Physical Properties

Characteristics of a substance that can be observed or measured without changing

the substance into something else.

Shapes• As babies, we begin to sort objects by

their shape.

• How else could you sort these objects?

Physical Properties

• Length• Width• Shape• Color• Size• Height• Weight• Mass• Volume

Volume is the amount of space an object takes up.

• Which of the following two objects takes up more space?

Empire State Building

Or a frog?

Volume:

• The Empire State Building obviously takes up more space but how much more?

• How does a scientist determine an object’s volume?

• What are the steps?

Measure: • First you measure each side with a ruler.

• Example:

You measure its length, width and height

It works the same way for everything, even if the shape is

weird or unique.

Volume = L x W x H

• You take your measurements and plug them into the formula.

• Length x Width x Height = Volume

• But… it’s easy to measure a cube because it is flat on all sides but how do you measure…

• How do you measure the volume of one of these things?

Or one of these?

Measuring Volume

• Because matter is anything that has mass and takes up space, it is logical to assume that two pieces of matter cannot occupy the same space.

Measuring Volume Cont.

• A liquid, such as water, has a definite volume but no definite shape

• Therefore, its shape can change. For example, you can pour a glass of water into:

The Stanley Cup

Or your hands.

Measuring Volume Cont.

• As long as you don’t spill the water, it will be the same amount of water but it will take the shape of whatever is holding it.

• So, if you have an object and you cannot easily measure all of its sides in order to use the formula (like a cube), then you can:

• 1. Pour water into a graduated cylinder or a beaker.

• 2. Note the volume of the water• 3. Place the object to be measured

in the water• 4. Note the new volume of the water

and the object• 5. Subtract the difference

Measuring Volume Cont.

• Because two pieces of matter cannot occupy the same space, the object placed in the water will displace, or move the liquid up the same amount of volume the object is.

• In other words, if a rock is 2 cubic millimeters in volume, it will push the water up 2 cubic millimeters in the beaker or graduated cylinder!

Mass:

• The amount of matter in an object.

Measuring Mass:

• You measure mass with a balance scale.

• Which has more mass: a pound of pennies or a pound of feathers?

Mass and Weight

• How does mass and weight relate?

Mass and Weight

• Mass is constant while weight changes. • What affects weight? • How does mass affect weight? • How does gravity relate to mass? • How can changes in gravity affect mass? • How does a change in gravity affect

weight? • How are gravity, mass and weight related?

Mass and Volume

• Consider the relationship between mass, weight and gravity. How do mass and volume affect each other?

• Is a pound of feathers different from a pound of pennies?

• How would you measure those differences?