MEASUREMENTS

LESSON OBJECTIVES:
Scientific Notation
Significant Figures
Units of Measurement
SI Unit
Metric System
Conversion of Units
Accuracy vs Precision
Temperature

SIGNIFICANT
FIGURES

SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Digits that are certain(exactly known) plus one digit
that is uncertain(estimated)
Rules:
1. All non-zero digits are significant.
Ex.

134 m
=3
203 km
=3
5.38678 nm
=6

SANDWICHED ZEROS
All zeroes between non-zero digits are
significant.
5. 08907cm
=6

LEADING ZEROS
Zero written at the beginning of the number
are not significant.
Ex.
03.15 g
=3
0.315 g
=3

TRAILING ZEROS
Trailing zeros in numbers without decimals
are NOT significant. They are only serving as
place holders.
Example:
25,000 in.
=2
200. yr
=3
48,600 gal
=3
25,005,000 g

Zero written to the right of a decimal point

are significant.
Ex.
3.20 mg
=3
30.0 kg
=3
4.950 mL
=4
8.500 L
=4
0.0315 g

LEARNING CHECK
A. Which answers contain 3 significant
figures?
1) 0.4760
2) 0.00476 3) 4760
B. All the zeros are significant in
1) 0.00307
103

2) 25.300

3) 2.050 x

C. 534,675 rounded to 3 significant figures is

1) 535
2) 535,000
3) 5.35 x 105

LEARNING CHECK
In which set(s) do both numbers
contain the same number of significant
figures?
1) 22.0 and 22.00
2) 400.0 and 40
3) 0.000015 and 150,000

LEARNING CHECK
State the number of significant figures in
each of the following:
A.

0.030 m

1 2 3

B.

4.050 L

2 3 4

C. 0.0008 g
D. 3.00 m
E.

1 2 4
1 2 3

2,080,000 bees

3 5 7

SIGNIFICANT NUMBERS
IN CALCULATIONS
A calculated answer cannot be more precise than the
measuring tool.
A calculated answer must match the least precise
measurement.
Significant figures are needed for final answers from
1) adding or subtracting
2) multiplying or dividing

ADDING AND
SUBTRACTING
The answer has the same number of decimal
places as the measurement with the FEWEST decimal
places.
25.2
+

one decimal place

1.34

two decimal places

26.54
26.5

one decimal place

LEARNING CHECK
oIn each calculation, round the answer to the
correct number of significant figures.
A. 235.05 + 19.6 + 2.1 =
1) 256.75
B.

2) 256.8

3) 257

58.925 - 18.2 =

1) 40.725

2) 40.73

3) 40.7

MULTIPLYING AND
DIVIDING
oRound (or add zeros) to the calculated
answer until you have the same number of
significant figures as the measurement with
the FEWEST significant figures.

LEARNING CHECK
A. 2.19 X 4.2 =
1) 9
B.

2) 9.2

3) 9.198

4.311 0.07 =

1) 61.58

2) 62

3) 60

SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION

Scientific notation
is a way of expressing really
big numbers or really small
numbers.
For very large and very small
numbers, scientific notation is
more CONCISE.

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
CONSISTS OF TWO PARTS:
oA number between 1 and 10
oA power of 10
oN x 10x

TO CHANGE STANDARD FORM

TO SCIENTIFIC NOTATION
1. Place the decimal point so that there is one non-zero
digit to the left of the decimal point.
Ex.
2500000000 = 2.500000000
2. Count the number of decimal places the decimal
point has moved from the original number. This will
be the exponent on the 10.
Ex.
2500000000 = 2.500000000. =9 decimal places

2.5 x 10 9
3. If the original number was less than 1, then the exponent is
negative. If the original number was greater than 1, then the
exponent is positive.
2500000000 = greater than 1
2.5 x 10 9 = exponent is POSITIVE

ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES:
1. Given: 289,800,000
Use: 2.898 (moved 8 places)
Answer: 2.898 x 10 8
2. Given: 0.000567
Use: 5.67 (moved 4 places)
Answer: 5.67 x 10 -4 number is less than one, so
exponent is NEGATIVE
0.000567

TO CHANGE SCIENTIFIC
NOTATION TO STANDARD
FORM
1. Simply move the decimal point to the
RIGHT for POSITIVE exponent 10. (Use zeros
to fill in places.)
2.66 X 10 6
2.660000. to the right
=2660000

2. Move the decimal point to the LEFT for

NEGATIVE exponent 10. (Use zeros to fill in
places.)
6.7 x 10 -7
.0000006.7
=00000067

ILLUSTRATIVE EXAMPLE:
1. Given: 5.093 x 106
Answer: 5,093,000 (moved 6 places to the
right)
2. Given: 1.976 x 10-4
Answer: 0.0001976 (moved 4 places to
the left)

ADDITION AND
SUBTRACTION
To add or subtract using scientific notation, we first
write each quantitysay N 1 and N 2 with the same
exponent n .
Then we combine N 1 and N 2 ; the exponents remain
the same.
Consider the following examples:

MULTIPLICATION AND
DIVISION
MULTIPLICATION:
To multiply numbers expressed in scientific notation,
we multiply N 1 and N 2 in the usual way, but add the
exponents together.

DIVISION:
To divide using scientific notation, we divide N 1 and N
2 as usual and subtract the exponents.

MEASUREMENTS

TYPES OF OBSERVATIONS AND

MEASUREMENTS
oWe make QUALITATIVE observations of
reactions changes in color and physical
state.
oWe also make QUANTITATIVE
MEASUREMENTS, which involve numbers.
oUse SI units based on the metric system

UNITS OF
MEASUREMENTS

SI UNITS
o1960
oInternational System of Units
oLe Systeme Internalionale dUnites
oBased on the Metric System that originated
in France during the 18th century
oHas replaced other units of measurements
including the English System

Base Units
Kilogram(Kg)

mass

Seconds(s)

time

Ampere(A)

Electric current

Kelvin(K)

Temperature

Candela(cd)

Luminous density

Mole

Amount substance

Meter

Length

SOME COMMON METRIC

SYSTEM OF MEASUREMENTS
LENGTH
10 millimeter

1 centimeter(cm)

10 cm

1 decimeter(dm)

10 dm

1 meter(m)

10 dam

1 hectometer(hm)

10 hm

1 kilometer(km)

1000 m

1 kilometer(km)

100 cm

1 meter(m)

Mass
1000 milligrams
1000 gram
Volume
1000 milliliter(mL)
or cubic
centimeter(cc)

1 gram
1 kilogram(kg)
1 liter(L)

CONVERSION FACTORS

ILLUSTRATIVE
EXAMPLES:
1. Convert 5,000,000 grams to kilograms.
Solution:
1 kilogram: 1000 g
5,000,000 g x 1 kg =
1000 g
=5,000 kg

2. Convert 5.20 m to centimeter

Solution:
1 meter: 100 centimeter
5.20 m x 100 cm =
1m
=520 cm

LEARNING CHECK
1. 1000 m= 1 ___
a) mm b) km c) dm
2. 0.001 g = 1 ___
a) mg

b) kg c) dg

3. 0.1 L = 1
a) mL

___

b) cL c) dL

4. 0.01 m = 1 ___
a) mm b) cm c) dm

ENGLISH AND METRIC

CONVERSIONS
oIf you know ONE conversion for each type of
measurement, you can convert anything!
oYou must memorize and use these
conversions:
oMass: 454 grams = 1 pound
oLength:
2.54 cm = 1 inch
oVolume:
0.946 L = 1 quart

STATING A
MEASUREMENT
oIn every measurement there is a:
oNumber followed by a Unit from a measuring
device
oThe number should also be as precise as the
measurement!

