Page 47 - Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology

A CTIVIT Y 1.4 Measuring and Determining Relationships

Name: ______________________________________ Course/Section: ______________________ Date: ___________

A. Make the following unit conversions using the Mathematical Conversions chart on page xii .
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1. 10 mi = ______________ km 3. 16 km = _______________ m 5. 25.4 mL = _______________ cm

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2. 1 ft = _______________ m 4. 25 m = _______________ cm 6. 1.3 liters = _______________ cm
B. Write these numbers using scientific notation

1. 6,555,000,000 = __________________________ 2. 0.000001234 = _____________________________

C. Using a ruler, draw a line segment that has a length of exactly 1 cm (1 centimeter). A line
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occupies only one dimension of space, so a line that is 1 cm long is 1 cm .

D. Using a ruler, draw a square area that has a length of exactly 1 cm and a width of exactly

1 cm. An area occupies two dimensions of space, so a square that is 1 cm long and 1 cm
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wide is 1 cm of area 11 cm * 1 cm = 1 cm 2.

E. Using a ruler, draw a cube that has a length of 1 cm, width of 1 cm, and height of 1 cm.
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This cube made of centimeters occupies three dimensions of space, so it is 1 cm

(1 cubic centimeter) of volume.

F. Explain how you could use a small graduated cylinder and a gram balance to determine the density of water 1r water 2 in

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g>cm . Then use your procedures to calculate the density of water as exactly as you can. Show your data and calculations.
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G. Obtain a small lump of clay (grease-based modeling clay) and determine its density 1r clay 2 in g>cm . There is more than one
way to do this, so develop and apply a procedure that makes the most sense to you. Explain the procedure that you use, show
your data, and show your calculations.

H. Reconsider your answers to items F and G and the fact that modeling clay sinks in water.

1. Why does modeling clay sink in water?

2. What could you do to a lump of modeling clay to get it to float in water? Try your hypothesis and experiment until you
get the clay to float.

I. REFLECT & DISCUSS How is the distribution of Earth’s spheres related to their relative densities? Why?

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