Dimension, scientific

notation, and
significant number

SMA-5-BKS-RSBI/Physics/10th/2009-2010/page3/Rini
3/08/09/week4
• Dimension is the symbol to show how a quantity is arranged
from basic quantity
• Dimension of Basic quantities: M, L, T, I, J, N and Ө
• Dimension of Derivative quantities
• Steps: 1. Find the formula
• 2. Find the units (basic quantity)
• 3. Find the dimension
• Example: Find the dimension of force
• the formula : F = m.a
• the units : = kg. m/s2
• the dimension : = M. L/T2
• Scientific notation is the way to
express smaller and larger number.
• a x 10n
• with 1‹ a ‹ 10 and n is the integer
• Example: 0.000036 = 3.6 x 10-5
• 76800000= 7.68 x 107
Significant number is the number that
gets from measurement.

The rules
1. All figures (but zero) are significant number
Example: 213.6 gram (4 significant number)
45.7 cm (3 significant number)
2. All zeros lie between non-zero figures are
significant number
Example: 201.06 m (5 significant number)
4.008 Kg (4 significant number)
3. All zeros number at the right hand side of nnon-
zero figure are significant number, unless there is
a special explanation with underlined
Example: 5280 cm (4 significant number)
5280 cm (3 significant number)
4. All zeros used to determine the position of the
decimal point are not significant number
Example: 0.0067 mm (2 significant number)
0.0308 gr (3 significant number)
The mathematical operation
of significant numbers
• Addition and subtraction
• Example: 29 500 + 6 950 = 36 450 ≈ 36 500
• 530 – 287 = 243 ≈ 240

• Multiplication and division

• Example: 796 x 320 = 254 720 ≈ 255 000
• 5.63 x 0.8 = 4.504 ≈ 5
• 0.428 : 0.7 = 0.6114 ≈ 0.6
• Power and roots
• Example: 3.283 = 35.287552 ≈ 35.3
• 3.28 = 10995.116 ≈ 11 000
• √196 = 14.0

• Exercise
• Task : Do the test in Student’s
Worksbook at page 19 part III