Heavy or light?
Meteorites often feel heavier than other rocks of the same size. In this lesson you will compare things that are heavy and light.
- Use the words heavy, heavier, light and lighter.
- Compare the mass of two objects using a balance.
- Say why many meteorites feel heavy.
Links to: Maths: comparing and measuring mass; working scientifically: using simple equipment and simple tests.
Heavy for its size
Hold a pebble in one hand and a metal toy car of the same size in the other. Which feels heavier? Most people say the metal one.
Many meteorites have metal inside them. That makes them feel heavy for their size. Scientists use this as a clue.
Using a balance
A balance helps us compare two things fairly. Put one thing on each side. The heavier side goes down. The lighter side goes up. If the two sides stay level, they weigh the same.
Which is heavier?
A rock weighs 3 kilograms. A meteorite weighs 5 kilograms. Which is heavier, and by how much?
- 5 is more than 3, so the meteorite is heavier.
- Count on from 3 to 5: 4, 5. That is 2 more.
Answer: The meteorite is heavier, by 2 kilograms.
Use a balance, or your hands, to compare pairs of things: a pebble and a metal spoon, a wooden block and a metal key, a sponge and a stone. For each pair, guess which is heavier first, then test it. Draw a smiley face if your guess was right.
Quiz
5 questions. Choose an answer to see whether you are right and why. Finish the quiz to complete the lesson.
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Question 1Why do many meteorites feel heavy?
Metal makes many meteorites feel heavier than a normal rock of the same size.
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Question 2On a balance, which side goes down?
The heavier object pulls its side of the balance down.
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Question 3Which is heavier: 4 kilograms or 7 kilograms?
7 is more than 4.
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Question 4A rock weighs 2 kilograms and a meteorite weighs 6 kilograms. How much heavier is the meteorite?
Count on from 2 to 6: that is 4 more.
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Question 5If both sides of a balance stay level, what does it mean?
A level balance means the two things have the same mass.