Observation and Inference

Observation ______________________________________
Interaction of our senses with our environment
Sight
A. Five Senses are 1)_________________________
Hearing
2)_________________________
3)_________________________
Touch or
Feel
Taste
4)_________________________
Smell
5)_________________________

B. Test your power of observation

How can you determine if your observation using

only sight was correct?

_____________
Use a RULER
 Tools can be used to extend our powers of observation.
These devices have been developed by people to extended
the senses beyond the normal limit, and thus enable us to
make observations that are normally impossible or highly
inaccurate.

Microscope Wind Vane

__________
Graduated Cylinder ___________
_____________

Thermometer
_____________

Telescope
_____________
Compass
_____________ GPS Unit
_____________

Ruler
_____________
Electronic Scale
_____________
Magnifying Glass
_____________
Which instruments can be used to measure these things?

Microscope
___________ Telescope
___________ ___________
 Inference ______________________________
Interpretation of an observation based on
______________________________
knowledge or experience

If you OBSERVED these storm

clouds, you could INFER that
a storm is coming and it will
___________________________
rain
___________________________

Are the statements below Observations or Inferences

I The dog is barking. _____
2. The dog is angry. _____ O
O
3. The pebble is smooth and round. _____
I
The pebble was carried by a stream. _____
O
The pebble is light brown in color. _____
I, O The tire is flat. _____
4. The tire has a leak. _____ O
O
5. There is a track on the trail. ____
The track was made by a deer. _____ I
Classification
A classification system is based on
The properties or characteristics of an object
___________________________________________________
A classification system enables an investigator to
Organize objects in a meaningful way
___________________________________________________

3
4 5
1
7
2 6

8
9
11
10

1 14
1
3
2
 ANIMALS

FISH BIRD MAMMAL REPTILES

S S

SEA BLUE JAY BEAR LIZARD

HORSE

SHARK EAGLE GORILL CROCODILE

A

PIRANH OSTRIC MAMMOTH COBR

A H A

KILLER
PENGUIN TURTL
WHALE
E

BAT
Measurement is a way of expressing an observation with
greater precision. It provides a numerical value for some
property of the object or event being observed.
All measurements consist of: 1. _____________________
numerical value

2. _____________________
UNITS
Linear Measurement ____________________________________
Distance between two points
Ruler
Tool _________________________
Units ________________________
numerical value

Use the model below to give the value of the labeled lines to
the nearest tenth and then convert to millimeters.
B A C E D

2.5
A _____________ 25.0
centimeters, or _____________ millimeters
0.8
B _____________ 8.0
centimeters, or _____________ millimeters
4.0
C _____________ 40.0
centimeters, or _____________ millimeters
7.5
D _____________ 75.0
centimeters, or _____________ millimeters
5.3
E _____________ 53.0
centimeters, or _____________ millimeters
kilo
hecto
deka
deci
centi
milli
Measure each line to the nearest tenth of a centimeter and
millimeter.
1. ________cm,
7.0 or ________
70 mm
2. 4.2
________cm, 42
or ________ mm
3. ________cm,
1.9 or ________
19 mm
4. 6.2
________cm, 62
or ________ mm
8.2 82
5. ________cm, or ________ mm
Area ______________________________________________
Amount of surface
space
___________________________________________________
Formula __________________________________
A=LxW
Units “square” units
2
cm
1. squared centimeters or ________
2
m
2. squared meters or ________
km2
3. squared kilometers or ________

Determine the area of the figures below. A=L x W

2.3
A=2.5 x 2.3
A= 5.75 or
2.8 2.5 5.8 cm2

4.7
2.1
A=L x W
A= 4.7 x 2.8 = 13.16 or 13.2 cm2 5.3
A=L x W
A= 11.13 or
A=5.3 x 2.1 11.1 cm2
Volume (“three dimensional measurement” sometimes
referred to as the “size” of an object.) ___________________
____________________________________________________
Amount of space an object occupies
Determining VOLUME of liquids
Tool _______________________
Graduated Cylinder
ml
Units ______________________

Measurement
66
____________
ml

What is the volume of the graduated cylinders below?

_________ml
1 _________ml
5 _________ml
1
3 3 9
Volume of Rectangular Solids
Ruler
Tool _______________________

Formula ____________________
V=LxWxH
Units
3
cm
cubic cm or_______________
cubic m or ____________________
m3
 Determine the volume of the objects.
V=LxWx 8cm
3cm H
4cm
3cm 3cm
8cm 9cm
3cm
V=3x3x3 V= 3 x 4 x 8
4cm
_______________
27 _______________
144 V= 4 x 8 x 9
cm3 cm3 160 cm3
_______________
Volume by Displacement

What is the
VOLUME of ___________
2 ml
the rock?

___________
7 ml ___________
9 ml
 Concentration of matter in an object
Density __________________________________________

DENSITY IS INCREASING

Formula
Instruments
graduated cylinder
Liquid ____________________
ruler + ________________
scale
Solid _____________
Units
g/ml
___________ g/cm3
OR __________
Solve this problem:
The dimensions of a regular rectangular object
are given as illustrated at the right. Given that
the object has a mass of 150 grams, calculate its
density. 2c
D = M/V
D = 150 g m 5c 1c
10 cm3 m x W x Hm
V=L
D = 15 V=5 x 1 x 2
g/cm3 V= 10 cm3
In the illustration to the right the
____
4 ml
mass of Object X is 80 grams.
The volume can be determined
by water displacement.
What is the density of Object X? ____
2 ml

40 g/cm3
________________
D= M
V

D = 80.0g3
2 cm D = 40 g/cm3

Object Y is a perfect cube. The density of Object Y is 5.5 g/cm3

What is the mass of Object Y as
shown by the electronic scale?
1000.0 g
_____________________________
Calculate the volume of Object Y.

D= M
V
M 5.5 g/cm3= 1000.0g
V
V = 181.8cm3
D V

12
 Density Relationships
1. Density in Relation to Size

= 1cm3

= 1 gram of Total mass= ______

6
particle g 3
Total volu= 1cm
______
Total mass= 24
______
g
Density=6______
g/cm3
Total volu= 4
______
cm3
RELATIONSHIP Density=6______
g/cm3

The size of an object does NOT determine or affect its density.

_________________________________________________________

Densit
2. Density in Relation to Temperature y
Size

= 1 gram of
particle

Volume _____________
increases
Mass _______________
remains same
Density _____________
decreases

RELATIONSHIP
_________________________________________________________
As temperature increases, density decreases
Densit
y

Temperatur
e
3. Density in Relation to State of Matter

_________
Solid _________
Liquid _________
Gas

Decreasing
Density
WATER ________________________________________
WATER is densest at 34° F

Densit

Water
Densit

y of
y

Solid Liquid Gas Solid Liquid Gas

4. Density in Relation to Pressure

Volume _____________
decreases _____
Mass __________________
remains the same
Density ________________
increases
Densit
y

Pressur
e
RELATIONSHIP
As pressure increases, density increases
_________________________________________________________
Temperature __________________________________________
Average kinetic energy of a material
thermometer
Instrument _____________________________________
Units Fahrenheit F o
________________
Celsius o
C
________________
Kelvin K
________________

Water 100 373

Boils 212 F

Human 98 37 C 310.15
Body

70 22 C 293

Water 32 0 -273.15
Freezes
-40 -40 233.15

Absolut -496F
-273 0
e Zero