General Physics

-Scientific Notation
-Uncertainty in
Measurement
Scientific Notation
In physics , it is very common to work with very large
or very small numbers. For example , the mass of the
sun is approximately 1 990 000 000 000 000 000 000
000 000 000 kg, and the mass of a proton is
approximately
0.0000000000000000000000000016726231 kg.
To express numbers like these in a simpler way , they
are usually written in scientific notation (also called
standard form).
A number written in scientific notation has two parts – a
number from 1 to 9 , and a power of 10 in exponential
form. For example , the number 0.000123 can be written
in scientific notation as 1.23 x 10 -4 . Notice that the first
part contains only the significant digits of the original
number and the second part is in the form of 10n , where
n is the exponent.
Examples :
1. Express 1 000 000 in powers of 10.
= 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 x 10 = 10 6
 
2. Express 0.000001 in powers of 10.
= 0.000001 = =
=
= 10 -6
3. Express the given number 123.400 x 103 in the
correct form of scientific notation.
= 123.400 x 103
= 1.23 x 102 x 103
= 1.23 x 105 note: moving the decimal point to
the left increases the exponent.
4. Express the given number 0.000345 x 10 - 8 in the
correct form of scientific notation.
= 0.000345 x 10 – 8
= 3.45 x 10 – 4 x 10 – 8
= 3.45 x 10 -12 note: moving the decimal to
the right decreases the exponent.
Uncertainty in Measurement
In reporting a measurement , you write both the
certain and the uncertain digits . The certain or
exact digits are the ones that the measuring
instrument can give you. The smallest marked
division in the measuring instrument is called the
least count. On the other hand , the uncertain digits
are the ones that you estimate.
1. Suppose you want to measure the volume of a
small amount of water using a graduated cylinder.
As shown in the figure, the graduated cylinder has a
scale marked with 1-ml increments or we observe
that the finest division is a 1 mL division. This is the
least count of the graduated cylinder. The bottom of
the curved surface of the liquid (called the meniscus)
is the point where the reading should be taken.
2. We can always make an estimate of a reading to
within the finest division. Therefore, the best
judgement that this particular graduated cylinder is
able to provide a reading accuracy to +/- 0.2 mL.
(Note: A plus or minus 0.2 mL reading accuracy
means that a volume measurement using this
graduated cylinder will contain uncertainty in the
first decimal place.)
3. The bottom of the meniscus lines up with the 4th
finest division above the 10 ml mark.
4. The volume reading is determined to be 14.0 ml.
This volume reading has 3 significant figures. (Note:
the '0' in this measurement is an uncertain figure. This
measurement is accurate to 14.0 +/- 0.2 ml. It means
that using this graduated cylinder, the accuracy of the
volume of the liquid is between 13.8 mL to 14.2 ml)
 
 
Example : In the figure presented , what is the volume
reading for the three cylinder ? Assume that each
scale is in ml?
a. The graduated cylinder on the left has a least count of
0.1 ml so the uncertainty in the measurement must be
taken as 0.01 ml. Reading across the meniscus , the
volume is between 5.7 and 5.8 ml. Aside from 5.7 as
certain digits , you should include an uncertain digit. A
reasonable reading is 5.72 ml. Therefore , the reading
must be reported as 5.72, which means that the true
volume is between 5.71 ml and 5.73 ml.
 
b. The middle cylinder has a least count of 1 ml ,so the
uncertainty is 0.1 ml. Given that the meniscus touches the mark ,
the reading should be recorded as 3.0 ml and not as 3 ml.
Therefore , the measurement must be reported as 3.0 , which
means that the true volume is between 2.9 and 3.1 ml.
c. The right cylinder has a least count of 0.1 ml , so the
uncertainty must be taken to be 0.01 Because the meniscus is
just below the halfway mark between 0.3 and 0.4 , the best
approximate is 0.34 ml. You know that the true volume is
between 0.33 and 0.35 , so the measurement must be reported as
0.34 0.01 ml. Therefore , the measurement must be reported as
0.34 , which means that the true volume is between 0.33 and
0.35 ml.