Day 22

We reviewed the main points of last night's EDpuzzle video assignment:

• Types of Observations
  
  • Qualitative observations speak to the presence or absence of a particular quality  (Example - The boy's shirt is blue.)
    
  • Quantitative observations refer to some sort of measured quantity (Example - There are 28 desks in the classroom.  The student stands 5' 11" tall)  - Note, the presence of a number in an observation does not necessarily mean that the observation is quantitative - (Example - The clock has a 12 on it.  This is not measuring anything, so even though there is a number present, it is a qualitative observation
    
• 3 Essential Considerations when Making Measurements
  
  • Know what quantity you are measuring (length, mass, volume, luminous intensity, etc.)
    
  • Have an appropriate unit of measure (appropriate for the quantity being measured, but also appropriate to the magnitude of the quantity being measured)
    
  • Have an appropriate tool to measure with (again, appropriate for the quantity being measured, but also appropriate to the magnitude of the quantity being measured)
    
• How to make the most accurate, precise measurement possible
  
  • Avoid parallax - error in measurement due to the position of the observer - by making sure that you are eye-level with and reading perpendicular to the instrument's scale
    
  • Read to the precision (number of decimal places) allowed by the instrument in use...determine the smallest increment given by the marking on the instrument, and estimate one additional decimal place.
    

Practice making accurate, precise measurements by completing the first part of the Measurement & Uncertainty Tutorial from Frostburg State University.  You only need to complete sections IA.-ID.

Students should be studying for their next element quiz on Inner Transition Metals & the "Other Metals" for next Wednesday using Quizlet.