Measurements
What do we measure?
● Fundamental properties
■ mass (weight) kilogram
■ length meter
■ time second
■ temperature Kelvin
■ Derived quantities
● density, velocity, force, etc...
Using the metric system
■ In the metric system, prefixes are used
to identify the multiples of ten.
■ 103 102 101 1 10-1 10-2 10-3
■ Kilo Hecto Deka BASE Deci Centi Milli
Base units
● mass gram(g)
● length meter (m)
● liquid volume liter (l)
● time second (s)
Each multiple is one decimal place.
Move the decimal to convert
Moving the decimal
■ For measurements that are defined by a
single unit such as length, mass, or liquid
volume , etc., simply move the decimal the
number of places indicated by the prefix.
■ 400 m = 40,000 cm
■ 75 mg = 0.075 g
■ For area measurements, they are the
combination of two dimensions, you move
the decimal twice the number of places.
■ 2.5 m2 = 2,500,000 mm2
Converting measurements
■ Metric Metric
■ multiples of 10
■ move decimal or use conversions
■ English Metric
■ conversion factors
■ unit cancellation method
Converting Metric English
■ When converting in the US (English) system or
converting between US and metric units it is
necessary to use proportions.
■ In the example below, the measurement 12 in.
is converted to cm. The conversion factor 1 in
= 2.54cm is written as a ratio.
● 12 in. x 2.54 cm = 30.48 cm
1 in.
Practice
A rattlesnake is 2.44 m long. How
long is the snake in cm?
1) 2440 cm
2) 244 cm
3) 24.4 cm
Solution
A rattlesnake is 2.44 m long. How long is the
snake in cm?
2) 244 cm
2.44 m x 100 cm = 244 cm
1m
What is wrong with the following setup?
1.4 day x 1 day x 60 min x 60 sec
24 hr 1 hr 1 min
1.4 day x 1 day x 60 min x 60 sec
24 hr 1 hr 1 min
Units = day2/hr2 Not the final unit needed
Steps to Problem Solving
■ Read problem
■ Identify data
■ Write down a unit plan from the
initial unit to the desired unit
■ Select conversion factors
■ Change initial unit to desired
unit
■ Cancel units and check
■ Do math on calculator
■ Give an answer using
significant figures
If the ski pole is
3.0 feet in length,
how long is the
ski pole in mm?
3.0 ft x 12 in x 2.54 cm x 10 mm =
1 ft 1 in. 1 cm
Significant digits
● The digits reported in a measured
quantity
● Indicate the precision of the
measuring instrument
● Calculations should not have more
significant digits than the least
number of significant digits in the
problem.
Rules – Significant Digits
■ 1. All nonzero numbers are
significant. Ex: 456 – 3 sig.
■ 2. All zeros between numbers are
significant. Ex: 408 – 3 sig.
■ 3. If decimal present, zero’s to the
left are not significant.
Ex: 0.0078 – 2 sig.
■ 4. If decimal present, zero’s to the
right are significant.
Ex: 0.090 – 2 sig.
■ 5. If no decimal, zero’s on end are
not significant. Ex: 34500 – 3 sig.
Adding and Subtracting
■ In addition and subtraction, round up
your answer to the least precise
measurement or least number of
places behind the decimal.
■ For example:
24.686 + 2.343 + 3.21 = 30.239 =
30.24
■ 3.21 is the least precise
measurement.
Multiplying and Dividing
■ In multiplication and division,
round it up to the least number
of significant digits.
■ For example:
3.22 * 2.1 = 6.762 = 6.8
■ 2.1 contains 2 significant digits.
Scientific Notation
■ Used for expressing very large or
very small values
■ standard form
● base x 10 exponent
● base is between 1.0 and 9.999…
● if exponent is positive the value is greater than 1
● if exponent is negative the value is less than 1
■ convert to decimal by moving the
decimal the number of places
indicated by the exponent
