Are all teaspoons the same?
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Are teaspoons accurate enough for measurement in cooking and medicine?
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How does the number of measurements affect precision?
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When is a teaspoon full?
Estimated time: 20 minutes
No prior knowledge needed.
Equipment required
- some different shaped teaspoons
- some water
- a measuring jug
- a calculator
- paper and pencil for results and calculation.
Risks
Mop up spilt water immediately.
Step by step
Watch the video, then follow the instructions.
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Empty a teaspoon of water into an empty measuring jug. Take care not to spill water. Count 1. Do not worry that the water may be a little higher than a level teaspoon (due to surface tension).
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With the same teaspoon, add another teaspoon of water into the measuring jug. Count 2.
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Keep adding more teaspoons of water (as step 2), counting them until the water in the measuring jug is up to the 200 ml mark
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Calculate your spoon’s capacity by dividing 200 ml by the number of spoonfuls you counted.
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Empty the measuring jug and repeat the experiment (steps 1 - 4) for other spoons.
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Enter results below.
Thoughts, tips and information
SI measurement units
- metre (m) cubed (m3) for capacity
- A millilitre (ml) is one thousandth of a litre
and 1 millionth of a m3
Challenge Topics: Measurement science, maths, capacity.
- More measurements can increase an experiment’s precision. In this case, counting more spoonfuls to reach a volume greater than 200 ml increases precision.
- In recipe books ‘tsp’ indicates teaspoons, while ‘Tblsp’ indicates tablespoons. Note the large T and extra b.