Some students measure the mass of a small pile of leaves before and after the leaves decompose. Each time the students measure the mass, they place a container with the decomposing leaves on a balance. Before recording the mass of the leaves, the students must do which of the following?
A Subtract the mass of the container
B Add leaves from other plants to the container
C Allow the leaves to settle in the container for a few days
D Use a metric ruler to measure the volume of the container
PLEASE HELP ME! GOD BLESS YOU!!
To determine the correct answer, let's analyze the information given in the question.
The students are measuring the mass of a small pile of leaves before and after decomposition. They place a container with the decomposing leaves on a balance to measure the mass.
Now, answering the question:
Before recording the mass of the leaves, the students must do which of the following?
A. Subtract the mass of the container: This option seems plausible because the students need to account for the mass of the container. By subtracting the mass of the container, they can obtain the actual mass of the leaves. This option is likely the correct answer.
B. Add leaves from other plants to the container: This option is not relevant to finding the mass of the decomposing leaves. It introduces the idea of adding leaves from other plants, which is not relevant to the measurement process.
C. Allow the leaves to settle in the container for a few days: Allowing the leaves to settle in the container may be a good practice to ensure a more accurate measurement of the mass. However, the question does not specify that this step is necessary before recording the mass. Therefore, it is not the answer we are looking for.
D. Use a metric ruler to measure the volume of the container: Measuring the volume of the container with a metric ruler is not directly related to measuring the mass of the leaves. Although volume and mass can be related, the question specifically asks about steps to take before recording the mass, making this answer choice less likely.
Consequently, the answer to the question is most likely A. Subtract the mass of the container. This step would allow the students to obtain the mass of the leaves accurately.