UNIT CONVERSION

AND General Physics

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
1. Which of the following is equivalent to half a meter?
a. 500 cm b. 50 cm c.100mm d.10mm
2. A book has a mass of 500g, how many kilograms does it weigh?
a. 5kg b.1kg c.0.5kg d. 0.25kg
3. Which of the following has the smallest value?
a. 29cm b. 0.0025km c. 4.5x10^-3 d.10,000mm
4. The average thickness of the leg of an ant is 0.035cm. How many
millimeters is this?
a.35mm b. 3.5mm c. 0.0035mm d. 0.35mm
5. Which of the following is the BEST example of a number expressed in
scientific notation?
a. 15.2 x 10^2 b.8.43 x 10^3 c. 0.71 x 10^-1 d.0.035 x 10^-2
 PHYSICS
 Is
the natural science that studies matter, its fundamental constituents, its
motion and behavior though space and time, and the related entities of energy
and force
is an experimental science
Thus, experiments are performed in order to test hypotheses.
How do we make conclusions?
Conclusions in experiment are derived from measurements. Experiments are
performed to measure physical quantities. Physical quantities can be
expressed in terms of a number of fundamental quantities. Mass, distance,
time are some of these fundamental quantities. A physical quantity will only
make sense if compared to a reference standard.
 Physical quantity will only make sense if
compared to a reference standard
How difficult will it be
without a standard?
 To make sure that scientist
throughout the world means
the same thing when
referring to a measurement;
standards have been defined
for measurements of time,
mass and length.
In this lesson, you are to solve measurement problems involving
conversion of units, expression of measurements in scientific notation.

Determine the number of significant figures of the

values given below:

1. 0.0025 __________
2. 120,003 __________
3. 0.31416 __________
4. 20.20 __________
5. 0. 4 ___________
Rules in Determining the Number of Significant Figure: (A
short recall)
1. All nonzero digits are significant.
2. All zeros between nonzero digits are significant.
3. All zeros before the first nonzero digit are NOT
significant.
4. All zeros to the right of the last nonzero digit are
significant.
To shorten a message, we should do it in a way that the message
will be useful and easy to understand. Physical quantities vary
from very large numbers (e.g. the speed of light in a vacuum =
________________) to very small numbers (length of a certain
wavelength of visible light of _____________). For scientists and
students like you writing large or very small numbers in its
standard form can be a waste of time, energy and even your
resources like ink and paper.
SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
 also called exponential notation is a convenient way of
writing values using the power of ten notation wherein we
can determine the number of significant digits as well as
the place value of the digit. Place values are denoted by
prefixes.
Format:
where: C - the characteristic digit, may be any digit from 0-9
M – The mantissa digits, may be any digit from 0-9
10 – Base
e- Exponent, the number of times the decimal point is moved to either
towards the left or right.
Rules in expressing standard notation to scientific notation:
1. When the decimal point is moved from right to left, the result is positive
exponent.
Example: 7806= 7.8 x 10 v3
2. When the decimal point is moved left to right, the result is negative
exponent.
Example: 000000012= 1.2 x 10 -8
 Rules converting scientific notation back to
standard notation are shown below.
1. Move the current decimal point according to the number of places based
on the exponent General Physics

(+) positive exponent – move to the RIGHT

Example:

(-) negative exponent – move to the LEFT

Example
There are two major systems of units in the world namely;
 SI (derived from French Syteme International) units also
known as Metric system.
 English system.
Although the system of units used by engineers and scientists is
the metric system since 1960, some countries continue to use the
English system of units like for example the United States of
America. However, the conversions between the SI unit and
English system of units have been well-defined.
Multiplying and/or dividing units just like ordinary algebraic
expressions give an easy way to convert a quantity from one unit
to another to be dimensionally consistent.
 Rules in Addition and Subtraction
involving scientific notation
1. When two or more quantities are added or
subtracted, make sure the exponents are the same.
2. Add/subtract the number. Keep the exponent the
same.

-Since exponents are not the same, choose one to adjust.

-LARS
Rules in multiplication and division involving
scientific notation

1. Powers of ten are added in multiplication

2. Powers of ten are subtracted in division

 SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
1. In adding or subtracting quantities, the least number of
decimal places in any of the numbers being added or
subtracted should also be the number of the decimal places
in the answer.
Example:
2. In multiplying or dividing quantities, the least
number of significant figures in the input number
should also be the number of significant figures in
the answer.

Example:
Objectives:
 Use appropriate measuring tool to take the measurement of physical quantities such as height and
weight.
 Convert the values to its equivalent units.
 Apply the rules of significant figures.
 Materials : RULER/MEASURING TAPE

1. Measure the height (m) and mass (kg) of your family member using
appropriate measuring tool.
2. Gather the data and write it on the space provided for the data and results.
3. Take its equivalent height in cm and ft using conversion factor.
4. Take also its equivalent mass in grams and pounds.
5. Refer to the format provided in the next page.
6. Provide pictures on this task you performed.