How many milliliters of water does the graduated cylinder in (a) contain, and how tall in centimeters is the paper clip in (b)? How many significant figures do you have in each answer?

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Observe the water level in the graduated cylinder (a). The meniscus is at the 70 mL mark.
2. Step 2: Record the volume of water in the graduated cylinder as 70 mL.
3. Step 3: Observe the height of the paper clip in image (b) using the ruler. The top of the paper clip aligns with the 6 cm mark.
4. Step 4: Record the height of the paper clip as 6 cm.
5. Step 5: Determine the number of significant figures for each measurement. For the graduated cylinder, the measurement is 70 mL, which has 2 significant figures. For the paper clip, the measurement is 6 cm, which has 1 significant figure.

Key Concepts

Volume Measurement

Volume measurement is the quantification of the three-dimensional space occupied by a substance, typically expressed in milliliters (mL) or liters (L). In the context of the graduated cylinder, the water level indicates the volume, which can be read directly from the scale marked on the cylinder. Accurate reading requires observing the meniscus, the curve formed by the liquid's surface.

Height Measurement

Height measurement refers to determining the vertical extent of an object, often expressed in centimeters (cm) or meters (m). In this case, the height of the paper clip can be measured using a ruler, ensuring that the measurement is taken from the base to the top of the object. Proper alignment and reading at eye level help avoid parallax errors.

Significant Figures

Significant figures are the digits in a number that contribute to its precision, including all non-zero digits, any zeros between significant digits, and trailing zeros in the decimal portion. When reporting measurements, it is crucial to express the result with the correct number of significant figures to reflect the precision of the measuring instrument used, which is essential for scientific accuracy.