Name ___________________                                        Date ________

 

Section # ________                             http://www.stmary.ws/physics/home/

 

Scientific Notation / Reporting of Data to show instrument precision

 

Scientists very often deal with very small and very large numbers, which can lead to a lot of confusion when counting zeros. We have learned to express these numbers as powers of 10.

 

Example 1:        1,500,000 converts to 1.5 X 10 6

 

 

Example 2:        2.5 X 10 -5 converts to 0.000025

 

Convert the following to scientific notation. (2 points each)

 

1.  0.005 =    _______________   4. 1,000 =   _______________                

         

2.  5,050 =   _______________        5.  1,000,000 = _______________       

 

3.  0.0008 =  _____________     

 

Convert the following to standard notation. (2 points each)

 

1.   1.5 x 10 3 =   _______________   3. 3.75 x 10 - 2 = _______________      

 

2.    1.5 x 10 - 3 = _______________    4. 3.75 x 10 2    = _______________       
  
Taking and Reporting Precise Measurements

 

1.  Use your ruler to measure the length of this line  __________      (10 points)

 

2.    All measurements are approximations.  The way you report a measurement describes the precision of your measuring device.

 

Do all these measurements mean the same thing?          (10 points)

 

1.0            1.00          1.000

 

Yes or No?  Why? (Full Sentence)

 

 

 

When you report a number your last digit is looked on as an estimate.

 

Circle the number below that matches the measurement above?

 

7.21 cm     Precise to a tenth of a cm                                 (10 points)

 

7.211 cm    Precise to a  _______________  of a cm             (10 points)

       

7.2 cm        Precise to a ________________ of a  cm             (10 points)

 

 

How would you report this measurement? ________________           (5 points)

 

                 

 

How would you report this measurement? ________________           (5 points)

 

Lab Activity

 

1. Name one object in our classroom that has a length or width that is very close to 1 meter long  _______________ (3 points)

          a) Exactly what is this measurement?  __________ m (4 points)

2.  Estimate the height of Marist in meters _________________ m (3 points) (Hand in on a separate piece of loose-leaf)

3.  Find something in your book bag that has a length or width that is very close to 1 cm long _______________ (3 points)

          a) Exactly what is this measurement?  __________ cm (3 points)

4. Use your meter stick and stop watch to find out the approximate walking speed of one of your lab partners.

          Speed = distance/time   __________________  =  ___________________ (4 points)