1. Lesson Vocabulary
• meniscus: The curved upper surface of a liquid in a tube.
• estimate: A process of referencing a physical quantity in terms of a calibration or reference point.
• uncertainty: All measurements have an uncertainty equal to one half of the smallest difference between reference marks.
• accuracy: Describes how close an estimate is to a known standard.
• precision: Describes how close estimates are to one another.
• calibration: A method of setting or correcting a measuring device by matching it to known measurement standards.
• percent uncertainty: The ratio of the uncertainty to the measured value, multiplied by one hundred.
• percent error: An expression of the accuracy of a measurement, standardized to how large the measurement is.
• significant figures: Consist of all the certain digits in that measurement plus one uncertain or estimated digit.
• density: An expression of the mass of substance in terms of the volume occupied by the substance.
• mass: The quantity of inertia possessed by an object.
• weight: The gravitational force acting on a mass, as measured on a scale.
• Fahrenheit scale: The most commonly used scale in the United States, it defines the normal freezing point and boiling point of water as 32°F and 212°F, respectively.
• Celsius scale: The most commonly used scale around the world, it defines the normal freezing point and boiling point of water as 0°C and 100°C, respectively.
• Kelvin scale: Referred to as the absolute temperature scale, it defines absolute zero as the lowest theoretically possible temperature.