Weights and Measures Activities

A Homeschooling Unit Study

Jul 22, 2007 Denise Oliveri

Learn how people determined weights and measures long ago. Use this guide to help with homeschool projects and math.

The human body was used as the first form of measurement. Have you ever wondered why the length of a foot is called a "foot?" It is because people actually used the length of their foot to determine a certain length. The same goes with a "hand," which was a measurement based on how wide your hand was, including the fingers. An "inch" was determined by the width of a thumb.

Obviously these ways of determining measurements were not very accurate, as people had different sized feet and hands. Likewise, an acre was determined by how far an ox could plow a field in one day. The conditions were not consistent, though many times pretty close. Thus, scientists came up with permanent forms of measurement that would be the same for all.

*The official system in the U.S. is the customary system.*

Below are some basic conversions.

Length

1 foot = 12 inches
1 yard = 3 feet = 36 inches
1 rod = 5-1/2 yards
1 furlong = 40 rods = 220 yards = 660 feet
1 mile = 8 furlongs = 1,760 yards = 5,280 feet
1 league = 3 miles

Area

1 square foot = 144 square inches
1 square yard = 9 square feet = 1,296 square inches
1 square rod = 30-1/4 square yards
1 acre = 160 square rods = 4,840 square yards = 43,560 square feet
1 square mile = 640 acres

Capacity

Dry Measure

1 quart = 2 pints
1 peck = 8 quarts
1 bushel = 4 pecks

Liquid Measure

1 gill = 4 fluid ounces
1 pint = 4 gills = 16 ounces
1 quart = 2 pints = 32 ounces
1 gallon = 4 quarts = 128 ounces
1 barrel = 31-1/2 gallons

Cooking Measure

1 teaspoon = 1/6 fluid ounce
1 tablespoon = 3 teaspoons = 1/2 fluid ounce
1 cup = 16 tablespoons = 8 fluid ounces
1 pint = 2 cups
1 quart = 2 pints
1 gallon = 4 quarts

Volume

1 cubic foot = 12 inches x 12 inches x 12 inches = 1,728 cubic inches
1 cubic yard = 27 cubic feet

Depth

1 fathom = 6 feet
1 cable = 120 fathoms = 720 feet

Weight

1 dram = 27.344 grains
1 ounce = 16 drams = 437.5 grains
1 pound = 16 ounces
1 hundredweight = 100 pounds
1 ton = 2,000 pounds

Temperature

32 degrees Fahrenheit = the point at which water freezes
212 degrees Fahrenheit = the point at which water boils
0 degrees Celsius = the point at which water freezes
100 degrees Celsius = the point at which water boils

To convert from Celsius to Fahrenheit

Multiply by 1.8 and add 32

Example: F = 1.8 x 100C + 32 / F = 212

To convert from Fahrenheit to Celsius

Subtract 32 and divide by 1.8

Example: C = 212F - 32 / 1.8 / C = 100

Activity Using Weights and Measures

Cartesian Diver

Materials:

2-liter soda bottle
Medicine dropper
Water
Large glass of water

Instructions:

Place the medicine dropper into the glass of water.
Squeeze the bulb to let some of the air bubbles out.
Release the bulb and watch as the water moves in to replace the air that was removed.
Release the dropper and watch it barely float in the water. If it floats too high, squeeze it to remove more air. If it sinks, then squeeze out a drop of water and let it take in some air.
Fill the 2-liter soda bottle to the top with water.
Place the dropper into the bottle and put on the cap.
Gently squeeze the bottle and the dropper will sink to the bottom.
Release the bottle and the dropper rises back to the top.

The copyright of the article Weights and Measures Activities in Homeschooling is owned by Denise Oliveri. Permission to republish Weights and Measures Activities in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Picture of a scale

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