MEASUREMENT

CONVERSION FACTORS

a process of comparing a property of an

object with a standard
a quantitative observation consisting of a number
and a scale (commonly called unit)

Length

Mass

Volume

1 ft = 12 in
1 in = 2.54 cm

SYSTEMS OF MEASUREMENT

1 ft = 30.48 cm
1 m = 3.28 ft
1 yd = 3 ft
1 mi =5280 ft
1 mi = 1.61 km

1 kg = 1000 g
1 ton (US) = 2000 lb
1 metric ton = 1000 kg
1 kg = 0.0685 slug
1 slug =14.95 kg
1 kg = 2.205 lb
(when g = 9.807 m/s2)
1 lb = 454g
( when g = 9.807 m/s2)

1 L = 1000 mL
1 mL 1 cm3
1 gal = 3.788 L
1 m3 = 1000 L

1. English System
2. Metric System
3. International System of Units (SI)

Fundamental Physical Quantities in SI units:

Physical Quantity
length
mass
time
electric current
amount of substance
absolute temperature
luminous intensity

Units of
Measurements
meter
kilogram
second
ampere
mole
Kelvin
candela

Unit
Symbol
m
kg
s
A
mol
K
cd

PREFIXES COMMONLY USED IN METRIC SYSTEM

1 quart = 0.9463 L

Measurement of Temperature:
o

C to oF :
o

F = 1.8oC + 32

F to oC:
o

C = oF 32
1.8

C to K:
K = oC + 273.15

TERMS THAT DESCRIBE QUALITY OF MEASUREMENT

1. Validity the measurement is relevant to the
question being investigated; correct conclusions can
only be drawn from valid data.
2. Accuracy describes how close a measurement to
the accepted value.
3. Precision repeatability or reproducibility of a
measurement
-refers to the agreement among repeated
measurements, the spread of the measurements
or how close they are together

notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd

4. Uncertainty a measure of how far a measured

quantity might be from the true value
Example: a measurement of 5.07 g 0.02 g means that
the experimenter is confident that the actual value for
the quantity being measured lies between 5.05 g and
5.09 g.
Common Sources of Uncertainty
1. effects of environmental conditions on the
measurement
2. judgment in reading analog instruments
3. sensitivity of instruments
4. rating or stated calibration of the instrument
5. approximations and assumptions made while doing
the measurement
6. variations in repeated readings made under
apparently identical conditions
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
The following rules will be used to determine the
number of significant figures in a measured or calculated
number:

1. All nonzero digits are always significant.

Example : 1.23 has 3 SF ; 1657 has 4 SF
2. Zeros between nonzero digits (captive zeros) are
always significant.
Example : 6.008 has 4 SF ; 170009 has 6 SF

6. If one or more of the trailing zeros are significant,

then it is best to convert the number to scientific
notation and include only the significant zeros.
Remember, every digit included in a number
written in scientific notation is considered to be
significant.
Consider the following possibilities for the number
109000
a.) None of the trailing zeros are significant ( 3 SF)
Scientific Notation: 1.09 x 105
b.) Only the first trailing zero is significant (4 SF)
Scientific Notation : 1.090 x 105
c.) The first two trailing zeros are significant ( 5 SF)
Scientific Notation : 1.0900 x 105
d.) All three trailing zeros are significant (6 SF)
Scientific Notation : 1.09000 x 105
DETERMINING THE NUMBER OF SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
IN THE RESULT OF A CALCULATION:
1. The result of a multiplication or division should
contain the same number of significant figures as
was present in the number with the fewest
significant figures.
Example :
2.0044 x 12.54 = 25.135176 = 25. 14 (4 SF)

3. Leading zeros (zeros to the left of the first nonzero

digit) are never significant.
Example : 0.0067 has 2 SF ; 0.00001273 has 4 SF
4. Trailing zeros (zeros to the right of the last nonzero
digit) in a number with a decimal point will always be
counted as significant
Example: 345.980 has 6 SF ; 0.0009800 has 4 SF

(0.00342)(1.230) = 0.000074085 = 0.0000741 ( 3 SF)

56.781
2. The result of an addition or subtraction should
contain the same number of decimal places as the
number with fewest decimal places.
Example :

5. Trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point

generally will not be significant.
Example : 5000 has 1 SF ; 102300 has 4 SF

3.123 + 123.23 = 126.353 = 126.35 ( 2 decimal places)

456.1 476.25 = - 20.15 = - 20.2 ( 1 decimal place)

notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd

ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
generally used to make very approximate
comparisons
the number of powers of 10 contained in the number
If two numbers differ by one order of magnitude, one is
about ten times larger than the other

usually, when an order of magnitude estimate is

made, the results are reliable to within about a factor
of 10
Order of Magnitude Calculations
1. Make a rough estimate of the relevant quantities to
one significant figure, preferably some power of 10.
2. Combine the quantities to make the estimate.
3. Think hard about whether the estimate is
reasonable.

EXERCISES
1. Convert the following measurements to m
(a) 2.98 Tm
(b) 2.98 km
(c) 2.98 m
(d) 2.98 x 10-1 Gm
(e) 2.98 x 10-3 Mm
(f) 2.98 x 107 nm
(g) 2.98 x 104 m
2. Calculate the following and express in scientific
notation to the correct number
of significant figures:
(a) 12.3 m 34.14 m
(b) 3.5 102 m 2.18 104 m;
(c) 180 cm 2.5 s
(d) 1.18 cm 3.1416 cm
(e) 2.0 103 m 2.0 104 m.
3. Giancoli 4th ed, no.21 page 15

Example:
1. How fast does an Olympic sprinter cross the finish
line in the 100 m dash?
Analysis
Typical 100 m dash time is ~10 s, so average speed is
about 10 m/s. Sprinters kick near the finish line, so
speed there is faster. 50% faster? Maybe. That would
mean the finish-line speed is ~15 m/s. Reasonable?
Yes.

th

p.14 Tipler 8 ed

2. When you drive your car 1 km, estimate the thickness

of tire tread that is worn off.
Answer:
1. Estimate the distance require to wear down a
tire tread to the point where it needs to be
replaced: ~60,000 km (or 37,000 miles)
2. Estimate the thickness of a typical tire tread lost
on a worn tire: ~ 1 cm.
Consider the following ratio:

Therefore, a car loses about 2x10-7 m = 0.2 mm of tire

tread in driving 1 km.
notes in PHYS 210/mads/cscs-psd