Activities

1. Fill in the blanks with appropriate scientific vocabulary:

When measuring mass you use a __________________. Typical units of measurement are ________________ (*in the United States) and _________________ (*in many other countries).

When measuring the volume of a regular object you measure the _________________, ______________, and _________________. Some objects are described as irregular. These objects cannot be measured with a metric ruler, so instead we use the __________________ ________________, and see how much space the object takes up.

2. Use your knowledge of mass and volume to compare a bowling ball and a basketball. Write 2 facts.

3. When given images of different types of scales, compare how are they alike and different. Is one more accurate than another? Would they be able to measure the same objects?
   
   
4. The boxes below are each filled with a different substance (water, air, and lead). Answer the questions based on the substance in the box.
   
   
   1. Label each box as a solid, liquid, or gas.
   2. Label each box as very heavy, moderately heavy, and least heavy.
   3. How do the volumes of the boxes compare?

5. Imagine you are packing for a trip! You have a few restrictions on what you can bring: maximum of 15 kg and a bag no larger than 20 cm X 40 cm X 30cm. In a paragraph, explain how mass and volume are both separate, but related in this case.

Answer Key/Rubric

1. When measuring mass you use a scale.  Typical units of measurement are pounds (lbs.) (*in the United States) and kilograms (kg) (*in many other countries).

When measuring the volume of a regular object you measure the length, width, and height. Some objects are described as irregular. These objects cannot be measured with a metric ruler, so instead we us the displacement method and see how much space the object takes up.

2. Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

• A bowling ball and a basketball are similar in volume.
• A bowling ball has more mass than a basketball.
• A basketball has less mass than a bowling ball.

3. Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

• Each can measure the mass of an object.
• They may differ in units.
• They may differ in maximum mass capacity.
• They may differ in accuracy of mass.
• They may differ in ease of use.

4. Answers as follows:
   1. Water- liquid, air- gas, lead- solid
   2. Water- moderately heavy, air- least heavy, lead- very heavy (the mass of each substance is different)
   3. The volume of each substance is the same. Each substance is taking up the same amount the space.

5. Acceptable responses might include, but are not limited to:

• The maximum mass is 15 kilograms, but the maximum volume is 20 cm X 40 cm X 30 cm. They are separate measurements.
• The mass and volume combine together when the bag is filled.
• You cannot go over the volume limit, nor the mass limit. But you can go under mass and/or the volume.