Solids

• A scale typically is used to determine the weight of a specific solid matter. There are many types of scales available to measure an object's weight. People, for example, would step onto a standard digital or mechanical scale in their bathroom or at the doctor's office. Envelopes and packages are weighed to determine how much postage needs to be purchased for it to be delivered. Scales used to weigh envelopes are smaller than scales that weight people and therefore measure to a lower unit.
  
  The range of types of scales available is great. According to the retail website affordablescales.com, there are more than 500 available models to choose from within the general purpose category for scales. Non-household types of scales include laboratory or educational balances, and there are also industrial and commercial scales. Beyond weight, solids also can be measured for temperature with a thermometer and for height and weight with either a ruler or tape measure, most commonly.
  
  

Liquids

• The two most common measurements of liquids are for volume and temperature. Measurement of a liquid's volume is most common in commercial and residential kitchens. The tools used most commonly are the measuring cups and spoons, which are available for purchase at supermarkets, general purpose shops, drug stores and department stores. There is a substantial market for measuring utensils in the kitchen. Several high-end retail chains exist with an abundent selection of kitchen measuring tools. A liquid's temperature can be measured using a thermometer.
  
  

Gases

• Gases such as air can be measured for molecular volume and its content. The temperature, density and humidity of air also can be measured. The volume of pollution in the air can be measured. There are monitors and sensors available to the industrial markets for measuring gases. Perhaps the most commonly used instruments for measuring gases are smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. These common devices do not give a numeric reading in most cases but they will detect the presence of dangerous particles in the air.
  
  

Other Forms of Measurement

• Non-matter also can be measured. For example, time is measured with a watch or other chronometer, Distance traveled over time can be measured, such as miles per minute for runners. Calories burned can be measured with the aid of a pedometer.