Basic Stuff Study Guide

Metric system/SI

The International System of Units (SI) is a more modern form of the metric system that determines the base units for measurement.

English system

The English System is a flawed system of measurement based off of human features, and only three countries besides the U.S. use it.

Mass

Mass is the measurement of the number of atoms in an object, and it stays consistent no matter the location.

Weight

Weight is the pull of gravity on an object, and it changes depending on where the object is located.

Volume

Volume is the amount of space an object takes up, and it can be calculated using the formula Base * Width * Height for solids.

Liquid Units

The units of measurement for liquids in the metric system are liter, pint, quart, and cup.

Solid Units

The units of measurement for solids in the metric system are cm3, m3, ft3, and yd3.

Key Idea

Mass and volume are different, and large objects may have a small mass and vice versa.

Always read Beakers at the lowest point of the liquid

When measuring the volume of a liquid in a beaker, always read the measurement at the lowest point of the liquid.

1 cm3 is equal to 1 mL

1 cubic centimeter (cm3) is equal to 1 milliliter (mL).

Density

Density is the measurement of the amount of matter in a defined amount of space, and it can be calculated using the formula Mass/Volume.

Density Units

The units of measurement for density are g/cm3 for solids and g/mL for liquids.

Density of water

The density of water is 1 g/mL.

Sink or Float

If an object is denser than the liquid it is placed in, it will sink. If it is lighter, it will float.