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Mass: reading scales and comparing masses

Reading kitchen, bathroom and balance scales correctly, and comparing masses. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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Kinds of scales

ScaleWhat for?
kitchen scalesmall masses, mostly in grams: flour, butter
bathroom scalepeople, in kilograms
balance scalecompares two masses: the heavier side goes down
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Read the pointer

  1. Choose two numbered marks next to each other, e.g. 0 g and 100 g.
  2. Count the spaces between them (not the lines): 4 spaces → each mark is 100 ÷ 4 = 25 g.
  3. Count on from the last number before the pointer: 3 marks after 200 g → 200 + 75 = 275 g.

Bathroom scale: between 30 kg and 40 kg there are 10 spaces, so each mark is 1 kg. The pointer is 4 marks after 30: 34 kg.

Balance scale: 1 apple balances 3 blocks of 50 g each, so the apple has a mass of 3 × 50 = 150 g.

Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Comparing masses

Rule

First make the units the same. Which is heavier: 1,2 kg or 1 050 g? 1,2 kg = 1 200 g, and 1 200 g > 1 050 g, so 1,2 kg is heavier by 150 g.

  • Order from light to heavy: 750 g; 0,8 kg (800 g); 1,05 kg (1 050 g).
  • Together: a bag of 2,5 kg and a bag of 750 g have a mass of 2 500 g + 750 g = 3 250 g = 3,25 kg.
Tap when you could tell someone without looking.

Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Kitchen scale: grams; bathroom scale: kilograms.
  • Count the spaces between two numbers to find what one mark is worth.
  • On a balance scale the heavier side goes down.
  • Compare masses in the same unit.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Count the spaces, not the lines.

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say the answer yourself, then turn the card over.

Now the real quiz!

The quiz has many more questions on this topic. Every question shows straight away whether you are right and explains why.

Take the quiz: Mass: reading scales and comparing masses
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For parents
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