MASS VS. WEIGHT

Mass: Amount of Matter (grams, measured
with a BALANCE)
Weight: Force exerted by the mass, only
present with gravity (pounds, measured with
a SCALE)

SOME TOOLS FOR

MEASUREMENT
Which tool(s)
would you use
to measure:
A. temperature
B. volume
C. time
D. weight

LEARNING CHECK
Match

L) length

M
____LB.
____
MC.
____ D.
V
____ A.

M) mass

V) volume

A bag of tomatoes is 4.6 kg.

A person is 2.0 m tall.
A medication contains 0.50 g Aspirin.
A bottle contains 1.5 L of water.

LEARNING CHECK
Select the unit you would use to measure :
1. Your height
a) millimeters

b) meters

c) kilometers

b) grams

c) kilograms

2. Your mass
a) milligrams

3. The distance between two cities

a) millimeters

b) meters

c) kilometers

4. The width of an artery

a) millimeters

b) meters

c) kilometers

MASS, VOLUME
AND DENSITY

MEASURING PHYSICAL
PROPERTIES OF MATTER:
Mass
Amount of matter a body contains.
Volume
The space occupied by matter.
Density
Is the amount of matter a body contains per
unit volume.

SAMPLE PROBLEMS:
1. What is the volume of a 50.0 cm x 40.0 cm
x 30.0 cm rectangular box?
Given:
L=50.0 cm
W=40.0 cm
H=30.0 cm
Required: Volume?

Solution:
Volume=

LxWxH

= (50.0 cm)(40.0 cm)(30.0 cm)

= 6.00 x 10 4 cm3 (cc)

2. How much cylindrical space will a 2.5 m

high cylindrical tank occupy if its diameter is
40.0 cm? Express your answer in scientific
notation.
Given:
H=

2.5 m

D=40.0 cm
Required= volume?

Solution:

r= d/2
=40.0/2
=20.0

SINCE THE UNITS OF THE VARIABLE

IS NOT THE SAME, 2.5 M SHOULD
BE CONVERTED TO CM.
2.5

x 100 cm = 250 cm
1
m

=3.14(20.0 cm)(250 cm)

=

TEMPERATURE

TEMPERATURE
Temperature

is a measure of how hot or cold

an object is compared to another

object.

indicates that heat flows from the

object with a higher temperature
to the object with a lower
temperature.

is measured using a
thermometer.

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

55

DEVICES USED TO
MEASURE
TEMPERATURE

TEMPERATURE SCALES
Temperature
Scales

are Fahrenheit,
Celsius, and
Kelvin.

have reference
points for the
boiling and
freezing points
of water.

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

57

LEARNING CHECK
A. What is the temperature of freezing water?
1) 0F

2) 0C

3) 0 K

B. What is the temperature of boiling water?

1) 100F

2) 32F

3) 373 K

C. How many Celsius units are between the boiling

and freezing points of water?
1) 100

2) 180 3) 273
58

SOLUTION
A. What is the temperature of freezing water?
2) 0C
B. What is the temperature of boiling water?
3) 373 K
C. How many Celsius units are between the boiling
and freezing points of water?
1) 100
59

FAHRENHEIT FORMULA

On the Fahrenheit scale, there are 180F

between the freezing and boiling points and on the

Celsius scale, there are 100C.
180F

100C

5C

9F = 1.8F
1C

In the formula for the Fahrenheit temperature,

adding 32 adjusts the zero point of water from 0C

to 32F.
TF

= 9/5 TC + 32

or
TF

= 1.8 TC + 32

60

CELSIUS FORMULA
TC is obtained by rearranging the equation for TF.
TF

1.8TC + 32

Subtract 32 from both sides.

