Learning Competencies:

1. Solve measurement problems involving conversion of units, expression of

measurements in scientific notation
2. Differentiate accuracy from precision
3. Differentiate random errors from systematic errors
4. Estimate errors from multiple measurements of a physical quantity using variance

Reference: University Physics with Modern Physics by Young and Freedman 13 th Edition

Lesson 1.1: Conversion of Units and Scientific notation

In physics, equation is expressed in relationships among physical quantities, represented

by algebraic symbols. Each algebraic symbol always denotes both a number and a unit.

Example: mass in kilograms (kg), length in meters (m), time in seconds (s), volume in (L)

In the courses of General Physics 1 and 2, always use the CORRECT units in calculations.
An equation should ALWAYS be dimensionally consistent. Two terms may be added or
equated only if they have the same units.

Take note:
In most cases, it is best to use the fundamental International System of Units or SI units
(lengths in meters, masses in kilograms, and times in seconds) in every problem. If you
need the answer to be in a different set of units (such as kilometers, grams, or hours), wait
until the end of the problem to make the conversion.

How to convert units: Units are multiplied and divided just like ordinary algebraic
symbols. This gives us an easy way to convert a quantity from one set of units to another:
Express the same physical quantity in two different units and form an equality.

As an example,1 min = 60 s does not mean 1 = 60. It means that 1 min. represents the
same as 60 s. As a result, the ratio between these quantities is which are (1 min)/(60 s) or
(60 s)/(1 min) has THE SAME value. Hence, we may multiply a quantity by either of these
factors (unit multipliers) without changing that quantity’s physical meaning.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email sheimdaniel.nijaga@deped.gov.ph.
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Example 1.1 Convert 3 min. into seconds (s).
Solution:
60 𝑠
3 min = 3 min ( ) = 3 (60 𝑠) = 180 𝑠
1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

This means that 3 min. is equivalent to 180 s.

Note: The unit of minute (min) cancels out since the solution is algebraically operated.

Activity 1: Find the conversion factors for units of TIME, LENGTH, AND WEIGHT.
Activity 2: Find the unit prefixes used for UNITS.

Example 1.2: Converting speed Units

The world land speed record is 763.0 mi./hr., set on October 15, 1997, by Andy Green in
the jet-engine car Thrust SSC. Express this speed in meters per second.

Solution:

𝑚𝑖 1.609 𝑘𝑚 1000 𝑚 1 ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛

763.0 𝑚𝑖⁄ℎ𝑟 = 763.0 ( )( )( )( ) = 341.0 𝑚/𝑠
ℎ𝑟 1 𝑚𝑖 1 𝑘𝑚 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠

Example 1.3: Converting Volume Units

The world’s largest cut diamond is the First Star of Africa (mounted in the British Royal
Sceptre and kept in the Tower of London). Its volume is 1.84 cubic inches. What is its
volume in cubic centimeters? In cubic meters?

Solution:

2.54 𝑐𝑚 3 𝑖𝑛3 𝑐𝑚3

1.84 𝑖𝑛3 = 1.84 𝑖𝑛3 ( ) = 1.84(2.54)3 = 30.2 𝑐𝑚3
1 𝑖𝑛 𝑖𝑛3

1𝑚 3 1 3 𝑐𝑚3 𝑚3
30.2 𝑐𝑚3 = 30.2 𝑐𝑚3 ( ) = 30.2 ( ) = 0.0000302 𝑚3 = 30.2 × 10−6 𝑚3
100 𝑐𝑚 100 𝑐𝑚3
= 3.02 × 10−5 𝑚3

Note: Study/Review on Scientific Notations.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email sheimdaniel.nijaga@deped.gov.ph.
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
Practice Problems 1.1: Convert the following quantities.

a. Starting with the definition 1 in = 2.54 cm, find the number of (a) kilometers in
1.00 mile and (b) feet in 1.00 km.
b. The most powerful engine available for the classic 1963 Chevrolet Corvette Sting
Ray developed 360 horsepower and had a displacement of 327 cubic inches.
Express this displacement in liters (L) by using only the conversions 1 𝐿 = 1000 𝑐𝑚3
and 1 in. = 2.54 cm
c. How many years older will you be 1.00 gigasecond from now? (Assume a 365-day
year.).
d. According to the label on a bottle of salad dressing, the volume of the contents is
0.473 liter (L). Using only the conversions 1 𝐿 = 1000 𝑐𝑚3 and 1 𝑖𝑛 = 2.54 𝑐𝑚, express
this volume in cubic inches.

