Graduated Cylinder Function
It has a narrow cylindrical shape.
Graduated cylinder function. A graduated cylinder also known as measuring cylinder or mixing cylinder is a common piece of laboratory equipment used to measure the volume of a liquid. Function of the cylinder is to measure liquid volumes accurately. The volume is read by looking at the top of the fluid from the side and reading the mark on the glass from the lowest portion of the lens like meniscus of the liquid. They are purposely designed to be long with a shorter diameter compared to beakers to facilitate accurate measurements.
Compared to the beakers and flasks that scientists use in a laboratory these cylinders are usually more accurate for measuring the volume of a liquid. However compared to a volumetric pipette or a volumetric flask these cylinders are generally less precise and accurate at measuring the volume of a liquid. Each marked line on the graduated cylinder represents the amount of liquid that has been measured. To get a measurement using a graduated cylinder scientists look at the meniscus of the liquid and observe the lowest portion.