Elementary Science

Science Focus LessonWeek 5

Polk County Public SchoolsLinda Vendur, Senior Coordinator

Week 5 – SC.A.1.2.1Benchmark: The student determines that the

properties of materials (eg., density and volume) can be compared and measured (eg., using rulers, balances, and thermometers.)

Essential Question:How can we compare the properties,

like density and volume, of materials?

Vocabulary:density mass litervolume matter

MatterMatter is all around you.Matter is anything that has mass

and takes up space.So what is mass? Mass is the

amount of matter that is in an object.

We can measure the mass of an object with balance.

Talk to your shoulder partner….Is air matter? (Clue: Think about a balloon or the wind.)

MatterIn addition to mass, all matter

takes up space. The amount of space something takes

up is called volume. For example, a softball has more volume, or takes up more space, than a marble.

Talk to your shoulder partner…Which has more volume, a pebble or

a boulder? Why?

Measuring Volume of LiquidsThe volume of liquids are measured by

using measuring cups and spoons, beakers and graduated cylinders.

In the United States, we use English (or standard) units to measure liquids…ounces, cups, pints, quarts and gallons.

Scientists all over the world use only metric units. The metric units for volume of a liquid are

liter (L), milliliter (mL) and kiloliter (kL).

How Much Is a Liter?Unit Name (Symbol) Example

Milliliter (mL) A teaspoon holds about 5 mL of liquid.

Liter (L) A medium-size soda bottle holds l L.

Kiloliter (kL) 1 kL of gasoline cold fill the gas tanks of 20 small cars

In the United States we buy Coca Cola in 2 liter bottles. Why do you think we use liters (metric units) for Coke when our milk is sold by gallons (standard units)?

SummarizingWhat are some tools we useto measure the volume of liquids?Draw and label the tools.

Write your answer in yourScience notebook.

Measuring the Volume of SolidsWe can also measure the volume of solids,

but we have to use some different tools and different units of measure.

The volume of a solid is measured in cubic meters or cubic centimeters.

One tool used to measure the volume of a solid is a ruler. Length x width x height = volume

What do you do if the solid is an irregular shape and hard to measure…like

a rock?Another way to find the volume of a solid is to

put it in water and measure the amount the water rises. This is called water displacement.

Partially fill a graduated cylinder with water.

Read and record the amount of water in the cylinder.

Carefully place the object in the cylinder.Read the new height of the water.Subtract to find the volume of the object.

Try it!!

What’s the Word?1. A measurement of how

much space a object takes up

2. A tool for calculating the volume of a regular object.

3. A tool for measuring the volume of an object, especially an irregular size object.

4. An object that can be measured using a ruler.

5. A object that cannot be measured using a ruler.

volume

ruler

graduated cylinder

regular object

irregular object

SummarizingExplain how you would measure the

volume of an irregular-shaped object.

Write your answer in your Science notebook.

The 3 containers below are identical. They are the same size and shape, so the have the same volume (the same amount of space).

Container A

1,200 g

Container C

70 g

Container B

55 g

Which container has the most mass?

If the containers have the same volume, how can their masses be different?

Container A

1,200 gContainer C

70 g

Container B

55 g

The containers have the same volume, but their masses are different. Then the masses must be different because of what’s inside the containers.

Density is a measurement of how tightly matter is packed together in an object.

If I tell you each container has either air, cotton or sand, can you tell me what is in each container?

Review1. A measurement of the

amount of matter an object contains.

2. A measurement of the amount of space anobject take up.

3. A measurement of how tightly matter is packed togetherin an object.

mass

volume

density

SummarizingAnswer the Essential Questionfor this lesson in your notebook.

Essential Question:How can we compare the properties, like density and volume, of materials?

Check Your Understanding1. Sam needs to know the volume of a

cardboard box. Which tool would he use to find the measurements he needs to calculate volume?A. rulerB. balanceC. spring scaled. thermometer

2. These two cubes are exactly the same size.

Which of the following MUST also be the same?

A. density C. temperature

B. mass D. volume

3. Anna needs 50 mL of water for an experiment. Which tool should she use to measure the volume of water?

A. ruler C. balance

B. thermometer D. beaker

4. Ashley wants to know which of her two blocks has greater density. She puts both blocks in the water. Block A floats and Block B sinks.

Which of the following MUST be true?A. Block A is more dense than Block B.

B. Block B. is more dense that Block A.

C. Both blocks have the same density.

D. Ashley cannot compare density with this activity.

Check Your Answers1. A. Ruler2. D. Volume3. D. Beaker4. 4. B. Block B. is more dense

than Block A.

There are 3 solid cubes, each the exact same size, but made of different materials. Cube A is made of wood, Cube B is made of steel and Cube C is made of aluminum. Compare the volume, mass and density of the cubes.

Summary Question