Year 4 Science: A fair test on shape and amount
Part of the Year 4 Science solids, liquids and gases chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
A fair test on shape and amount
A liquid keeps the same amount when it is poured into a different container. Only its shape changes. The amount is measured in millilitres (ml), and it stays the same.
The table shows the same 100 ml of water poured into two containers. The picture shows the two containers.
| Container | Water poured in (ml) | Shape of the water |
|---|---|---|
| a tall, thin glass | 100 | takes the shape of the container |
| a wide, flat dish | 100 | takes the shape of the container |
Key ideas
- A liquid takes the shape of its container, but its amount stays the same.
- Measure the amount in millilitres (ml).
- In a fair test, change only the container, and keep the amount the same.
- A wide container does not hold more liquid than a tall one, if the amount is the same.
Method. Read the table.
- Read the row. The wide, flat dish row says 100 ml of water was poured in.100 ml
- Write the number. So the dish had 100 ml of water.100
- Write the answer. 100
Check. The same amount was poured into each container. ✓
Method. Compare the amounts in the table.
- Compare them. Both containers had 100 ml of water poured in.both 100 ml
- Decide. The amount is the same, so Sam is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Only the shape of the water changed. ✓
Method. Think about the test.
- Think about the containers. The container changes, so the shape of the water changes.shape
- Check the amount. The amount of water is kept the same, so the amount is not changed.kept the same
- Write the answer. shape
Check. In a fair test, only one thing is changed. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a wide container does not hold more liquid than a tall one, if both have the same amount inside. Wide means the water is spread out, not that there is more of it.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Pour one cup of water into a tall glass, and then into a wide bowl, with a grown-up. Look at the water in each one. Keep the amount the same. Say what changed, and what stayed the same.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Did the amount change? What changed?” Let your child measure with a measuring jug, and pour carefully over a tray.
Exercise 6E A fair test on shape and amount
Method. Read the row for the glass.
- Read the row. The tall, thin glass row says 100 ml.100 ml
- Write the answer. 100
Check. The glass had 100 ml poured in. ✓
Method. Read the row for the dish.
- Read the row. The wide, flat dish row says 100 ml.100 ml
- Write the answer. 100
Check. The dish had 100 ml poured in. ✓
Method. Compare the two amounts.
- Compare them. Both amounts are 100 ml.100 and 100
- Decide. So the amount did not change.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Both containers had the same amount. ✓
Method. Think about the containers.
- Think about the change. The water took the shape of each container.shape
- Write the answer. shape
Check. The amount stayed the same. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 6.5.
- Read the key idea. A liquid keeps the same amount, but changes its shape.shape
- Write the answer. shape
Check. The shape changes with the container. ✓
Method. Think about the amount of a liquid.
- Think about the unit. Amounts of liquid are measured in millilitres, which is ml.ml
- Write the answer. ml
Check. Cm is for length. ✓
Method. Look at the amounts.
- Look at the amounts. Both containers had 100 ml of water.100 ml
- Decide. So the dish does not hold more water, and Sam is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Width does not change the amount of water. ✓
Method. Think about what a solid does.
- Think about the features. A solid keeps its shape and does not flow.keeps its shape
- Write the test. Putting the material on a table and watching its shape tests this.table
- Write the answer. Accept any safe test, such as: see whether it keeps its own shape when put on a table.
Check. Test one feature, and keep everything else the same. ✓
Method. Think about the material that spreads out.
- Think about the gas. Air is a gas, and it spreads out to fill a balloon.spreads out
- Name the material. Wood is a solid, so it cannot fill a balloon.air
- Write the answer. air
Check. Gases fill whatever they are in. ✓
Method. Think about what changes.
- Think about the shape. The water takes the shape of the glass or the dish.shape
- Think about the amount. The amount of water is the same, because nothing was added or removed.same amount
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the water takes the shape of each container, but the amount of water stays the same.
Check. A change of container changes the shape, not the amount. ✓