Measuring Elapsed Time with a Stopwatch
Measuring Elapsed Time with a Stopwatch is a Grade 3 math skill from Eureka Math introducing stopwatches as tools for measuring duration. A stopwatch starts at zero and counts up from a start event to a stop event. The displayed time when stopped is the total elapsed time—the duration between the two events. Third graders use this to measure and record time intervals in real activities, connecting the abstract concept of elapsed time to a concrete physical tool they can observe and use.
Key Concepts
A stopwatch measures elapsed time, which is the duration between a start event and a stop event. The time shown on the stopwatch when stopped is the total elapsed time.
Common Questions
What does a stopwatch measure?
A stopwatch measures elapsed time—the duration between a start event and a stop event. The number shown when you stop it is how long the interval took.
What is elapsed time?
Elapsed time is the amount of time that passes from when something begins to when it ends. For example, if a race starts at 0 and ends at 32 seconds, the elapsed time is 32 seconds.
How do you read elapsed time from a stopwatch?
Start the stopwatch when the event begins and stop it when the event ends. Read the display. The number shown is the total elapsed time for that event.
How is a stopwatch different from a clock?
A clock shows the current time of day. A stopwatch measures duration—how long something takes—starting from zero each time it is reset.
In which textbook is Measuring Elapsed Time with a Stopwatch taught?
This skill is taught in Eureka Math, Grade 3.