TEAS® Science Study Guide
Measurement & Tools
Science uses the metric system (SI units). Know the base units, the common prefixes, and which tool measures what.
Base units
- Length — meter (m)
- Mass — gram (g)
- Volume — liter (L)
- Time — second (s)
- Temperature — Celsius (°C) or Kelvin (K)
Common prefixes
- kilo- = 1,000 (a kilogram is 1,000 grams)
- centi- = 1/100 (a centimeter is one-hundredth of a meter)
- milli- = 1/1,000 (a milliliter is one-thousandth of a liter)
Measuring tools
- Graduated cylinder — volume of a liquid
- Balance or scale — mass
- Thermometer — temperature
- Ruler or meter stick — length
One detail TEAS checks: when reading a graduated cylinder, read the liquid level at the bottom of the meniscus — the small curve the liquid forms at its surface — at eye level.
Terms to know
- Metric / SI system — The standard system of scientific measurement.
- Meniscus — The curve at a liquid’s surface; read at its bottom.
- Mass — The amount of matter, measured with a balance.
- Volume — The space something occupies, measured for liquids with a graduated cylinder.
What the TEAS asks most
- What tool measures the volume of a liquid? A graduated cylinder.
- What is the metric base unit of mass? The gram.
- How many grams are in a kilogram? 1,000.
- Where do you read the liquid level in a graduated cylinder? At the bottom of the meniscus.