Significant Figures Scientific Notation Prefixes Revision N 5Higher

Significant Figures, Scientific Notation & Prefixes Revision N 5/Higher Physics

Learning Intention: Today we will be revising rounding, significant figures, scientific notation and prefixes. Why: These a re key numeracy skills that we will use throughout the year in Physics so it is important that we are confident applying these skills. How: examples, activities and questions

Significant Figures What are significant figures? Why do we use them in Physics?

Significant Figures •

Significant Figures •

Significant Figures Significant figures allow us to work out how to round answers to calculations based on the data we are give in the question. Rule: round answers to the same number of significant figures as the value with the fewest number of sig figs. in the data.

Example: Use the data below to find the average time to run the length of the corridor: Reading Time (s) 1 120. 1 2 121. 07 3 98. 00 4 100. 7 5 111. 0 6 112. 3 7 119. 25

Questions 1. A toy car takes 5. 02 s to travel a distance of 4. 8 m. Calculate its average speed. 2. A resistor of resistance 7. 2 kΩ draws a current of 0. 1 A. Calculate the voltage dropped across it. 3. Jane measures the light level in the classroom 3 times and records the following results: 2. 38 lux, 3. 2 lux & 1. 985 lux. Calculate the average light level.

Scientific Notation Scientific notation allows us to write down very big and very small numbers quickly.

Scientific Notation Big numbers: e. g. 1, 000. 00 (1 million) Move the decimal point to the left until there is only 1 number left in front of it We are left with the number 1

Scientific Notation Small numbers: For small numbers (e. g 0. 000001) we move the decimal point to the right until we are left with a number between 1 and 10: We are left with the number 1 http: //www. bing. com/videos/search? q=scientific+notation&adlt=strict&view=detail&mid= 062 A 4070 D 7 C 7 C 085 C 434&FORM=VRDGAR

Try putting the following numbers into scientific notation: 1. 200, 000 2. 0. 005 3. 0. 000000075 4. 3, 500, 000 5. 0. 000652 Make sure you are confident in putting these numbers into a calculator

Prefixes

Prefixes: Examples •

Prefixes •