Lab 1B: conversion chains

Key Question How can you use unit canceling to solve conversion problems?

Background Define: dimensional analysis

Drawing none

Procedure What is dimensional analysis? When would you use it: examples?

Section 1 You will be using cards to do dimensional analysis READ THE LAB!!!!!!! Always begin with a start card Change: have only ONE chain of cards going at once Have your teacher: sign each chain when completed

Section 2: Change: do not keep points Shuffle cards and pass out 4 cards to each player The oldest person starts the game with a START card. If you do not have it, draw a card and play it if you can, if you can’t then pass Next person plays or draws and plays or passes if no card can be played after 3 CONVERSION cards have been played (not counting the START card), a SOLVE card may be played solve the problem and record the entire chain on the data chart you received make 6 conversion chains each signed by teacher

Section 2 continued: -change: have only 1 conversion chain at a time Data chart: Error: column 2, row 2: denominator should be m, not km, why? Section 5: Record para phrased questions and answers on the back of your data chart

Post Lab:

b. Because of the limitations of the cards in the deck, to convert from km to cm, you would have to go through English units. What is a much easier way to convert from km to cm? Explain. c. Explain the math reasoning behind why you are able to “cancel” like units that appear in the numerator and denominator of conversion factors in a conversion chain.