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Uncertainty in Measurement
Chemistry 142 A
James B. Callis, Instructor
Winter Quarter, 2006
Precision and Accuracy
Errors in Scientific Measurements
Precision - Refers to reproducibility or how close the
measurements are to each other.
2. Start at the left of the number and move right until you
reach the first nonzero digit.
4. Zeros that end a number and lie either after or before the
decimal point are significant; thus 1.030 mL has four
significant figures, and 5300. L has four significant figures
also.
5. Situation unclear if there is no decimal point.
P 3-1b 18.00 g
P 3-1d 83.0001 L
P 3-1e 0.006002 g
P 3-1f 875,000 oz
P 3-1g 30,000 kg
P 3-1h 5.0000 m3
P 3-1j 0.000108 g
P 3-1k 1,470,000 L
Rules for Significant Figures in answers
1. For multiplication and division. The number with the
least certainty limits the certainty of the result. therefore, the
answer contains the same number of significant figures as
there are in the measurement with the fewest significant
figures. Multiply the following numbers:
9.2 cm x 6.8 cm x 0.3744 cm =
2. For addition and subtraction. The answer has the same
number of decimal places as there are in the measurement
with the fewest decimal places. Example, adding two volumes
(a) 83.5 mL + 23.28 mL =
Example subtracting two volumes:
(b) 865.9 mL - 2.8121393 mL =
Rules for Rounding Off Numbers
(1) In a series of calculations*, carry the extra digits through to the final result,
then round off. **
a. is less than 5, the preceding digit stays the same. For example, 1.33
rounds to 1.3.
b. is equal to or greater than 5, the preceding digit is increased by one. For
example, 1.36 rounds to 1.4.
(3) When rounding, use only the first number to the right of the last significant
figure. Do not round off sequentially. For example, the number 4.348 when
rounded to two significant figures is 4.3, not 4.4.
Notes:
* Your TI-93 calculator has the round function which you can use to get the
correct result. Find round by pressing the math key and moving to NUM. Its
use is round(num, no of decimal places desired), e.g. round(2.746,1) =2.7.
** Your book will show intermediate results rounded off. Don’t use these rounded
results to get the final answer.
Rounding Off Numbers – Problems
(3-4a) Round 5.379 to three significant figures
Ans:
We used the rule: If the digit removed is greater than or equal to 5, the preceding
number increases by 1.
We used the rule: If the digit removed is less than 5, the preceding number is
unchanged
P 3-5: A small rectangular slab of lithium has the
dimensions 20.9 mm by 11.1 mm by 11.9 mm. Its
mass is 1.49 x 103 mg. What is the density of lithium
in g/cm3?
Step 1: task:
Find the density of lithium in g/cm3.
d=
Step 6: calculate, sig figs.
d=
Density = mass
volume
Definitions - Mass & Weight
A chip
a N bit
A
b m ρA chipf goldt
Temperature Scales and Interconversions
Kelvin ( K ) - The “Absolute temperature scale” begins at
absolute zero and only has positive values.
Celsius ( oC ) - The temperature scale used by science,
formally called centigrade and most
commonly used scale around the world.
Water freezes at 0oC, and boils at 100oC.
Fahrenheit ( oF ) - Commonly used scale in America for
our weather reports. Water freezes at 32oF,
and boils at 212oF.
T (in K) = T (in oC) + 273.15 T (in oF) = 9/5 T (in oC) + 32
5. 0.536 g/cm3
6. 1.5040 g / mL
7. 31 mg gold