Q1 GP1 MODULE 1 Lesson 1 - Measurements
Q1 GP1 MODULE 1 Lesson 1 - Measurements
Unlocking of Vocabulary
Self-Diagnostic Test ▪ Physicist – is a scientist who
1. What is physics? specializes in the field of physics,
2. What is the importance of Scientific which encompasses the
Notation and Significant Figures? interactions of matter and energy
3. What are physical quantities? at all length and time scales in
the physical universe.
▪ Physics - deals with matter,
energy and its transformation. As
LESSON 1: MEASUREMENTS
an experimental science, its goal
is to understand the natural
MELC 1
world.
Solve measurement problems involving
conversion of units, expression of ▪ Fundamental Measurable
measurements in scientific notation. Quantity – physical quantities
that are measured in base or
physical fundamental units:
LEARNING TARGETS
length, mass, time, electric
To achieve this, I must specifically be current temperature, amount of
able to substance, and luminous
▪ Write in Scientific Notations intensity.
▪ Determine the number of Significant ▪ Significant Figures – They are
Figures a certain measurement has. the digits which give us useful
▪ Perform mathematical processes information about the accuracy of
(addition, subtraction, division, and a measurement.
multiplication) with Significant ▪ Scientific Notation - Scientific
Figures. notation is the way that scientists
▪ Round off very small or very large easily handle very large numbers
numbers. or very small numbers.
▪ Be familiarized with the modern and
Introduction
100 = 1 x 102 482 = 4.82 x 102 • Push the EE or EXP button. Do NOT use
the x (times) button!
89 = 8.9 x 101
10 = 1 x 101
(not usually done)
• Enter the exponent number. Use the +/-
button to change its sign.
1 = 100 • Treat this number normally in all
subsequent calculations.
0.32 = 3.2 x 10-1
1/10 = 0.1 = 1 x 10-1
(not usually done) • To check yourself, multiply 6.0 x 105 times
4.0 x 103 on your calculator.
1/100 = 0.01 = 1 x 10-2 0.053 = 5.3 x 10-2
• Your answer should be 2.4 x 109.
1/1000 = 0.001 = 1 x 10-3 0.0078 = 7.8 x 10-3
Writing and speaking using SN is a time-
1/10000 = 0.0001 = 1 x 10-4 0.00044 = 4.4 x 10-4
saving tool for physicists like you, instead of
saying 150,000,000 km, you just say 1.5x108
km, which reminds me, is the approximate
As you can see, the exponent of 10 is the
distance of the earth from the sun.
number of places the decimal point must be
shifted to give the number in long-form. Significant Figures
A positive exponent shows that the All men are created equal, numbers? Not
decimal point is shifted that number of places to so. In the realm of physics, certain figures are
the right. A negative exponent shows that the deemed more significant than the other. In this
decimal point is shifted that number of places to section of this module, we look unto how to deal
the left. with Significant Figures (Yes, this again too).
In scientific notation, the digit term Significant Figures are those numbers of
indicates the number of significant figures in the important single digits (0 through 9 inclusive) in
number. The exponential term only places the the coefficient of an expression in scientific
decimal point. As an example, notation. The number of significant figures in an
expression indicates the confidence or precision
46600000 = 4.66 x 107
with which an engineer or scientist states a
This number only has 3 significant figures. quantity.
The zeros are not significant; they are only
SFs are sort of the "interesting" or
holding a place. As another example,
"important" digits. They are the digits that give us
0.00053 = 5.3 x 10-4 useful information about the accuracy of a
measurement.
This number has 2 significant figures. The
zeros are only place holders. Determining the Number of Significant
Figures
Scan this! The number of significant figures in a
measurement, such as 2.531, is equal to the
Need a quick review? Scan number of digits that are known with some
the QR! degree of confidence (2, 5, and 3) plus the last
digit (1), which is an estimate or approximation.
As we improve the sensitivity of the equipment
used to make a measurement, the number of
Working with SN significant figures increases.
