Unit I: Introduction to Math and Measurement

Use Current Lessons on student information page and access Introduction to Math and Measurement to supplement this outline’s notes.

Reference: www.physicsphenomena.com

Topic List

1. Measurement: The Metric System

2. Working with Large & Small Measurements: Significant Digits

3. Handling Measurements in Calculations

4. Displaying & Processing Data

1. Measurement

• A. Metric System• B. Fundamental Units of Measure• C. Derived Units of Measure• D. Working with Metric

Measurements– Rule for Adding and Subtracting

measurements

1. Measurement cont’d

– Rule for Adding and Subtracting measurements: The units must be the same when adding or subtracting.

– Rule for Multiplying and Dividing measurements: The units must be kept unless they actually “cancel out”.

– Rule for other operations: Same as for multiplication and division

Examples:

• Addition• Subtraction• Multiplication• Division• Other

• 3 cm + 5 cm = 8 cm

• 9 m - 4 m = 5 m• 2 m X 4 m = 8

m^2• 42 m / 6 s =6 m/s• (7 cm)^2 = 49

cm^2

2. Working with Large and Small measurements

Scientific Notation: (where n is a number)The very small, n < 1, but n > 0

The power of ten < 0 or negative example 1 x 10^-1 = 1 / 10 and 0.0762 = 7.62 x 10^-2

The very large, n > 1, but n < infinityThe power of ten > 1 or positive

example 1 x 10^1 = 10 and 1,440 = 1.44 x 10^3

3. Displaying and Processing Data

• Data Charts: See graphing references in Chapter 2 and the PS#2- series in WB.

• Qualitative Observations and Quantitative Observations: See Intro to physics and Dictionary.com

• Accuracy and Precision: See Chapter 2 and PS#1-9 in the WB.

3.(Continued) Handling Measurements in Calculations.

• The Use of Significant Digits: This is based on the precision of the measuring tool being used.

• The Rules of Zeros: See PS#1-9 in WB.• Significant Digits in Calculations: See

PS#1-11 and 1-12 in WB.• It includes:

– The Rules for Addition and Subtraction– The Rules for Multiplication and Division

4. Graphing: Displaying Data

There are many types of graphs.

Typically the most common are described as one of three categories. They are:

1. The straight line representing direct variation between the x-y variables.

2. The hyperbola representing inverse variation between the x-y variables.

3. The parabola representing the direct variation between the y variable and the square of the x variable.