What Tools Of Measurement Should All Students Know How To Use?

Students go to school in the search for more advanced knowledge about a lot of things in the world. In the pursuit of higher and greater knowledge, there is a process to be followed with meticulous and careful consideration. In this process, every step should be cautiously done with accuracy and precision. And in this process, gathering data is a very significant step. One data gathering method that students and knowledge-seekers constantly use is measurement.

Measurement is a method that compares or determines the relation of a quantity, physical or not, with a certain numerical value. To be able to describe a measurement of a particular object, tools are made for each type of information needed. There are numerous objects in this world that were made quantifiable through the use of several measurement tools. These tools include the following types in general: scales, interviews, surveys and indexes. Some kinds of these tools of measurement are popularly used in these days, such as the ruler for length or clock for time. Some of these tools are rarely used these days because of the discovery of higher technology and example of these measuring tools is the pendulum to measure time.

Length, Weight, and Volume

Students should know all the basics for measurement and undoubtedly, the most popular units of measurement that are seen anywhere, anytime and have a constant importance in any scientific and mathematic field of studies are the units of length, weight and volume. The basic unit of length in the metric system is meter, kilogram for weight and liter for volume. Tools of measurement for length that students should know how to use include rulers, tape measures and calipers. For weight, use of weighing scales and balance beams should be learned by students. For volume, the use of the different measuring spoons and cups, pipettes, and cylinders should also be learned. Most of these measuring tools are used in scientific experiments in school.

Time

Even though in this age today where the existence of digital clocks has made it easier for people to measure time, students should still be able to measure time using the tools of the earlier period such as the sundial, pendulum and hourglass. Even though these tools are rarely used today, they should still be included in the list of what tools of measurement should all students know how to use; after all, one cannot learn more without looking back from the history. Other tools for measurement of time that are still used today include the calendar and the stopwatch and these tools are used frequently in people's daily activities.

Temperature

What tools of measurement should all students know how to use for temperature? The answer is none other than, thermometers. There is more than one type of thermometer for measuring temperature. Thermometers differ in the object the temperature will be measured from and students should know how to use these different kinds of thermometers. To measure body temperature, there are digital axillary thermometers and oral thermometers. Mercurial thermometers were once used before but due to the harmful effects of mercury, these types of thermometers are being wiped out for use medially. But for scientific researches and experiments, mercurial thermometers are still being used with care and these are called laboratory thermometers. These are made of glass and sometimes, instead of mercury, red alcohol is the fluid used. Room thermometers are used to measure room temperature. Students should know how to read thermometers.

What tools of measurement should all students know how to use for school? Just as stated above, students should know the basics of measurement and the tools for each unit of measurement for them to be able to use these tools properly and accurately in school studies.

Websites For Learning All About Measurement

  1. All Measures
  2. British Weights and Measures Association
  3. Calculator.com
  4. A Dictionary of Units
  5. English Weights and Measures
  6. International System of Units
  7. Metric 4 US
  8. Unit Conversions