Science Tools
Which tool measures the length of a pencil?
A ruler. Start at the zero mark.
A sponge feels rough. A glass marble feels smooth. Which property are we comparing?
Texture: how a surface feels.
What property tells how much matter an object contains?
Mass. We can measure mass in grams or kilograms.
Which form of energy helps you see when a flashlight is on?
Light energy. The flashlight gives off light.
Mia wants to know which of two rocks has more mass. What should she do?
Measure each rock with the same balance or mass scale. Compare the measurements.
Which tool measures the mass of an apple?
A balance or a scale that measures mass in grams.
Name one property you can compare by looking and one you can compare by touching a safe object.
Example: compare color by looking and texture by touching. Accept shape or size for looking, and hardness for touching.
What property tells how much space matter takes up?
Volume. We can measure liquid volume in milliliters or liters.
A plugged-in fan uses electrical energy. Which form of energy is shown by its spinning blades?
Mechanical energy. The blades are moving.
Jay sorts sandpaper, cotton, and a smooth tile into groups by how they feel. Which property is he using?
Texture. Example descriptions: rough sandpaper, soft cotton, smooth tile.
Which tool measures the volume of a small amount of water in milliliters?
A graduated cylinder or a marked measuring cup.
You pour all the water from a short, wide cup into a tall, narrow cup. Does its shape change? Does its volume change?
Its shape changes to fit the new cup. Its volume stays the same if none spills.
A balanced bucket balance has an eraser on one side and 10 g, 5 g, and 1 g masses on the other. What is the eraser’s mass?
16 g. Add 10 + 5 + 1.
Sunlight shines on a sidewalk. The sidewalk gets warmer. Name two forms of energy in this example.
Light energy and heat energy. The Sun gives off light, and energy from sunlight warms the sidewalk.
A student says a tall cup MUST contain more water than a short cup. How could you check?
Measure the water in each cup with a graduated cylinder or marked measuring cup. Compare the volumes.
You want to see the tiny lines on a leaf. Which tool helps, and how?
Hand lens or magnifying glass
A large foam ball and a small metal ball are on a table. Can you tell which has more mass just by size? Explain.
No. A larger object can have less mass. Measure both with a balance or mass scale.
Cup A has 150 mL of water.
Cup B has 250 mL.
Which has more water, and how much more?
Cup B has 100 mL more water.
A marble rolls into a standing domino. The domino falls. How did the marble’s mechanical energy cause a change?
The moving marble hit the domino and transferred energy to it. The domino changed from standing still to moving and falling.
Nia says, “All larger objects have more mass.” A large foam block is 20 g. A small rock is 50 g. Do the results support her claim? Explain.
No. The smaller rock has 30 g more mass than the larger foam block. These results show size alone does not tell mass.
Two groups measure the same pencil with rulers and get different lengths. What should they check?
Check that both start at zero and use the same units. Measure again and compare.
Water starts at 40 mL in a graduated cylinder.
A fully underwater rock raises the level to 55 mL.
What is the rock’s volume?
15 mL. The rock takes up 55 − 40 = 15 mL of space.
A spoon sits in warm water. Later, the spoon feels warmer. Does this show energy causing change even though the spoon stays still? Explain.
Yes. Heat energy warmed the spoon. A change in temperature is evidence of energy causing change.