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Class 2 · Mathematics

Measuring length and weight

🎮 Play this chapter in 3DTap, count and answer with 3D objects. Three levels, hints, voice and stars. ▶ Compare & Measure

📘 Chapter notes

The key ideas of this chapter, answered through the six guiding questions. Read them with your textbook.

🧠 Concept map: Measuring length and weight
centimetremetregramkilogramrulerbalanceMeasuring length andweight
1What am I looking at?

Answer: Measuring length with a ruler or metre tape and weight with a weighing balance.

2What are its main parts or ideas?

Answer: Length units: centimetre (cm) and metre (m); 100 cm = 1 m. Weight units: gram (g) and kilogram (kg); 1000 g = 1 kg.

3How does it work?

Answer: Start the ruler at 0 and read where the object ends; put the object on one pan and standard weights on the other until they balance.

4Why is it important?

Answer: Standard units mean everyone gets the same answer.

5What happens if something changes?

Answer: Using a hand span gives different answers for different people — that is why standard units are needed.

6What should I remember for the exam?

Answer: Choose the right unit, measure and estimate, and convert m to cm and kg to g.

📗 Full lesson: Measurement: length, mass and capacity

This topic comes from GayaGnan's India-wide K–12 catalog. It is not copied from, or an official chapter of, any board's textbook: check your board's syllabus for the exact chapter and depth. Open as its own page →

🖼️ 2D concept map

Measurement:length, mass andcapacitylength: how long something islengthmass: how heavy something ismasscapacity: how much a container holdscapacityunit: a fixed amount we measure withunit
Tap a word to see what it means.

A pan balance tipping towards a brick, a ruler beside a pencil and a jug pouring into glasses

ℹ️ Objects not to scale.

🎯 Learning outcomes

  • Compare lengths, weights and capacities using words like longer, heavier and holds more
  • Measure with non-standard units such as hand spans
  • Use metre, kilogram and litre for everyday things

Before you start: Comparing sizes of objects.

📖 Explanation

Length tells how long something is. We can measure with hand spans, footsteps or a ruler. Different people's hand spans are different, so we use standard units: centimetre (cm) and metre (m).

Mass tells how heavy something is. A simple balance shows which side is heavier. We use grams (g) and kilograms (kg).

Capacity tells how much a container can hold. A bucket holds more water than a glass. We use millilitres (mL) and litres (L).

🇮🇳 Example from India

Milk at a dairy is sold in 500 mL and 1 L packets; rice is sold in 1 kg and 5 kg bags.

⚠️ Common mistake

✗ A bigger object is always heavier
✓ A big balloon is lighter than a small stone; check with a balance.

🧪 Try this activity

Measure your desk in hand spans and your friend's hand spans. Compare the answers and talk about why they differ.

✍️ Question bank with answers

Tap an option to check multiple-choice answers. Open “Answer” or “Marking points” for the others.

  1. Multiple choice 1 mark · easy

    Which unit would you use for the length of a classroom?

    Answer

    C. metre

    Length is measured in metres; kg and g measure mass, L measures capacity.

  2. Multiple choice 1 mark · easy

    Which holds more water?

    Answer

    A. a bucket

    A bucket has the largest capacity of these.

  3. Multiple choice 1 mark · easy

    On a balance, the side that goes down is

    Answer

    A. heavier

    The heavier side pulls its pan down.

  4. Very short answer 1 mark · easy

    Name the unit for buying milk.

    Answer

    litre (or millilitre)

  5. Very short answer 1 mark · easy

    Which is heavier: a pumpkin or a lemon?

    Answer

    a pumpkin

  6. Short answer 2 marks · medium

    Why do two children get different hand-span lengths for the same table?

    Marking points
    • Their hand spans are different sizes
    • So we need a standard unit like centimetre

  7. Long answer 4 marks · hard

    Plan how to find out which of three bottles holds the most water.

    Marking points
    • Fill each bottle with cups of water
    • Count the cups for each
    • The bottle needing the most cups holds the most

  8. Application 2 marks · medium

    Mother needs 2 kg of onions. The shop has 1 kg bags. How many bags?

    Answer

    2 bags

  9. Diagram / label 2 marks · medium

    Draw a balance with a brick on one side and a feather on the other.

    Answer
    • The brick pan is lower
    • The feather pan is higher

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