4 2022
UNIQUE NUMBER: 782406
DUE DATE: 26 AUGUST 2022
, Question 1: Measurement (short questions)
This question consists of 19 short questions regarding a wide range of measurements.
1.1 Name two different instruments that can be used to measure time.
Clock and an hour glass.
1.2 What is a cubit, and what does it measure? (1)
A cubit is a unit of linear measure used by many ancient and medieval peoples. It was based
on the length of the arm from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger and was considered
the equivalent of 6 palms or 2 spans so it was used to measure short distances.
1.3 What is the temperature of boiling water at sea level? Is the boiling point of water in
Durban and Johannesburg the same? Explain your answer. (1)
At sea level, water boils at 100℃ (212℉). No, the boiling point at Durban and Johannesburg
are not the same because for every 150m increase in elevation, waters boiling point is
lowered by approximately 0.5℃.
1.4 What do you think of when you see the words “Celsius” and “Fahrenheit”? (1)
They both measure the same thing which is temperature.
1.5 What does “SI” stand for in terms of measurement? (1)
SI (international system of units) commonly known as the metric system, is the international
standard for measurement.
1.6 What instrument did the ancient Babylonians use to measure time? (1)
Sexagesimal also known as base 60 or sexagenary is a numeral system with sixty as its base.
It originated with the ancient Babylonias, and is still used in a modern form for measuring
time, angles and geographic coordinates.