Concepts for Change, Constancy, and Measurement Change
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Intermediate
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| Some changes are so slow or fast that they are hard to observe. Things in nature and things people make have different properties (sizes, weights, speed, and ages). Properties
of matter change. People can keep track of change by noticing before and after. Objects can change in different ways (size, shape, weight, color, and movement). Measurement is a way of detecting change. People can keep track of change by noticing before, during, and after.
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Some things may have properties that change and properties that don't change. Properties of matter, position of objects, motion, form, function of systems all change. Change varies in rate, scale, and pattern. Some changes occur in patterns when the changes are looked at in different directions, flipped, or reflected. Things change in steady repetitive or irregular ways. Sometimes in more than one way at a time. Drawing pictures, making charts, graphs, or taking measurements helps to see change.
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Properties of systems that depend on volume, such as weight and capacity, change proportionally according to area and surface tension Physical and biological systems often change until they become stable and then they remain the same unless the environment changes. Finding out how big or small something can be is sometimes as revealing as knowing what the usual value is. Many systems contain feedback mechanisms that limit changes to specific ranges. Equations can be used to summarize how the quantity of something changes over time in response to other changes. Change can include trends and cycles. Energy can be transferred and matter can be changed, however the sum of the matter and energy in systems remains the same. |
Constancy
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Intermediate
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Middle |
| Somethings stay the same and some things change.
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Objects, properties, and events stay the same or happen in similar ways. Constancy enables people to understand the universe. Almost anything has limits on how big or small it can be.
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Objects, properties, and events may change but much about them remains constant. Constancy makes the universe understandable. A system may stay the same because nothing is happening or becasue things are happening to counterbalance each other. Symmetry or lack of it may determine properties of many objects (molecules, crystals, organisms, and designed structures). Things that change in cycles (seasons, body temperature) can be described by the cycle length, frequency, highest and lowest value, and when the occur. Cycles can range from thousands of years to billionths of a second. As a system get more complicated we can gain understanding by using summaries of average, range, and describing the typical properties of the system. |
Measurement see also math measurement
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Intermediate
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| Properties can be counted. Conservation of number- the number of objects does not change with the position of the objects. Length of an object does not change when its position is changed or its shape is altered by bending. Conservation of length. Objects can be used to compare other objects. Measurement is a way of detecting change. Time is the measurement of years divided into seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, decades, centuries. Linear measurement is the distance between two points. Volume is the measurement of space an object occupies. Area measures the surface of an object. A standard unit of measurement helps communication. When the thermometer goes up the temperature is hotter. Measurement helps in making better observations. Scales measure mass and weight. Measuring cups measure volume Measurements can be compared. Measurement is used in everyday life (recipes, plans, designing, building) Time is communicated in standard units. The duration of an event from the beginning to the end is measured in time. Time represents past, present, and future events.
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Properties and change of properties can be quantified. All measurement is relative to a unit, usually a standard unit. Scale is proportional. Measurement helps in making more accurate observations. Quantitative estimates of familiar lengths, weights, and time intervals can be confirmed by measurement. Mass does not change when the shape or position of an object is changed. Conservation of mass. Volume of a substance does not change when its shape does. Conservation of volume. Measurement helps in making better observations. Rulers are used to measure linear measurement. Scales measure mass and weight Measuring cups measure volume Measurements can be compared Measurement is used in everyday life (recipes, plans, designing, building) Rate is based on time Standard
units include: Volume standard units are ml, liter, cup, pint, quart, gallon Mass standard units are g, kg, pounds, ounces, tons Linear measurement standard units are cm, m, km, inch, foot, yard, mile Temperature
measures hot and cold. Degrees in Celsius and Fahrenheit are standard
units of temperature |
All measurement has error. Scale is a proportional relationship of characteristics, properties, or relationships within a system as its dimensions are increased or decreased. Rate involves a measure of change for a part relative to a whole (birth rate as part of population growth and comparing one measured quantity to another measured quantity (km per hour).
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