Lesson 6.2 · Measurement and Data
Heavier and lighter
Some things are hard to lift, like a big bag of books. Some things are easy to lift, like a feather. We say the hard one is heavier and the easy one is lighter.
Hold one in each hand
Pick up two things, one in each hand. The one that pulls your hand down more is heavier. The other one is lighter.
Use a balance
A balance is like a seesaw for things. Put one thing on each side.
- The heavier side goes down.
- The lighter side goes up.
- If the sides stay level, the things weigh the same.
Down means heavier
On a balance, the side that goes down is heavier. The side that goes up is lighter.
Worked example: A book and a leaf
Which is heavier, a book 📕 or a leaf 🍃?
A leaf floats in the wind. A book is hard to blow away. The book is heavier. The leaf is lighter.
Worked example: The balance tips
A watermelon 🍉 is on one side of a balance. A grape 🍇 is on the other. Which side goes down?
The watermelon is much heavier. The watermelon side goes down. The grape side goes up.
Worked example: Level sides
Two apples are on a balance. The sides stay level. What does that tell you?
When the sides are level, the things weigh the same.
Common mistake
Big does not always mean heavy! A beach ball is big but light. A small rock can be heavy. Lift them or use a balance to check.
Practice
Which is heavier?
Which is lighter?
A shoe is on one side of a balance. A sock is on the other side. The shoe side goes down. Which is heavier?
A pumpkin 🎃 and a strawberry 🍓 are on a balance. Which side goes up?
Two blocks are on a balance. The sides stay level. What is true?
Which is heaviest?
Leo says, "The beach ball is bigger than the rock, so it must be heavier." Is Leo right?