BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Unit 1 ~ Learning Guide Name: ______________________________
Instructions:
Using a pencil, complete the following notes as you work through the related lessons. Show ALL
work as is explained in the lessons. You are required to have this package completed BEFORE
you write your unit test. Do your best and ask questions if you don’t understand anything!
Scientific Notation:
1. Why was scientific notation invented?
2. Do an Internet or book search and find something in your universe that is represented by a
REALLY small number.
a) What is it that is being described?
b) Show the value in scientific notation:
____________________
c) Show the value in regular notation:
____________________
3. Do an Internet or book search and find something in your universe that is represented by a
REALLY large number.
a) What is it that is being described?
b) Show the value in scientific notation:
____________________
c) Show the value in regular notation:
____________________
4. Convert the following to scientific notation in standard form.
a)
34674
________________
b)
.000235
________________
c)
-2300000
________________
d)
-.0000150
________________
e)
0.00750
________________
Page 1 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
5. Round the following to the number of figures shown and convert to scientific notation in
standard form.
a) 634000
round to 2 sig figs
________________
b) 0.00345
round to 2 sig figs
________________
c) 298.76
round to 1 sig figs
_________________
6. Indicate the number of significant figures in the number given (ans.
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
120000
32100.0
.00123
0.20040
730.01
0.0300
7.590 x 103
9 x 10-4
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
_______
7. Ensure you can use your calculator to easily acquire the given results (use EE or EXP button if
available.
a. (5.98 x 1024 kg ) (7.35 x 1022 kg) = _______________
b. (5.98 x 1024 kg ) / (7.35 x 1022 kg) = _______________
Significant Figures:
1. What is the main purpose for learning about significant figures in science and/or technology
courses?
2. Students sometimes get confused between the terms "scientific notation" and "significant
figures." Figure out a way that will ensure you don't get confused between the two. Describe
your method below. (HINT: define notation, define significant).
Page 2 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
3. Suppose that three people were told to determine the length of a piece of wood and
were given a tape measure whose smallest markings were at 0.1 centimeter intervals.
They report the following values:
Person
Value measured for length
1
11.6 cm
2
11.6283476 cm
3
11.63 cm
Who is documenting this measurement correctly? The correct question is "who
recognizes the questionable digit and documented accordingly?" Justify your answer.
4.
What is your best score on the Sig Fig “Bomb Game” (include level and score).
Page 3 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
5. Evaluate the following and use the correct number of significant figures in your answer (Show
all work)
a. 2.35 cm x 4.6 cm
__________
b) 4/3 (3.14159)(4.7 in)3
__________
c)
 1.25m3.2m
3.4m
__________
d)
33560000000  .00000012km
24.5hr
__________
e) 2301cm + 834.12cm + 9.0cm
__________
6. Summarize the difference between the rules for significant figures when
adding/subtracting and when multiplying/dividing?
Page 4 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Equation Solving:
1. Solve for x in the following equations (show all work):
a. 2 = 5 + x
ans. -3
__________
b. 19 = 2x + 7 ans. 6
__________
c.
3 – 5x = 14 ans. -2.2
__________
d. 5 
x
2
ans. 10
__________
2.
Rearrange the equation, solving for the variable shown (clearly show all steps).
kQ1Q2
a. Solve for Q1where F 
r2
b. Solve for "t" where d = ½at2
Page 5 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
c. Solve for vo where
 vo  v f
d  
 2
d. Solve for "a" where
vf2 = vi2 + 2ad
d f  di
e. Solve for df where
v
f.
E p  mgh
Solve for m where

t

g. Solve for m where Ek 
t f  ti
1
mv 2
2
Page 6 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
h. Solve for ti where v 
d f  di
t f  ti
1 2
at
2
i.
Solve for vo where d  vo t 
j.
Solve for vi where vf2 = vi2 + 2ad
 vo  v f
 2
k. Solve for vf where d  
l.
Solve for v where Ek 

