Measuring volume

Measuring volume

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Working with Students
Further Resources
This task is about interesting ways to measure volume.

Question

diagram of hand pushing test tube into measuring cylinder
 
a)  Jason used a pencil to push a small test tube down into a measuring cylinder containing water as shown in the diagram.    
     The test tube will hold about ...

    • 60 ml

    • 10 ml

    • 5 ml

    • 1 ml

Question 1Change answer

b)  Using the idea from the diagram, explain why you should not fill a bath up to the very top.

Question 1Change answer

diagram of a measuring cylinder and a rock
 
c)  Here is a measuring cylinder and a rock (drawn to same scale).
     Explain how, using the cylinder, you could find the volume of this rock.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or online.
Level:
4
Curriculum info: 
Science, Investigating in science, Physical World
Keywords: 
using physics, forces, displacement, volume
Description of task: 
Task: Use displacement to measure volume. Assessment focus: displacement.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Gather and interpret data
This resource provides opportunities to discuss different methods for measuring the same thing, including making decisions about the degree of accuracy required in specific circumstances.
Answers/responses: 
   

Y8 (10/1997)
a) B [10 ml] moderate
b) When someone gets in the bath the water would overflow/be displaced. very easy
c) Sensible explanations, e.g., place the rock in the semi-filled measuring cylinder and measure the increase in volume of the water. moderate

 

Diagnostic and formative information: 
  Common error
a) Option A was selected by 45% of students.