TF - 32

= 1.8TC ( +32 - 32)

TF - 32

= 1.8TC

Divide by 1.8 = F - 32
1.8

= 1.8 TC
1.8

TF - 32 = TC
1.8
61

SOLVING A TEMPERATURE
PROBLEM
A person with hypothermia has a
body temperature of 34.8C. What
is that temperature in F?
TF

= 1.8 TC + 32

TF = 1.8 (34.8C)
exact

tenth's

+ 32
exact

= 62.6 + 32
= 94.6F
tenths

Copyright 2005 by Pearson Education, Inc.

Publishing as Benjamin Cummings

62

LEARNING CHECK
The normal temperature of a chickadee is
105.8F. What is that temperature on the
Celsius scale?
1) 73.8C
2) 58.8C
3) 41.0C

63

SOLUTION
3) 41.0 C
TC

= (TF - 32)
1.8
= (105.8 - 32)
1.8
= 73.8F
1.8

41.0C

64

LEARNING CHECK
A pepperoni pizza is baked at 455F. What
temperature is needed on the Celsius scale?
1) 423C
2) 235C
3) 221C

65

SOLUTION
A pepperoni pizza is baked at 455F. What temperature
is needed on the Celsius scale?
2)

235C

TF - 32
1.8
(455 - 32)

= TC

= 235C

1.8

66

LEARNING CHECK
On a cold winter day, the temperature is 15C.
What is that temperature in F?
1) 19F
2) 59F
3) 5F

67

SOLUTION
3) 5F
TF = 1.8 TC + 32
TF = 1.8(15C) + 32
= 27 + 32
= 5F
Note: Be sure to use the change sign key on your
calculator to enter the minus sign.
1.8 x 15 +/ = 27

68

KELVIN TEMPERATURE
SCALE
The Kelvin temperature scale
has 100 units between the freezing and boiling points
of water.

100 K = 100C or

1 K = 1C

is obtained by adding 273 to the Celsius temperature.

TK

= TC + 273

contains the lowest possible temperature, absolute

zero (0 K).
0K

= 273C
69

TEMPERATURES
TABLE 2.5

70

LEARNING CHECK
What is normal body temperature of 37C in
Kelvins?
1) 236 K
2)

310. K

3) 342 K

71

SOLUTION
What is normal body temperature of 37C in
kelvins?
2) 310. K
TK

= TC + 273
= 37C + 273
= 310. K

72

ACCURACY VS.
PRECISION

ACCURACY
Is the closeness of an
experimental value to the
true value
PRECISION
Is the closeness of
measurement from one
another

Picturization of accuracy & precision

Accuracy & precision of a process
can be best explained by using
the analogy of a rifle firing at a
target.

ACCURACY AND PRECISION

With the center of the target taken to be the

true value of the characteristic being
measured and by the rifle shots representing
the measured values, there are four
combinations of accuracy and precision as
depicted in the following slides.

Inaccurate and imprecise

Accurate and imprecise

Precise but inaccurate

Accurate and precise

OBJECTIVES OF SIX SIGMA

As observed from the Picturization in the preceding slides, the

objective of moving towards world class manufacturing a is to
continuously achieve greater consistency of the processes by aiming
for higher levels of accuracy & precision

WHO IS MORE ACCURATE WHEN

MEASURING A BOOK THAT HAS
A TRUE LENGTH OF 17.0 CM?
SUSAN:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm
AMY:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm

WHICH SET IS MORE

PRECISE?
SET 1: 18.2,18.4,18.35
SET 2: 17.9,18.3,18.85
SET 3: 16.8,17.2,19.44

WHO IS MORE PRECISE WHEN

MEASURING A BOOK THAT HAS
A TRUE LENGTH OF 17.0 CM?
SUSAN:
17.0 cm, 16.0 cm, 18.0 cm, 15.0 cm
AMY:
15.5 cm, 15.0 cm, 15.2 cm, 15.3 cm

NO MEASUREMENT IS EXACT!
THERE IS ALWAYS A DEGREE OF
UNCERTAINTY.

UNCERTAINTY
oLimitation of a measuring device and skill of
the person making the measurement
oIrregularities in the subject being measured
oCondition of the environment