1. Chapter 3 Scientific Measurement
Qualitative measurements- give results in a descriptive, non-numerical form
Quantitative measurements- give results in a definite form, as numbers and units.
Scientific notation- a number is written as the product of two numbers- a coefficient and 10 raised to a power.
Ex: 3.6 x 10^4

2. 3.6 represent the coefficient- always greater than or equal to 1 and less than 10
4 represents the exponent- indicates how many times the coefficient must be x by 10 to = the original number.
For numbers greater than 10, the exponent is + and equals the number of places the original decimal point has been moved to the left. Ex: 36000= 3.6x10^4
For numbers less than 10, the exponent is negative and equals the number of places the original decimal point has been moved to the right. Ex: = 8.1x10^-3

3. Multiplication & Division
To multiply numbers written in scientific notation, multiply the coefficients and add the exponents.
Ex: (3.0x10^4)(2.0x10^2)=(3.0x2.0)x 10^(4+2)= 6.0 x 10^6
To divide numbers written in scientific notation, first divide the coefficients. Then subtract the exponent in the denominator (bottom) from the exponent in the numerator (top).

4. Ex: (3.0 x 10^4)/(2.0 x 10^2)= 3.0/2.0 x 10^(4-2)= 1.5 x 10^2

5. Addition & Subtraction
Before adding or subtracting numbers written in scientific notation, the exponents must be the same.
Ex: (5.40 x 10^3) + (6.0 x 10^2)
Make the exponents the same by choosing one to change
Ex: (5.40 x 10^3) + (0.60 x 10^3)= 6.0 x 10^3

6. Accuracy & Precision
Accuracy- a measure of how close a measurement comes to the actual or true value of whatever is measured.
Precision- a measure of how close a series of measurements are to one another.
Ex: playing darts (text pg. 54)
Good accuracy and good precision if the darts are close to the bulls eye and to one another

7. Poor accuracy yet good precision if the darts are far from the bulls eye but close to one another.
Poor accuracy and poor precision if the darts are far from the bulls eye and from one another.

8. Accepted value, Experimental value and Percent Error
Accepted value- the correct value based on reliable references.
Experimental value- the value measured in the lab.
Error= experimental value – accepted value (can be + or – value).
Percent Error=([error]/accepted value) x (will always be +)

9. Significant figures in measurements
Include all of the digits that are known, plus a last digit that is estimated
Measurements must always be reported to the correct number of significant figures.

10. Rules of Significant Figures
Every nonzero digit in a measurement is assumed to be significant
Ex: 24.7 meters, meter, 714 meters
All have 3 significant figures
Zeros appearing between nonzero digits are significant
Ex: 7003 meters, meters, meters all have 4 significant figures

11. Leftmost zeros appearing in front of nonzero digits are not significant. They act as placeholders
Ex: meter, 0.42 meter, meter all have 2 significant figures
*write in scientific notation to get rid of the placeholding zeros
Ex: 7.1 x10^-3, 4.2 X10^-1, 9.9 x10^-5
Zeros at the end of a number and to the right of a decimal point are always significant
Ex: m, m, m all have 4 significant figures

12. Zeros at the rightmost end of a measurement that lie to the left of an understood decimal point are not significant if they serve as placeholders to show the magnitude of the number.
Ex: 300. m—has one sig.fig.
7000. m—has one sig.fig.
m—has 4 sig.figs.
*the zeros are not significant. If the zeros were known measured values, then they would be significant
Ex: if all of the zeros in the measurement 300 m were significant (not rounded)
Writing the value in scientific notation makes it clear the zeros are significant (3.00 x 10^2)

13. Significant figures in calculations
Rounding: less than 5 do not round up, greater than 5 round up
In addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division, round the answer to the same number of sig.figs. as the measurement with the least amount of sig.figs.
Ex: =369.76, the answer should be rounded to because has the least amount of sig.figs (being one sig.fig. After the decimal point)

14. Metric System Standard system used by scientists
aka International System of Units (SI)
Decimal system based on the number 10, multiples of 10
Used to measure length, volume, mass, density, and temperature

15. Length Basic unit is the meter (m) Metric ruler 1m= 39.4 inches
1m=100cm
1m=1000mm
1000m=1km
1x10^-6m=1um(micrometer) or 1x10^6um=1m
1x10^-9m=1nm(nanometer) or 1x10^9nm=1m
K H D M D C M * * um * * nm
L cc g
(text pg. 64)

16. Volume Amount of space an object takes up V=LxWxH
Basic unit is the Liter (L) or cm^3, mL
Graduated cylinder is used to measure volume of liquids or irregular shaped solids by water displacement
Read water level on graduated cylinder at the meniscus
Use metric ruler to measure volume of solids: LxWxH
1 cubic centimeter= 1 milliliter
1cubic meter= 1000 Liters
(text pg. 65)

17. Mass Amount of matter in an object (remains constant)
Different from weight- a force that measures the pull of gravity on a given mass (can change)
Basic unit Kilogram, gram
Use triple beam balance
1Kg=2.2lbs.
1Kg=1000g
1000Kg=1 metric ton
(text pg. 67)

18. Density Mass per unit volume D=M/V Units g/cm^3, g/mL
Density of water= 1g/mL
Float< 1g/mL < Sink
Density table on pg. 69

19. Specific Gravity
The comparison of the density of a substance with the density of a reference substance at the same temp.
Common reference substance is water
Specific gravity= density of substance/
density of water
No units because they cancel out (g/cm^3/g/cm^3)
Hydrometer measures specific gravity of liquid
Hydrometer is a sealed tube with a weight in the bottom. The higher it floats the higher the specific gravity of the liquid being tested

20. Specific gravity measurements (no units)
Used by physicians to diagnose certain diseases (diabetes)
Check antifreeze condition in radiator
Measure acid in an automobile battery

21. Temperature Kelvin (K) scale or degrees Celsius
Use thermometer with degrees Celsius
0 degrees Celsius= 273 K
100 degrees Celsius= 373K
Water freezes 0 degrees Celsius or 273K
Water boils 100 degrees Celsius or 373K
0 Kelvin or absolute zero= -273K
K=Celsius + 273
C=K - 273

22. Other SI units Time is measured in seconds (s)
Pressure is measured in Pascals (Pa)
Atmospheric pressure is measured in atm or mm of Hg (Mercury)
Energy is measured in joules (J) or calories (cal)
Amount of a substance is measured in moles (mol)
Electric current is measured in ampere (A)