Question

To measure a volume of water in a graduated cylinder, you should look at the bottom of the curve at the surface of the water called the ______.

Answer 1

To measure water volume in a graduated cylinder, observe the bottom of the meniscus at eye level and mentally divide the marks for precise reading. Graduated cylinders are used for accurate measurements of liquid volumes.

Step-by-step explanation:

To measure a volume of water in a graduated cylinder, you should look at the bottom of the curve at the surface of the water called the meniscus. When you make a reading, ensure that your eye is at the level of the meniscus to avoid parallax error. It's important to subdivide the distance between each marked line on the cylinder into tenths mentally to achieve a precise measurement.

For example, if the amount of water is between the 19 and 20 mL marks, and the bottom of the meniscus appears to be halfway between the 19.8 mL and 20 mL, the volume of the water would be read as approximately 19.9 mL. Care must be taken to also account for any potential distortions in the graduated cylinder which can slightly alter the accuracy of the measurement.

Graduated cylinders are the tools of choice for accurately measuring volumes, especially when working with small amounts of liquid in a laboratory setting.