General Physics
Test 1 Review Assignment
Basic Math Skills, Quantities and Measurement
Answers
1. Convert the following to scientific notation
a. 0.000043698 4.36987 x 10-5
b. 8,531,238. 222 8.531238222 x 106
c. 0.0000000579213 5.79213 x 10-8
d. 3988 3.988 x 103
2. Complete the following table.
SI Quantities and Base Units
Quantity
Symbol
Base Unit
mass
length
time
m
x, ∆x
t, ∆t
kilogram
meter
second
Abbreviation for
Base Unit
kg
m
s
3. Complete the following table.
Prefixes
Prefix
micro
nano
giga
mega
milli
centi
pico
tera
kilo
Symbo1
µ
n
G
M
m
c
p
T
k
4. Write abbreviations for the following units.
a. centimeter cm
b. microsecond µs
c. picogram pg
Multiply by
10-6
10-9
109
106
10-3
10-2
10-12
1012
103
5. Write the following as multipliers and abbreviations.
a. 1 kg = 1 x 103g
b. 1 pm = 1x 10-12m
c. 1 cL = 1 x 10-2 L
d. 1 GW = 1 x 109W
6. Perform the following conversions. Report all answers in scientific notation with
the correct number of significant figures. Be sure to use the format taught in class.
a. 16523 km to m 1.6523 x 107 m
b. 5589 ng to g 5.589 x 10-6 g
c. 2.57 x 10-3 µs to s 2.57 x 10-9s
d. 3.569 x 105 s to ps 3.569 x 1017ps
e. 5280.5 km to cm 5.2805 x 108cm
7. Compare and contrast accuracy and precision. Give and example of a) accurate
and precise, b) precise but not accurate, and c) neither precise nor accurate.
Both accuracy and precision deal with how “good” a measurement is, and are a
reflection of technique &/or instrument function. Accuracy is a measure of
how close you measurement is to the actual measurement, and is measured
using % error, while precision s a measure of how reproducible your
measurement is when taken may times. It is measured using standard
deviation. a) If your golf shots all end up at the target, you are accurate and
precise b) if your golf shots are all in the same place, but not on target, you are
precise but not accurate, and c) if your golf shots are all over the place, your
are neither precise nor accurate.
8. Compare and contrast digital and analog devices. Give an example of each.
Both analog and digital devices are used to measure quantities. Analog devices,
such as rulers or meter sticks have a scale which must be interpreted by the
user. They are read to 1 decimal place small than marked, so if the ruler is
marked to 0.1cm, it is read to 0.01 cm. Digital devices, such a most
stopwatches, use a numerical readout and do not require any interpretation by
the user, the device does that. All the user has to do is read and write down the
measurement on the screen. Neither type of device is always superior.