LAB 1

• LENGTH
Metric units of length measurement most commonly used in biology include the meter
(m), centimeter (cm), millimeter (mm), micrometer (μm), and nanometer (nm). See Table
2.1, below.
How many cm are in a meter? _____100cm____ How many mm are in a centimeter?
_____10mm____ How many μm are in a millimeter? ____1000um______ How many nm
are in a micrometer? ____1000nm_____

Meter, Centimeter, and Millimeter

1. Obtain a meter stick. On the opposite side find the English measurement units of
“inches”. How many inches are in a meter? ___39inches___. Therefore, one meter is
roughly equivalent to a yard.

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2. Turn the meter stick over and observe the metric subdivisions (Fig. 2.4). How many
centimeters are in a meter? ___100cm___

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The prefix centi- means 100. How many cents (pennies) are in a dollar? ___100___
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3. How many millimeters are in a centimeter? ___100mm_____. The prefix milli- means a
thousand. How many millimeters are in a meter? ___1000mm_____.
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4. For measuring smaller objects, it is preferable to use a metric ruler, rather than a meter
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stick. Obtain a penny. Measure its diameter ____19.05mm____, then its width (thickness)
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____1.52mm____.

5. Why is it preferable to measure a penny in millimeters rather than centimeters or

meters? You get a more visible and accurate measurement
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_______________________________________________________________________
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_____________
Use a meter stick or a metric ruler to measure the following:
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Width of classroom door opening (in meters) ___0.9____ m

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Length of whiteboard (in meters) ___0.6____ m

Length of a dollar bill (in centimeters) ____15.24___ cm

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Width of your pen (in millimeters) ____0.2___ mm

Which of your fingernails is closest to 1 cm in width? ___ thumb_______

Millimeter, Micrometer, and Nanometer

As you will discover in upcoming laboratory exercises (using microscopes), the units
micrometer (μm) and nanometer (nm) are useful in microscopy for measuring very tiny

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 objects like cells or even viruses.
Lab Activity: Measuring with Metric

Use a metric ruler marked in centimeters (cm) and millimeters (mm). Micrometers (μm)
are not marked on the ruler, but remember that 1000 μm would fit in between each
millimeter hashmark.

1. Measure the diameter of the circle (Fig 2.6). ___40.3_____mm

2. Now, calculate its diameter in micrometers: _____40300______ μm

3. What is the diameter of the circle in nanometers? ______4.3____ nm

• VOLUME

The basic unit of volume in the metric system is the liter (symbol is L or l). The most

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common derived unit used for small amounts of liquids is the milliliter (mL) (10-3 or
1/1000 of a liter). A typical individual bottle of spring water might hold 500 mL (half a liter)

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of liquid.

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The volume of a milliliter is equal to the volume of a cube 1 centimeter per side.
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Sometimes these are expressed as cc (cubic centimeters) such as on the side of a
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medical syringe.

Another even smaller unit often used in the medical field is the microliter (μL) (10-6 or
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1/1,000,000 of a liter). For example, you might expect to find 5 million red blood cells in a
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microliter of your blood.

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1. Volume measurements can be related to those of length. Use a metric ruler to

measure a wooden block. Record the measurements below.
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Length = ___12.7_ cm width = ___10__ cm depth (height) = ___5__ cm

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The volume (or space) occupied by the wooden block can be expressed in cubic
centimeters (cc or cm3) by multiplying L x W x H. Use your measurements to calculate
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this for the wooden block: ______635cm____

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For the purposes of this activity, understand that 1 cm3 = 1 mL, so the wooden block has
a volume of ____635____ mL.
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2. In the biology laboratory, liquid volume is usually measured in milliliters, using an

appropriately sized graduated cylinder. The measurement marks etched on the side are
called “graduations”.
When liquid is poured in, the top of the liquid forms a slight curve, called a “meniscus”
(see Fig 2.7). The volume of the liquid should be read at the graduation closest to the
bottom of the meniscus. For accuracy, you should read this (1) on a flat lab surface; (2)
at eye level (crouch down).

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 How many milliliters of liquid is in the grad. cylinder in this picture? ________

Pro tip: Use as small a beaker or graduated cylinder as possible for your measurements.
The smaller the vessel, the more accurate your measurement will be.

Figure 27 Meniscus

Volume Exercise 1: Practicing measurement accuracy.

At your lab table you should have a glass bottle, a small plastic cup, and a test tube.
Find and record their volumes in the table below. Hint: note that you have a faucet and
sink to help with this task.

Table 2.2:
Container

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Measured volume
Volume of the bottle on your lab table

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________ mL

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Volume of small cup on your lab table
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________ mL

Volume of test tube on your lab table

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________ mL
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Volume Exercise 2: How many drops of water does it take to equal 1 mL?
To find out, fill a plastic pipette with tap water and count how many drops it takes to fill a
small (10 mL) graduated cylinder to the 1 mL mark. Don’t forget to read the meniscus at
eye level.
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From this information, you should be able to calculate how many mL each drop is, too!
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Record below:

Drops per 1 mL = ______ mL per drop = ______

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Volume Exercise 3: Measuring Volume by Displacement.

