Show formulas, substitutions, answers (in spaces provided) and units!

1. Find the difference in order of magnitude for the following comparison: The size of
the atom to the size of the nucleus.

2. Find the order of magnitude for the following calculation: The time it takes light to
transverse a quark.

3. Which equation must be wrong? Note that t is in s, v is in m s-1, a is in m s-2, x is in

m, F is in kg m s-2 and m is in kg.
a. a = v2 / x b. a = v2 / t c. v = at d. a = F / m

4. Convert 484 mi h-1 to m s-1. Be sure to show each well-chosen one.

5. Estimate how many kilograms are in a 225-pound man.

6. Using the technique of the well-chosen one, convert the quantity 125 km into its
equivalent in mm.

7. Estimate the amount of time it takes light to travel from a batter to your eye if you are
seated in center field at Miller Park, 315 feet away. 1 meter is about 3 feet.

8. Find the line’s length to the maximum number of significant figures allowed by the
centimeter ruler.

9. Determine the number of significant figures in each of the following.

(a) 0.0015 ___ (b) 0.15___ (c) 1.500___ (d) 1.0005___
(e) 1.00050___ (f) 0.00010000___ (g) 6.35106___ (h) 160x10-21___

10. Compute the following quantities to the correct number of significant figures.
(a) 5.0000 x 2 (b) 5.0000 x 2.0 (c) 2.5x10-2 – 2.5
(d) 2.5x10 – 2.50
-2
(e) 2.5x10 - 2.500
-2
(f) 5.0000 / 2
(g) 2.5x10 - 3.14
-2
(h) 2.50x10 / 4.50
-2

For questions 11. through 14. consider the line shown here:
11. What is the measured length of this line in mm? Use the amount of significant figures
awooden meter stick is capable of supplying.

12. What is the precision of this measurement?

13. If the above line is one side of a perfect square, what is the area of that square, taking
into account the correct number of significant figures and the correct units? Note that
area is length times width, and the length equals the width in a square.

14. What is the raw uncertainty in your answer from problem 3?

A student measures a line to be 3.8 cm ± 0.1 cm.

15. Find the absolute uncertainty in the measurement.

16. Find the raw uncertainty in the measurement.

17. Find the fractional uncertainty in the measurement.

18. Find the percentage uncertainty in the measurement.

19. A flagpole is placed on the roof of a house. A student measures the flagpole to be 4.25
m ± 0.05 m. The same student measures the height from the ground to the base of the
flagpole to be 6.40 m ± 0.15 m. If the flagpole is mounted vertically upward (straight up),
how far is the tip of the flagpole above the ground. Be sure to use significant figures and
include a raw uncertainty with your answer.

20. A car travels 250 m ± 15 m in 12.2 s ± 0.2 s. Calculate its speed. Be sure to use
significant figures and include a raw uncertainty with your answer.