Measurements

Measurements. What are they? A measurement is a figure, extent or amount obtained by measuring. For this chapter, we learned how to use measuring tools and also how important units are. We learnt how to use the vernier caliper and the micrometer screw gauge ( both below). These 2 tools are very effective for measuring as we know that not all things can be measured with a metre rule. 

Units are very important in our lives. Without them, it would be so hard to communicate. Imagine if there were no units and you were supposed to run a marathon. How puzzled the participants would be when they see 15 as the total distance. Questions like is it 15mm, 15cm, 15m or 15km would be circling around in the participants' heads. See the importance of units now? Units also help scientists to record down the amount of something for references. For example we use watts and volts for electricity, and millilitres and litres for water. Scientists cannot put down watts for water and litres for electricity.

There is also something called SI which stands for System International. There are SI base units and SI derived units. The base units are what SI was founded on. These seven quantities are assumed to be mutually independent. The table below shows us the 7 units.

There are 22 derived units altogether. Here are some examples of derived units.

So I have learnt the importance of units and also how to use some of the measuring tools that are new to me. I think that the new skills I have learnt in this chapter will surely help me in the future.

Science as an Inquiry

What is science? According to the Webster dictionary, Science is :
1.  the state of knowing
2a. a department of systematized knowledge as an object of study
2b. something that may be studied or learned systematized knowledge
3a. knowledge or a system of knowledge covering general truths or the operation of general laws especially as obtained and tested through scientific methods
3b. such knowledge or such a system of knowledge concerned with the physical world and its phenomena
4.  a system or method reconciling practical ends with scientific laws
5. christian science

Well, I do not know what christian science is. Science to me, is knowledge. But science is very general, and not all questions are answered. So, science is also a mystery to some. After this chapter, I had a deeper understanding of what science was. It was not only knowledge, but about methods, attitudes and products. Science is also full of theories, principles and laws that people have created and proven, like Newton's law of gravity and the theory of evolution.

I also learnt some science laboratory rules. This is the first time I am doing experiments that have fire and liquids involved, so the safety rules were very important. We also learnt about the signs like the radioactive sign ( on the left).






To conclude, this chapter of science was the introduction for the whole year, and it was interesting. I learnt many useful things and have gained a deeper understanding of science.