Lesson 1.2. Uncertainty and Significant Figures

Measurements always have uncertainties. For example, you measure a book with an
ordinary ruler, and it measured 50 mm. The measurement is only reliable to the nearest
millimeter; hence it would be wrong to state the result as 50 mm given the limitations of
the measuring device. However, if you use a micrometer caliper, a device that measures
distances reliably to the nearest 0.01 mm, the result will be 2.91 mm. Uncertainties are
distinction between measurements. The measurement using the micrometer caliper has a
smaller uncertainty; it’s a more accurate measurement. The uncertainty is also called the
error because it indicates the maximum difference there is likely to be between the
measured value and the true value. The uncertainty or error of a measured value depends
on the measurement technique used.

Definitions:
Accuracy of a measured value - how close it is likely to be to the true value
Written by writing the number, the symbol ± and a second number indicating the
uncertainty of the measurement.

Precision of a measurement – how close the measured values are.

Accuracy can also be expressed in percent error or fractional error.

Ex. A resistor labeled as “50 ohms ± 10%”
This means that the resistor probably has a true resistance that differs from 50
ohms by 10% which is 5 ohm. Therefore the resistance is probably between 45 – 55 ohms.
In many cases the uncertainty of a number is not stated explicitly. Instead, the uncertainty
is indicated by the number of meaningful digits, or significant figures.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email sheimdaniel.nijaga@deped.gov.ph.
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.
There are three rules on determining how many significant figures are in a number:

1. Non-zero digits are always significant.

2. Any zeros between two significant digits are significant.
3. A final zero or trailing zeros in the decimal portion ONLY are significant.

Types of Errors

• Random errors usually result from the experimenter's inability to take the same
measurement in the same way to get exact the same number.
• Systematic errors, by contrast, are reproducible inaccuracies that are consistently
in the same direction.

Activity 3: Provide 5 examples EACH of Random Errors and Systematic Errors.

Practice Problem 1.2:

A useful and easy-to-remember approximate value for the number of seconds in a year is
𝜋 × 107 . Determine the percent error in this approximate value. (There are 365.24 days in
one year.)
𝑎𝑝𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑥𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑡𝑒 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒−𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒
Formula for percent error: % 𝑒𝑟𝑟𝑜𝑟 = | | × 100%
𝑒𝑥𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑣𝑎𝑙𝑢𝑒

Lesson 1.3: Estimates and Orders of Magnitude

There is a stress in the importance of knowing the accuracy of numbers that represent
physical quantities. But even a very crude estimate of a quantity often gives us useful
information. Sometimes we know how to calculate a certain quantity, but we have to guess
at the data we need for the calculation. Or the calculation might be too complicated to carry
out exactly, so we make some rough approximations. In either case our result is also a
guess, but such a guess can be useful even if it is uncertain by a factor of two, ten, or more.
Such calculations are often called order-of-magnitude estimates.

See Example 1.4 on University Physics

Practice Problem: Three archers each fire four arrows at a target. Joe’s four arrows hit at
points 10 cm above, 10 cm below, 10 cm to the left, and 10 cm to the right of the center of
the target. All four of Moe’s arrows hit within 1 cm of a point 20 cm from the center, and
Flo’s four arrows all hit within 1 cm of the center. The contest judge says that one of the
archers is precise but not accurate, another archer is accurate but not precise, and the
third archer is both accurate and precise. Which description goes with which archer?
Explain your reasoning.

• For supplemental material, please read the reference University Physics With
Modern Physics by Young and Freedman. Please grab a copy of the book online or
email sheimdaniel.nijaga@deped.gov.ph.
• Related materials such as videos and lecture is available in Youtube.