The volume of solid objects (like rocks, for example) can be obtained by measuring how
much water they displace in a graduated cylinder. To measure the volume of an object
using this method, first partially fill a graduated cylinder with water. Record the initial
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volume of water. Next, submerge the object completely under the water. Use extreme
care when placing the object into the cylinder as to avoid breaking the glass. Then,
record the new (final) volume of the liquid in the cylinder. The increase in the water’s
volume is equal to the object’s volume.

Use a graduated cylinder and water to find the volumes of the following objects at your
lab table:

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 Pebble = ________ mL Metal bolt = ________ mL

Volume Exercise 4: Using your meter stick, determine the VOLUME of either of the
rectangular animal tanks in the classroom, in cm3 (cubic centimeters).

A) turtle tank b) bearded dragon tank (circle which tank you choose)
Show your measurements/calculations here (to the closest tenth decimal place):

Length = ____ cm width = _____ cm depth (height) = _____ cm

Volume = _____________ cm3

Keeping in mind that each cubic centimeter is equivalent to a volume of 1 milliliter (mL),
how many LITERS of water would the tank hold? ____________ L

How many gallons (1 gallon = 3.7854 liters)? _________ gallons

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Pro Tip: Very small volumes of water can be accurately measured using a scale,
because each milliliter of water weighs 1 gram. To measure water this way, first put a

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small beaker on the scale, “zero” the scale by pressing the tare button (to “zero” it out).
Be sure the readout shows a little “g” after the zero. If it says “N” the reading is not in

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grams. Now add the water to the beaker. Each gram that the scale reads equals 1 ml of
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Answer this:
1. How many grams does 73 mL of pure water weigh?
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2. What is the volume (mL) of 0.23 kg of pure water?

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• TEMPERATURE
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There are two temperature scales: the Fahrenheit (F) and Celsius (or “centigrade”, C)
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scales. See Figure 2.9.

The basic unit of temperature in the metric system that is used internationally is the
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degree Celsius. (°C). There are no commonly derived units.

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To get a feel for degrees Celsius, consider the following temperatures:

• Ice water and the freezing point of water are 0°C

• Room temperature water is 20 to 25°C
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• Normal body temperature is 37°C

• Water gets too painful to touch between 50 – 60°C
• Water boils at 100°C

Useful conversion formulas:

°C to °F Multiply by 9, then divide by 5, then add 32
°F to °C Deduct 32, then multiply by 5, then divide by 9

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 Answer the following:

1. Water freezes at ___32__°F = ___0__ °C.

2. Water boils at ___212__°F = ____100_ °C.

3. Normal human body temperature is _____°F, which is equivalent to _____ °C.

4. Taking temperature accurately

Record the following temperatures in your lab environment. In each case, allow the bulb
end of the Celsius thermometer to remain in or on the sample for a minimum of one
minute before taking a reading. Extra credit points will be given if you also convert to °F,
but this is optional.

a) Room temperature (air) Actual thermometer reading _____°C conversion:

_____°F

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b) Surface of your skin Actual thermometer reading _____°C conversion: _____°F

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c) Cool tap water. Place your beaker in the sink at your lab table and let the cold tap
water run into the beaker for at least a full minute. Important: allow the thermometer to

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stabilize in the water for a minute before taking a reading.
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Actual thermometer reading _____°C conversion: _____°F

d) Hot tap water. Place your beaker in the sink at your lab table and let the hot tap water
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run into the beaker for at least a full minute. Important: allow the thermometer to stabilize
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in the water for a minute before taking a reading.

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Actual thermometer reading _____°C conversion: _____°F

e) Interior of refrigerator. Place thermometer inside (and close the door) for at least a
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full minute.
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Actual thermometer reading _____°C conversion: _____°F

Laboratory Review. Answer the following.

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__________kg____________ 1. Would kg, ml, or cm signify a measurement of weight?

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__________graduated cylinder____________ 2. Would volume be measured with a

meter stick, a graduated cylinder, or a
balance scale?
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_________micron_____________ 3. What does the abbreviation μm stand for?

__________mm____________ 4. What is the smallest unit of measurement shown on a

meter stick?

______________meters________ 5. Would you measure the height of the ceiling to be

in meters, millimeters,

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 or cubic centimeters?
____________121g__________ 6. If a triple beam balance shows a weight of 100g on
one beam, 20 g on
another beam, and 1 g on the third beam, what is the weight of the object?
____________1100um__________ 7. Convert 1.1 mm to μm.

______________0.5L________ 8. Convert 500 mL to liters.

___________5000mg___________ 9. Convert 5g to mg.

______________15000um________ 10. Convert 1.5 cm to μm.

_____________10cm_________ 11. If an object is 100 mm in length, how many cm is it?

_____________1g_________ 12. 20 mL of pure water weighs how much?

____________50ml__________ 13. If you were to fill a graduated cylinder to 250 mL,

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then drop an object in
that raises the water level to 300 mL, what is the volume of the object,

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in cubic centimeters?
___________micrometer___________ 14. Name a unit of measurement that is

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commonly used in microscopy.
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Lab activity adapted from Sylvia Mader Human Biology laboratory manual, 13th edition.
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