Sci - 214

Michael Galindo

Science – 214

1/8/2013

Week 1 – iLab

QUESTIONS FOR THOUGHT

1. What is a concept?

A physical science concept is sometimes defined by specifying a measurement procedure.

2. What are two components of a measurement statement? What does each component tell you?

A measurement statement always contains a number and name for the referent unit. The number answers the question “How much?” and the name answers the question “Of what?”

3. Other than familiarity, what are the advantages of the English system of measurement?

Some adopted units of the English system were originally based on parts of the human body, presumably because you always had these referents with you. The inch, for example, used the end joint of the thumb for a referent. A foot, naturally, was the length of a foot, and a yard was the distance from the tip of the nose to the end of the fingers on an arm held straight out. A cubit was the distance from the end of an elbow to the fingertip, and a fathom was the distance between the finger-tips of two arms held straight out.

4. Define the metric standard units for length, mass, and time.

The metric standard for length is calculated as meters and the symbol is “m.” The metric standard for mass is calculated as kilograms and the symbol is “kg.” The metric standard for time is calculated as seconds and the symbol is “s.”

5. Does the density of a liquid change with the shape of a container? Explain.

No, the shape of the container does not change unless it is stored at the same temperature and pressure. However, if you were to store the same amount of liquid in two separate containers, but place them in two different locations at different temperatures, then the density would change.

6. Does a flattened pancake of clay have the same density as the same clay rolled into a ball? Explain.

A flattened pancake of clay would have the same density if it were to be rolled into a ball. The equation for density (d) is: d = mass/volume,...