Measurements

All measurements contain three elements: a number that indicates the magnitude of quantity
being measured, units that provide a basis for comparing this quantity with a standard reference,
and some uncertainty or error.

Some Quantities Being Measured

Mass (m) is a measure of the quantity of matter in an object, so the mass of an object is constant.
Weight (W) is a measure of the force of attraction of the earth acting on an object. It is not constant.
Volume (V) the space occupied by a sample of matter.
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold a substance is relative to another.
Density () is defined as the ratio of the mass to the volume. ( = m/V)

Units of Measurement
(1) The English System of Units

Length: inch(in), foot (ft), yard(yd), mile(mi)

1 ft = 12 in 1 mi = 5280 ft
1 yd = 3 ft 1 mi = 1760 yd

Volume: fluid ounce(oz), cup (c), pint(pt) , quart(qt), gallon(gal)

1 pt = 2 c 1 qt = 32 oz
1 qt = 2 pt 1 gal = 4 qt

Mass: ounce (oz), pond (lb), ton

1 lb = 16 oz 1 ton = 2000 lb

Time: second (s), minute (min), hour (h), day (d), year (y)
1 min = 60 s 1 d = 24 h
1 h = 60 min 1 y = 365 d

(2) The Metric System

Is based on the fundamental units of measurement for length, volume, and mass

Metric System Prefixes

Prefix Symbol Equivalent

Femto- f 10-15
Pico- p 10-12
Nano- n 10-9
Micro- 10-6
Milli- m 10-3
Centi- c 10-2
Deci- d 10-1
Kilo- k 103
Mega- M 106
Giga- G 109
Tera T 1012
(3) SI Units of Measurement
International System of Units (SI)

SI Fundamental/Base Units
Physical Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
Length meter m
Mass kilogram kg
Time second s
Temperature Kelvin K
Electric Current ampere A
Amount of substance mole mol
Luminous Intensity candela cd

Common Derived SI Units

Physical Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
Density kg/m3
Energy joule J (kg-m2/s2)
Force newton N (kg-m/s2)
Pressure pascal Pa (N/m2)
Velocity meters/second m/s
Volume cubic meter m3

Common SI-English Equivalent Quantities

Quantity SI to SI Equivalent English to SI Equivalent

Length 1 km = 1000 m 1 mi = 1.609 km

1 m = 100 cm 1 yd = 0.9144 m
1 ft = 0.3048 m
1 in = 2.54 cm

Volume 1 mL = 1 cm3(cc) 1 gallon = 3.785 L

1 L = 1 dm3

Mass 1 kg = 1000 g 1 lb = 0.4536 kg

1 g = 1000 mg

Accuracy vs Precision
Accuracy refers to how close a measurement is to the real value.
Precision refers to how close the measurements in a series are to each other.

The concepts of precision and accuracy are linked with two common type of error:
1. Systematic error produces values that are either all higher or all lower than the actual value. Such
error is a part of the experimental system, perhaps caused by a faulty measuring device or by a
consistent mistake in taking a reading.

2. Random error produces some values that are higher and some that are lower than the actual value.
Random error always occurs, but its size depends on the measurers skills and the instruments precision.

* Precise measurements have low random error, that is, small deviations from the average. Accurate
measurements have low systematic error and, generally, low random error as well.
Scientific Notation (N x 10n)
where N is a number between 1-10
n is either a positive or a negative exponent

Examples: Transform the following to scientific notation

1. 568.762 Ans. 5.68762 x 10 2
2. 0.00356 Ans. 3.56 x 10-3

*Assignment: Review the addition, subtraction, division, and multiplication of scientific notation. Also, the
Rules for Rounding Off
Significant Figures
Any digit that is not zero is significant
Example: 845 has 3 significant figures

Zero/s between nonzero digits are significant.

Example: 606 has 3 significant figures

Zero/s to the left of the first nonzero digits are not significant. Their purpose is to indicate the
placement of the decimal point.
Examples: 0.08 has 1 significant figure
0.349 has 3 significant figures

If a number is greater than 1, then all the zeros written to the right of the decimal point count as
significant figures.
Examples: 2.0 has 2 significant figures
3.40 has 3 significant figures

If number is less than 1, then only the zeros that are at the end of the number and the zeros that
are between nonzero digits are significant.
Examples: 0.090 has 2 significant figures
0.3005 has 4 significant figures

For numbers that do not contain decimal points, the trailing zeros ( i.e. the zeros after the last
nonzero digit) may or may not be significant.
Example: 400 ambiguous
400 3 significant figures

Exercise 1:
Determine the number of significant figures:
(a) 478 (d) 0.043
(b) 6.01 (e) 1.310 x 1022
(c) 0.825 (f) 7000

Addition and Subtraction with Significant Figures

When measurements are added or subtracted, the answer can contain no more decimal places
than the least accurate measurement.
Illustrative Examples:

89.332 2.097
+ 1.1 w/ one sig. fig. after - 0.12 w/ two sig. fig after
the decimal point the decimal point
90.432 1.977
Ans. 90.4 (using sig. fig.) Ans. 1.98 (using sig. fig.)
Multiplication and Division with Significant Figures
When measurements are multiplied or divided, the answer can contain no more significant
figures than the least accurate measurement.
Illustrative Examples:

2.8 x 4.5039 = 12.61092 Ans. 13 (using sig. fig.)

has the least no. of sig. fig.

with two significant figures

6.85 /112.04 = 0.0611388789 Ans. 0.0611 (using sig. fig.)

has the least no. of sig. fig.

with three significant figures

Exercise 2:
Perform the following operations:
(a) 11254.1 + 0.1983 = (d) 66.59 3.113 =

(b) 0.0154 / 883 = (e) 2.64 x 103 + 3.27 x 102 =

(c) 8.16 x 5.1355 =

Conversion Factors (Factor-Label Method)

Conversion factors are factors that change the units in a number without changing the value.

Factor-Label Method:

Desired Qty = Given Qty x Conversion factors

Illustrative Examples:
1. Convert
(a) 5.8cm to in (b) 55mi/hr to cm/s (c) 15.0 in2 to m2 (d) 10.5m to cm

2. A man has a height of 510. What is his height in meter?

3. An object has a mass equal to 25.3 g and a volume of 105.3 cm 3. Determine its density and express it
to lb/ft3.
Conversion of Temperatures
Fahrenheit to Celsius: C = 5/9(F 32)
Celsius to Fahrenheit: F = 9/5C + 32
Celsius to Kelvin: K = C + 273.15