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Types of scientific equipment

 a microscope, stopwatch, measuring tape and themometer

Scientific equipment is anything that a person would use in a science test or experiment. It is important that you use the correct equipment in your tests or experiments. You would use:

  • a tape measure to measure lengths
  • a stopwatch for measuring time
  • a thermometer for measuring temperature
  • a microscope for viewing objects too small to see with our eyes.
  • a data logger for collecting and recording data over a length of time.

You can use these to make and careful observations.

 a microscope, stopwatch, measuring tape and themometer
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Measurements and units

All scientific measurements have , but there are often smaller and larger units as well. The standard unit of distance are metres, although we use lots of different units from millimetres to kilometres. The standard units of time are seconds, although we use lots of different units from milliseconds to years.

It is important to choose the equipment that will give you appropriate units. You would not measure the length of the school playing ground in millimetres, or the time it takes to do homework in years!

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Watch: Using scientific equipment

Understand how to use equipment, measure and record your results with this clip.

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Activity 1: Identifying scientific equipment

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Activity 2: Quiz

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Activity 3: Design a poster

Design a poster showing the different scientific equipment that you have used and what it is used for.

You could include the standard units for each one. For example the standard unit for height is the metres (m) or centimetres (cm).

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Bitesize Primary games. game

Play fun and educational primary games in science, maths, English, history, geography, art, computing and modern languages.

Bitesize Primary games
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More on Working scientifically

Find out more by working through a topic