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Physics in Context SC3105

The first measurement of g = 9.532706 m/s2 is more precise as it has more significant figures. However, the second measurement of g = 9.7 m/s2 is more accurate as it is closer to the true value of g. Precision refers to the closeness of repeated measurements, while accuracy refers to how close the measurement is to the true value.

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51 views27 pages

Physics in Context SC3105

The first measurement of g = 9.532706 m/s2 is more precise as it has more significant figures. However, the second measurement of g = 9.7 m/s2 is more accurate as it is closer to the true value of g. Precision refers to the closeness of repeated measurements, while accuracy refers to how close the measurement is to the true value.

Uploaded by

Nik Fakhira
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Physics in Context

SC3105

By
Cik Roshidah bt Mat
Physics and measurement
in everyday life

 Introduction
 Conversion of units
 Scientific notation
 Accuracy and precision
 Significant digits
 Techniques of good measurement
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units

Physical quantity:
 Any number that is used to describe a
physical phenomenon quantitatively

 Consists of:
 Basic quantities
 Derived Quantities
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units

International System, SI Unit:


 The most common unit used by scientists and
engineers around the world
Basic quantities & SI Units
Quantities SI Units Symbols
 Time second [s]
 Length meter [m]
 Mass kilogram [kg]
 Current ampere [A]
 Temperature kelvin [K]
 Amount of Substance mole [n]
 (Light Intensity) candela [cd]
1.1 Physical Quantities and Units

Derived Quantities:
 Combinations of the basic quantities

 Units for derived quantities can be deduced if


the definitions are given
Determining the Derived Units:
Example:
 Define the quantity:

Density () is the mass (m) of an object per unit volume (V)
 Hence the defining equation in SI units

 = m / V (kg / m3)
 This gives the derived SI unit for density as kilograms per cubic meter. (kg /
m3)

Try this: What are the units of ?


 (Clue : The relationship between the circumference (c) and the diameter (d) of a

circle is given by the equation c = d


 If length is measured in meters, then

 = c / d (m / m)
 Thus the constant  has no units, because they cancel out. It is unitless or
dimensionless constant.
Unit Prefixes
Prefix Symbol Factor
 Tera T 1012
 Giga G 109
 Mega M 106
 Kilo k 103
 Hecto h 102
 Deka da 101
 Deci d 10-1
 Centi c 10-2
 Milli m 10-3
 Micro µ 10-6
 Nano n 10-9
 Pico p 10-12
 Femto f 10-15
Unit Consistency and Conversions
 Equation must always be dimensionally
consistent
example: d= 10m, v = 2ms-1 and t = 5s
d = vt

in terms of unit:

 m
10m   2   5s 
 s
Conversion of Unit

 When converting between units, write down


the units explicitly in the calculations and treat
them like any algebraic quantity.
 In particular, take advantage of the fact that
“multiplying or dividing an equation by a
factor of 1 does not alter and equation.
Conversion of Unit
 Example:
Express 979.0 m in feet.
(3.281 feet = 1 meter)

 Solution:
Use (3.281 feet / 1 meter) as a conversion factor to multiply
the equation “Length = 979.0 meters”
Length = (979.0 m)(1)
= (979.0 meters) (3.281 feet / 1 meter)
= 3212 feet
Significant Figures
 Measured quantities contain uncertainty
 Only retain figures that contain meaningful
information
Significant Figures
 Significant figures (sometimes called significant digits) is
 all non-zero digits plus zeros that do not just hold a place before or after a
decimal point.
 used to indicate the number of meaningful digits
 The number of s.f. of a numerical quantity is the number of reliably
known digits it contains.
example: 2.91mm ( 3 s.f.)

 For a measured quantity, s.f. is usually defined as all of the digits


that can be read directly from the instrument used in making the
measurement plus one uncertain digit that is obtained by estimating
the fraction of the smallest division of the instrument’s scale.
Significant Figures
 Zeros at the beginning of a number are not significant. They
merely locate the decimal point.
 e.g. 0.0254 (3 s.f. - 2,5,4)

 Zeros within a number are significant.


 e.g. 104.6 m (4 s.f. - 1,0,4,6)

 Zeros at the end of a number after the decimal point are


significant.
 e.g. 2705.0 m (5 s.f. - 2,7,0,5,0)

 In a whole number without a decimal point that end in one


or more zeroes ……..
2 decimal places

How long is the red rectangle in centimeters? 4.98 cm

How many significant figures? 3


estimated
How many millimeters? 49.8 mm
How Many Significant Figures
0.089 2
1.089 4
12000 2
12001 5
300.0 4
300.01 5
0.01 1
0.0105 3
Addition and Subtraction

329.5 329.5 329.5


23.03 23.03 rewrite 23.0
0.083 0.083 rewrite 0.1
+ 25.3 + 25.3 + 25.3
377.9
Multiplication and Division
 Result should have the same number of significant
figures as the least accurate number

4.03 X 2.4 =9.672 = 9.7

8.55 / 2.399 = 3.56398499375 = 3.56

7.0 X 4.70 = 32.9


= 33
Scientific Notation
3.502 x 106
10 raised to an
decimal number (0-10) integer power

Number Significant Figures Scientific Notation


9004 4 9.004 x 103
0.000007 1 7 x 10-6
43 2 4.3 x 101

7,805,000,000 4 7.805 x 109

0.0408 3 4.08 x 10-2

8.4 2 8.4 x 100


To multiply two numbers in scientific notation multiply the decimal parts of the
numbers and add the exponents algebraically.

(4.0 x 104)(2.0 x 103) =


(4.0 x 2.0)(104 x 103) =
(8.0) x (104+3) =
8.0 x 107
To divide two numbers in scientific notation, divide the decimal parts of each number
then subtract the exponents.

4  10 5  4   10 5 
       2  10 52
 2  10 3

2  10 2  2   10 2 

25  10 4  25   10 4  4  -6 
       5  10  5  10 4 6
 5  1010

5  10 -6  5   10 -6 
Experimental Error
Sample data for g (m/s2)
9.70 9.95 9.80 9.65 9.90 9.80

Mean Value - Average of data set is 9.80 m/s2

Mean Absolute Deviation

0.10  0.15  0  0.15  0.10  0


 0.08 m/s 2
6

g  9.80 m/s 2  0.08 m/s 2

Accuracy

(0.08/9.8) x 100% ≈ 0.8% Accuracy of about 1%


Try this....
How many significant figures are there in each of
the following?
(i) 0.00042   (ii) 0.14700   (iii) 4.2 x 106   
(iv) -154.090 x 10-27

Answers:
Try this....
How many significant figures are there in each of the following?
(i) 0.00042   (ii) 0.14700   (ii) 4.2 x 106    (iv) -154.090 x 10-27

Answers:
(i) 2  
(ii) 5  
(iii) 2  
(iv) 6
Table 1.1
Mathematical operation Significant figures in result

Multiplication or division No more than in number with the


fewest significant figures
e.g. 0.745 x 2.2 / 3.885=0.42

Addition or subtraction Determined by the number with the


smallest uncertainty
e.g.27.153+138.2–11.74=153.6
 The result of a calculation usually has no more
significant figures than the input data
Accuracy and Precision
 Accuracy:
 How close a measurement is to being correct.
 Precision:
 The number of significant figures (or the uncertainties) in a
measurement.
 For gravitational acceleration near the earth,
g = 9.532706 m/s2 and g = 9.7 m/s2.
Which is more
(i) precise?
(ii) accurate?
 (Greater precision does not mean greater accuracy! )

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