1. Scientific Building Blocks
Measurements
Scientific Building Blocks

2. Scientific Notation
Scientific Notation is expressing very large or small numbers so they can be manipulated easily
1 x 104
10,000
Exponent
Positive or Negative
Base
Between 1 & 10

3. Scientific Notation
1 x 10-3 = x 106 = 1,000,000

4. Scientific Notation
Multiplication 1. Multiply the base numbers 2. Add the exponents 3. Express base number between 1 – 10 e.g. (5 x 104) x (3 x 10-2) = (5 x 3) x 10 (4+(-2)) = 15.0 x 102 = 1.5 x 101

5. Scientific Notation
Division 1. Divide the base numbers 2. Subtract the exponents 3. Express base number between 1 – 10 e.g. (8 x 104) = 8 x 10 (4-(-3)) (2 x 10-3) 2 = 4 x 107

6. Scientific Notation Exercise
Perform the following calculations. Express your answers in scientific notation. (7.6 x 10-4) x (1.5 x 107) = 11.4 x 103

7. Scientific Notation Exercise
Perform the following calculations. Express your answers in scientific notation / 29 = (5.3 x 10-4) / (2.9 x 101) = 1.83 x 10(-4-1) = 1.83 x 10-5

8. SI Units of Measurements
SI Base Units
Quantity
Unit
Symbol
Length
meter m
Mass
kilogram kg
Temperature
Kelvin °K
Time
second s

9. SI Prefixes giga- G billion (109) 1,000,000,000 mega- M million (106)
Symbol
Meaning
Multiply Unit by
giga- G
billion (109)
1,000,000,000
mega- M
million (106)
1,000,000
kilo- k
thousand (103)
1,000
deci- d
tenth (10-1)
0.1
centi- c
hundredth (10-2)
0.01
milli- m
thousandth (10-3)
0.001
micro- μ
millionth (10-6)
nano- n
billionth (10-9)

10. Numerator & Denominator
Conversions
How many meters is 250 cm? 250 cm x 1 m = 250 m = 2.5 meters 100 cm 100
Conversion Factor
Numerator & Denominator
Are ALWAYS =

11. Conversions How many grams are in 2.5 centigrams? 2.5 cg x = 100 g
This is called dimensional analysis

12. Solving Word Problems (Same technique as conversions!)
How many grams of gasoline are in 10 liters if the density of gasoline is 2.5 g/l? 10 liter x = 250 grams
2.5 g l

13. Conversions You MUST Know
2.54 cm = 1 inch 39.4 in = 1 meter 1.06 quarts = 1 liter 2.2 pounds = 1 kilogram 454 grams = 1 pound 1 gal = 3.8 liters

14. Temperature Conversions
°K = °Celsius °Celsius = °K °Kelvin = °Celsius °F / °Celsius conversions (exact): °F = °C x °C = (°F - 32) / 1.8