t

1
mv 2
2
Page 7 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Trigonometry:
1. Solve the following triangles using SOHCAHTOA and Pythagoras. Show all work.
a) In the figure below, the 4.0 meter ladder is making a 60. degree angle with the ground. How
high does the ladder reach? How far is the base of the ladder from the wall?
h = ____________
b = ____________
b) In the figure below, the 4.0 meter is reaches only 1.5 meters up the wall. How far is the
base of the ladder from the wall? What is the angle the ladder makes with the ground?
b = ____________
 = ____________
Page 8 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
c) Solve for x, y, and A.
x = ____________
y = ____________
A = ____________
d) Solve for R and ɵ.
R = ____________
 = ____________
e) Solve for R and ɵ.
BC = ____________
Total Height = ____________
Page 9 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Units of Measure:
1. Unit conversions (show all work – lay out in brackets, same as lesson examples)
a.
2.67 hours into seconds
b.
80. km/hr to m/s
c.
34 km into meters
d.
1.0 day into seconds
e.
12 hours into seconds
f.
100. km/hr into m/s
g.
40 km/hr into m/s
h.
12 m/s into km/hr
i.
200 g into kg
j.
10 kg into grams
Page 10 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
2. We can only add and subtract numbers in Physics if they have the same units. For example I can
add 5.0m to 12m to get 17m but I cannot add 5.0m to 10m/s. You cannot add a velocity (10m/s)
to a distance (5m) and get anything meaningful. Use dimensional analysis to ensure that the
kinematic equations shown below adhere to this rule. (Note: it does not matter at this stage if
you understand the physics behind the equations). The units for each variable are given. The
first one is done for you.
Variable
d
vi
vf
a
t
a.
Units
m
m/s
m/s
2
m/s
s
vf = vi + at
vf
=
vi
+
at
Step 1: replace each variable with units only [m/s] = [m/s] + [m/s2][s]
Step 2: cancel and simplify where possible [m/s] = [m/s] + [m/s2][s]
Step 3: compare resulting terms (same?)
[m/s] = [m/s] + [m/s]
Conclusion: Since each term has the units of m/s, the equation is likely valid.
b.
v = dt
conclusion: valid / invalid (circle one)
c.
d = vt
conclusion: valid / invalid (circle one)
d.
d = vit + ½at2
(remember that the ½ doesn’t have a unit so isn’t considered)
conclusion: valid / invalid (circle one)
Page 11 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Graphing Data:
1. Describe how you can recognise a positive vs. a negative vs a zero slope on a graph. Sketch
and explain.
2. What does a y-intercept on a graph represent?
3. Describe each letter in the equation y=mx+b.
4. What type of graph does y=mx+b represent? How do you recognize a graph that can be
represented by it?
5. How do you determine the units of a y-intercept from a graph? Provide an example.
6. How do you determine the units of slope from a graph? Provide an example.
Page 12 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
7. Find the slope and y-intercept of the following lines, then answer with the resulting equation of
the line in y=mx + b format. Show work for slope calculation.
a)
_________________
b)
_________________
c)
_________________
Page 13 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
8. Suppose that the water level of a river is 34 meters and that it is receding at a rate of 0.50
meters per day. Write an equation for the water level, L, after d days. In how many days will
the water level be 26 meters? (include units for everything)
9. A plumber charges $25 for a service call plus $50 per hour of service. Write an equation in
slope-intercept form for the cost, C, after h hours of service. (include units for everything)
10. A runner gets a 30.0 meter head-start then runs 5.0 km/hr. Write an equation (in base SI units)
which will represent the runners distance from the start line at any second. (include units)
11. A car begins at a speed of 20. m/s then increases its speed by 2.0 m/s each second. Write an
equation that represents the speed of the car as a function of time. (include units)
Page 14 of 15
BCLN PHYSICS 11 - Rev. Sept/2013
Answers:
Scientific Notation:
4) 3.4674x104, 2.35x10-4, -2.3x106, -1.50x10-5, 7.50x10-3 5) 6.3x105, 3.5x10-3, 3x102 6) 2,6,3,5,5,3,4,1
7) 4.40 x 1047, 81.4
Significant Figures:
1) communication (expand) 3) Person3 5) 11cm2, 430in3, -1.2m, 160km/hr, 3144cm
Equation Solving:
1) -3, 6, -2.2, 10 (all work shown)
Fr 2
2) a) Q1 
kQ2
f) m 
Ep
k) v f 
gh
b) t 
2d
a
2E
g) m  2 k
v
2d  v o t
t
l) v 
c) vo 
h) Ti 
2d  v f t
t
v f  vi
2
d) a 
vt f  di  d f
v
2d
2
e) d f  vt f  vti  di
1
d  at 2
2
i) v0 
t
j)
√
2Ek
m
Trigonometry:
1) a) h=3.5 m, b=2.0 m
b) b=3.7 m,
=22 c) x=8.0, y=11, A=45° d) R=8.0, Ɵ=23° e) 26.7m, 28.2m
Units of Measure:
1)a)9600s B) 22 m/s C) 34000 m d) 86000 s e) 4.3x
j) 10000 g
f) 27.7 m/s g) 11 m/s h) 43 km/h i) 0.2 kg
Graphing Data:
7) a) y=x+2(m=1, b=2) b) y=3x+1(m=3, b=1) c) y=-x+1, or y=-3/4x+1
9) C=50h+25 10) d=1.4t+30 11) v=2.0t+20
Page 15 of 15
8) L=-0.5d+34 , 16 days