IndianTechnoEra: What Is Measurement?

What Is Measurement?

Measurement helps us describe and compare objects. We measure things when we want to know how long, how tall, how heavy or how much something can hold.

We use measurement ideas every day. For example, we may compare the length of two pencils, the height of two children or the amount of water in two containers.

Learning Objectives

• Understand what measurement means.
• Understand why we compare measurements.
• Recognise length, height, weight and capacity.
• Use simple measurement words correctly.

Understanding Measurement

Different things can be measured in different ways. We first need to know what property we want to compare.

Length → How long?

Height → How tall?

Weight → How heavy?

Capacity → How much can it hold?

Comparing Length

Length tells us how long or short something is.

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The first line is longer than the second line.

Comparing Height

Height tells us how tall or short something is.

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We can compare the height of objects by looking at how tall they are.

Comparing Weight

Weight helps us compare whether something is heavy or light.

Heavy ↔ Light

A school bag filled with books is usually heavier than an empty pencil case.

Comparing Capacity

Capacity tells us how much a container can hold.

More Capacity ↔ Less Capacity

A bucket can usually hold more water than a small cup.

Common Mistakes

• Do not use height when you are comparing how heavy something is.
• Do not confuse length with capacity.
• Look carefully at what the question is asking you to compare.

Practice

1. What does measurement help us do?

2. What do we compare when we use long and short?

3. What do we compare when we use heavy and light?

4. What does capacity tell us?

Try It Yourself

Find two objects around you. Decide whether you want to compare their length, height, weight or capacity.

What are you comparing? → Choose the correct measurement idea.

Quick Revision

• Measurement helps us compare things.
• Length tells us how long or short something is.
• Height tells us how tall or short something is.
• Weight tells us how heavy or light something is.
• Capacity tells us how much a container can hold.

What Comes Next?

Now that you understand the basic idea of measurement, you are ready to learn how to compare the length of different objects.