Biology Lab - Metric System Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms, metric units, tools, accuracy, precision, and formulas from the Biology Lab Metric System Study Guide.

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the true or accepted value.

Precision

How close repeated measurements are to one another.

Metric unit

A standard unit in the metric system used to measure something, such as meters, liters, grams, or degrees Celsius.

Length

The distance from one point to another, commonly measured in meters (m), centimeters (cm), or millimeters (mm).

Volume

The amount of space something takes up, with liquid volume commonly measured in liters (L) or milliliters (mL).

Mass

The amount of matter in an object, commonly measured in grams (g) or kilograms (kg).

Area

The amount of surface covered by a two-dimensional shape, written in squared units, such as $\text{cm}^2$.

Temperature

A measure of how hot or cold something is, commonly measured in degrees Celsius (°C) in biology labs.

Density

The amount of mass in a given volume, calculated using the formula $\text{Density} = \frac{\text{Mass}}{\text{Volume}}$.

Meniscus

The curved surface of liquid in a container such as a graduated cylinder, read at the bottom of the curve at eye level for water and most liquids.

Celsius

A temperature scale used in science and the metric system, written as °C.

Pipette

A measuring tool used to measure and transfer small amounts of liquid.

Metric ruler

The measuring tool used to measure length.

Graduated cylinder

A measuring tool used to measure liquid volume.

Balance

The measuring tool used to measure mass.

Thermometer

The measuring tool used to measure temperature.