Measurements and Calculations

Measurements must show how certain you are about your results. Certainty: Significant Digits: Rules
1) All digits included in a stated value (except leading zeros) are Significant Digits. Measurement Significant digits 12.5 m 12.07 cm 0.00345 km 12067.6 L 36.800 mL 2) All counted values or defined values have an infinite number of significant digits. (Exact values)

Counted values: Defined values:

3) For whole numbers the trailing zeros are not significant unless specified. Measurement Significant Digits 214 000 m between the two cities Track is 98000. cm long Distance to Sun is 150 000 000 km

Scientific Notation:

Measurement 150 000 000 km 0.000 000 009 05 kL 165 004 000 cm 123. mL

# Significant Digits 2 3 6 3

Scientific notation

Rounding Off : to show the number of significant digits

Observe the next digit to the right of the last significant digit ( the digit after the digit to be retained as significant):

A) if that next digit is 6 9 round up the last significant digit. 12.678 g (4 sig. dig.) = g 0.0259 m (2 sig. dig.) = B) if that next digit is a 4,3,2,1 leave the last significant digit as it is. 1.522 g (3 sig. dig.) = 0.00013 mm (1 sig. dig.) = C) if the next digit is a 5 round off so that the last significant digit is even. 46.5 mL (2 sig. dig.) = 45.5 mL (2 sig. dig.) = Practice:

1. Indicate the number of significant digits in each of the following. 63.205 g 145 000 m 95.025 km 1200. mL 19.465 L 35oC 0.003 012 6 cm 58 students 2. Write each of the following to show two (2) significant digits 1.26 g 2.34500 L 0.000 00565 km 55.5698 m 654 354 000 km 40.9 mm Calculations and Significant Digit Rules 1. When adding or subtracting measured values of known precision, the answer has the same number of decimal places as the measured value with the fewest decimal places. Precision Rule Problem 12.5 + 6.354 + 1.2569= 9654.1 - 554.38= Answer

2. When multiplying and/or dividing, the answer has the same number of significant digits as the measurement with the fewest number of significant digits. Certainty Rule Problem 2.25 0.25 = 15.3 x 800.9 = (0.0456 x 78.34) 2.9 = Converting Units 345 km = _______ m 0.005060 mg = ________g Convert 95km/h into m/s Answer

345 km

1000 m = 345 000 m = 3.45 105 m 1 km

1g 0.005060 mg = 0.000 005 060 g 1000 mg

Speed Problems (p355-357)

Sample problem #1 Eiko skates to school, a total distance of 4.5 km. She has to slow down twice to cross busy streets, but overall the journey takes her 0.62 h. what is Eikos average speed during the trip?

Sample problem #2 (p356) Imagine that you are riding on the Caribou Dayliner, in the dome car of course, and see a sign that reads 120 km. You decide, after seeing several such signs, which are 10 km apart. You read the elapsed time as 390.6 s. Determine the speed of the train in kilometers per hour during the elapsed time.

Sample problem #3

Sample #4