On your scientific calculator:
Make sure that the number in scientific
notation is put into your calculator correctly.
Two-pan
2.53 (0.01 g) 3 significant figures
balance
Take a Break
We then use the price of a pound of
copper to calculate the cost of the copper metal.
Scan this!
Rounding Off
When the answer to a calculation contains
too many significant figures, it must be rounded
off. 10 digits can occur in the last decimal place
in a calculation. One way of rounding off involves
underestimating the answer for five of these
digits (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4) and overestimating the
answer for the other five (5, 6, 7, 8, and 9).
This approach to rounding off is summarized
as follows.
▪ If the digit is smaller than 5, drop this digit
and leave the remaining number
unchanged. Thus, 1.684 becomes 1.68.
▪ If the digit is 5 or larger, drop this digit and
add 1 to the preceding digit. Thus, 1.247
becomes 1.25.
Scan this!
Want to view what Cesium
Clock looks like? Scan the QR!
afterwards.
Time
Time can be considered an abstract The standard unit for mass is the
measurement. You can’t see it, and it can only kilogram. The kilogram's standard is previously
be perceived through specialized means. measured by the mass of the platinum-iridium
Throughout most of human history, we have alloy kept near Paris, France. Other countries, of
perceived time though days and weeks. Back course, keep copies. A kilogram is denoted "kg"
before modern technology individuals were able and is a multiple of the smaller unit of mass, the
nano n 1 × 10-9 nanometer (nm) There are two main systems for
measuring distances and weight, the Imperial
micro μ 1 × 10-6 microgram (μg)
System of Measurement and the Metric System
Milli m 1 × 10-3 milligram (mg) of Measurement. Most countries use the Metric
System, which uses the measuring units such as
centi c 1 × 10-2 centimeter (cm)
meters and grams and adds prefixes like kilo,
deci d 1 × 10-1 decimeter (dm) milli, and centi to count orders of magnitude.
Multiples The Imperial System is also called The
tera T 1 × 1012 terameter (Tm) British Imperial because it came from the British
Empire that ruled many parts of the world from
Giga G 1 × 109 gigameter (Gm) the 16th to the 19th century.
mega M 1 × 106 megagram (Mg) After the U.S gained independence from
kilo k 1 × 10 3
kilogram (kg) Britain, the new American government decided
to keep this type of measurement.
hecto h 1 × 102 hectogram (hg)
The history of the metric system began in
deca da 1 × 101 decagram (dag)
the Age of Enlightenment with simple notions of
length and mass taken from natural ones, and
Physical Quantities decimal multiples and fractions of them. The
system was so useful it became the standard of
The previous discussion discusses how France and Europe in half a century.
physicists derived their measurements, and how
they derived it. The “stuff” that physicist
Scan this!
measures are called Physical Quantities,
Physical quantities are measurable properties of Why does the metric system
matter, as you have observed these physical matters? Scan the QR.
quantities used different reference standards
A simple unit conversion involves only one Solution. Let us think about what
conversion factor. The method for doing the conversion factors we know. We know the
conversion is best illustrated with an example. conversion factor between L and cubic meters.
he conversion factors will look like this
Example. Convert 55 km to m.
𝑚𝑙 𝑐𝑚3
Solution. First write down the unit conversion 31 𝐿 × ×
𝐿 𝑚𝑙
factor as a ratio, filling in the units as needed:
With these units, the whole expression
𝑚 reduces to units of gallons. Now fill in the same
55𝑘𝑚/
𝑘𝑚 length in the numerator and denominator of the
1000𝑚𝑙 1𝑐𝑚3
31 𝐿 × ×
1𝐿 1𝑚𝑙
Now do the arithmetic: 6. Convert 12.1 mm into cm
1000𝑚𝑙 1𝑐𝑚3 A) 1.21 mm
31 𝐿 × × = 31,000𝑐𝑚3 B) 12.1 cm
1𝐿 1𝑚𝑙 C) 1.21 cm
Test Yourself 1