Grade 3, Maths Olympiad (CBSE) - Temperature 

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Grade 3  |   Maths  |   Temperature, Length(conversions), Weight, Capacity and Temperature, Olympiad, CBSE, ICSE, Maths Olympiad, Science Olympiad, English Olympiad

Temperature for Grade 3

Learn how to read thermometers, compare temperatures, and use everyday benchmarks like freezing water at 0 deg C and boiling water at 100 deg C. No calculator needed for most questions.

What is Temperature

Temperature tells how hot or cold something is. We usually measure it in deg C (Celsius). Some thermometers may also show deg F (Fahrenheit).

Thermometer

A thermometer has a scale with numbers and equal spaces called intervals. A red strip or a line rises when it is hot and falls when it is cold.

Where do we use it

Weather stations, kitchens (oven), classrooms, sick room (body temperature), and science labs.

Zero and below

In Grade 3 we work mostly with 0 deg C and above. Ice melts at 0 deg C.

How to Read a Thermometer

  1. Find the scale: Are big numbers 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 deg C. What is one small step worth, 1, 2 or 5 deg C
  2. Locate the level: Check where the red strip stops.
  3. Count the steps: Add the small steps after the last big number.


about 10 deg C
about 20 deg C
about 34 deg C
Tip: find the interval quickly

If the space from 20 to 30 has 5 little marks, then one mark is 2 deg C. If it has 10 little marks, one mark is 1 deg C.

Useful Benchmarks

SituationAboutNotes
Freezing water0 deg CIce and water together
Cool room20 to 22 deg CComfortable classroom
Warm day30 deg CHot summer afternoon
Human body37 deg CNormal body temperature
Boiling water100 deg CSea level value

Compare and Change

  • Warmer or colder: The larger number in deg C is the warmer temperature.
  • Increase or decrease: If it rises by 6 deg C, add 6. If it falls by 4 deg C, subtract 4.
  • Difference: Warmer minus colder. Example: between 29 deg C and 18 deg C the difference is 11 deg.
Word clue: "less than" means subtract. Example: Actual temperature is 23 deg less than 36 deg C, so it is 13 deg C.

Celsius and Fahrenheit (for achievers)

Some thermometers show both units. To convert:

  • deg F = (deg C x 9/5) + 32
  • deg C = (deg F - 32) x 5/9

Nice to remember: 0 deg C = 32 deg F, 20 deg C = 68 deg F, 25 deg C = 77 deg F, 30 deg C = 86 deg F, 100 deg C = 212 deg F.

Common Mistakes and Fixes

Mistake: Forgetting what one small mark is worth.
Fix: Count the number of small marks between two big numbers to find the interval.
Mistake: Mixing units, comparing 30 deg C with 86 deg F directly.
Fix: Convert first or compare in the same unit.
Mistake: Reading from the top of the strip instead of where it ends.
Fix: Read the lowest top edge of the red line.
Mistake: Misreading "less than" and adding instead of subtracting.
Fix: "less than" means subtract from the given number.

MCQ Practice (Achievers level)

  1. A classroom thermometer has big numbers at 0, 10, 20, 30, 40. There are 5 small marks between 20 and 30. The red line is at the third small mark after 20. What is the temperature
    • A. 23 deg C
    • B. 24 deg C
    • C. 26 deg C
    • D. 28 deg C
  2. The weather report says noon will be 7 deg warmer than the morning temperature of 18 deg C, but the evening will be 5 deg cooler than noon. Evening temperature will be
    • A. 22 deg C
    • B. 20 deg C
    • C. 26 deg C
    • D. 30 deg C
  3. One thermometer shows 86 deg F and another shows 30 deg C. Which one is warmer
    • A. 86 deg F
    • B. 30 deg C
    • C. Both same
    • D. Not enough information
  4. A freezer reads 4 deg C. The instruction says it should be 6 deg C colder than this. What should the new setting be
    • A. 10 deg C
    • B. 0 deg C
    • C. 2 deg C
    • D. 6 deg C
  5. Which statement is correct
    • A. 40 deg C is colder than 30 deg C
    • B. 0 deg C is warmer than 5 deg C
    • C. 25 deg C equals 77 deg F
    • D. 68 deg F equals 30 deg C
  6. The thermometer scale goes from 0 to 50 deg C in steps of 2 deg. The red line reaches tick 17 from 0. What is the reading
    • A. 32 deg C
    • B. 34 deg C
    • C. 36 deg C
    • D. 40 deg C
Show Answers

1-C (each small mark is 2 deg, so 20 + 3x2 = 26). 2-B (18 + 7 = 25, then 25 - 5 = 20). 3-C (86 deg F equals 30 deg C). 4-B (make it 6 less than 4, so 0). 5-C. 6-C (17 steps of 2 is 34; wait, recheck: from 0, tick 17 means 17x2 = 34 deg C) Correction: the correct choice is B 34 deg C.

Practice makes reading thermometers quick and accurate.


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