How Much Can You Carry - CBSE Class 2 Maths Chapter 3

What are Heavier and Lighter Objects?

Have you ever tried to lift a school bag filled with books and a single pencil? The school bag feels difficult to lift, while the pencil is very easy to lift. We say that the school bag is heavier and the pencil is lighter. Weight is a measure of how heavy an object is. When we compare two things, we look at which one requires more effort to carry. For example, a water bottle filled with water is heavier than an empty water bottle. Understanding this helps us decide how much we can safely carry without getting tired. On a see-saw, the heavier object always goes down, and the lighter object always goes up! This simple trick helps us compare weights instantly without even using a scale.

How to Compare Weights Using a Balance Scale

1. Step 1: Choose the objects — Select the two items you want to compare, such as an apple and a large watermelon.
2. Step 2: Place on the scale — Put the apple on the left pan and the watermelon on the right pan of your balance scale.
3. Step 3: Observe the tilt — Look at which pan tilts downwards. The side with the watermelon will push down because it is heavier.
4. Step 4: Write your answer — The object on the lower side is 'Heavier' and the object on the higher side is 'Lighter'.

Big Size Doesn't Always Mean Heavy!

A very common mistake in class is thinking that bigger objects are always heavier. For example, a big plastic beach ball is much larger than a tiny iron marble, but the tiny iron marble is actually much heavier! When solving exam questions, always think about what the object is made of (like plastic, paper, wood, or metal) before deciding which one is heavier.

Practice Questions with Solutions

• Q: A see-saw has a pumpkin on one side and a mango on the other side. Which side will go down? A: Step 1: Compare the two objects. A pumpkin is large and heavy, while a mango is small and light. Step 2: Remember the see-saw rule: the heavier side always goes down. Final answer: The side with the pumpkin will go down because it is heavier.
• Q: Simran has two bags of the same size. One is filled with dry sponge and the other is filled with sand. Which bag is heavier? A: Step 1: Think about the materials inside. Sponge has lots of air and is very light. Sand is made of tiny rocks and is very dense and heavy. Step 2: Even though both bags are of the same size, the sand bag contains heavier material. Final answer: The bag filled with sand is heavier.
• Q: Sandeep the donkey was carrying a sack of salt. He fell into the river. When he got up, the sack felt much lighter. Why? A: Step 1: Understand what happens to salt in water. Salt dissolves (melts) when it gets wet. Step 2: As the donkey stood up, much of the salt had dissolved into the river water and washed away. Final answer: The sack became lighter because the salt dissolved in the river water.
• Q: Arrange these three items from the lightest to the heaviest: A bicycle, a feather, and a school water bottle. A: Step 1: Look at the items and compare their weights. A feather is extremely light, a water bottle is medium, and a bicycle is heavy to lift. Step 2: Order them from least weight to most weight. Final answer: Feather (lightest) -> School water bottle -> Bicycle (heaviest).

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