary Units.
How do I know which unit to use to describe an object's length?
When we want to measure somewhat longer lengths or distances, we usually use meters, feet, or yards. Some examples would be the height of a fence or the length of a basketball court.
For measuring longer distances, we use kilometers or miles, such as the distance from your house to your school or the height of a volcano.
Table of
Length Conversions
U.S. Customary Units
12 inches = 1 foot
3 feet = 1 yard
5,280 feet = 1 mile
1,760 yards = 1 mile
Metric System
10 millimeters = 1 centimeter
10 centimeters = 1 decimeter
10 decimeters = 1 meter
1,000 meters = 1 kilometer
Mass is defined as the amount of matter in an
object.
Mass is different from weight, which is defined as a measure of the
force of gravity acting on an object.
A
scale is a device to measure mass.
There are two types of scales:
- A
calibrated scale has a bar at the top that can be read in a manner
similar to that of a ruler.
- A two-arm balance is used by adding weights to one side of the scale until this amount is equal to the mass of the object being weighed on the other side.
Mass is measured according to the same systems used for measuring length. The standard U.S. Customary Unit for measuring mass is the pound. The standard unit of the Metric System is the kilogram. The table below shows these two systems of measurement.
How do I know which unit to use to describe an object's mass?
When measuring the mass of a very small object, such as a leave, the best unit to use is the milligram.
The mass of a slightly larger object, such as an apple, is measured using grams.
Large objects, such as a person, can be measured using kilograms or pounds.
When measuring even LARGER objects, like an elephant, the best units to use are tons or kilograms.
Table of Mass Conversions
U.S. Customary Units
U.S. Customary Units 16 ounces 1 pound 14 pounds 1 stone 2,000 pounds 1 ton Metric System
Metric System 1,000 milligrams 1 gram 1,000 grams 1 kilogram 1,000 kilograms 1 tonne
Temperature is described as the amount of warmness or coldness in an object.
The device used to measure temperature is a thermometer.
- A typical thermometer is a calibrated, or numbered, glass tube containing mercury.
- The silver mercury in the tube rises, or expands, when warmth of an object increases. The mercury falls when the warmth of an object decreases. The calibrated scale on the tube of the thermometer allows us to read the temperature.
- The first scale is measured in degrees Fahrenheit. The range from freezing point to boiling point on this scale is 32 to 212 degrees.
- The other scale is measured in degrees Celsius. Sometimes it is also referred to as the Centigrade scale. The range from freezing point to boiling point on this scale is 0 to 100 degrees.
- The
average human body temperature is 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit, or 37 degrees
Celsius.
- A
hot summer's day in Florida would be close to 100 degrees Fahrenheit, or
38 degrees Celsius.
- A
comfortable room temperature would be around 70 degrees Fahrenheit, or 21
degrees Celsius.
- A
pot of boiling water is 212 degrees Fahrenheit, or 100 degrees Celsius.
- The
temperature of a pitcher of iced tea would be around 57 degrees
Fahrenheit, or 14 degrees Celsius.
- A cold winter day with a high wind chill factor might be below freezing at 23 degrees Fahrenheit, or -5 degrees Celsius.
A digital clock expresses time in numerals.
An analog clock is a typical face
clock, numbered 1to
12, with an hour
hand and a minute hand. Analog clocks are broken up into four sections of
fifteen minutes - marked off at the 12,
3,
6, and
9.
The 12 represents the o'clock hour.
The 3 represents 15 minutes after, or a quarter past the last hour.
The 6 represents 30 minutes after, or half past the hour.
The 9 represents 45 minutes after, or a quarter to the next hour.
Time can be measured in several units. Refer to the time table to see the different ways time can be expressed.
One last thing to keep in mind about time is that we refer to the time of day as a.m. or p.m..
- A.M. refers to the hours from 12 o'clock midnight to 12 0'clock noon.
- P.M. refers to the hours from 12 o'clock noon to 12 o'clock midnight.
Table of Time Conversions
1,000 milliseconds 1 second 60 seconds 1 minute 60 minutes 1 hour 24 hours 1 day 7 days 1 week 4 weeks 1 month 12 months 1 year 365 days 1 year 10 years 1 decade 10 decades 1 century 100 years 1 century 1,000 years 1 millennium
Volume is defined as the amount of space taken up by a three-dimensional object.
Volume often refers to liquid volume, which is defined as the amount of space taken up by a liquid, which spreads completely to fill its container.
There several devices used for measuring volume:
- measuring spoons - tablespoon, teaspoon, 1/2 teaspoon, 1/4 teaspoon
- measuring cups
- graduated cylinders
- beakers
The U.S. Customary Units for measuring volume are cups, pints, quarts and gallons. The Metric System units are milliliters and liters.
How do I know which unit to use to describe an object's volume?
When measuring a small liquid volume, such as a dosage of cough syrup, the best unit to use is milliliters.
A slightly larger volume, like the amount of flour or sugar needed to make a cake, would be measured using cups. A liquid volume of this size, such as heavy cream used in baking, would be measured using pints.
The volume of a large amount, for example soda in a bottle or milk in a carton, can be measured using liters or quarts.
A very large liquid volume, such as an aquarium, would most likely be measured using gallons.
Table of Volume Conversions
U.S. Customary Units
| 16 ounces | 1 pint |
| 2 cups | 1 pint |
| 2 pints | 1 quart |
| 4 quarts | 1 gallon |
Metric System
| 1,000 milliliters | 1 liter |