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

The size of atom=

The size of nucleus=

comparison=

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

It takes .

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

Equation A must be wrong.

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.

1 pound=0.453 kg

225 pounds x 0.453 kg=

102.05 kg

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

1km=1000000mm

125km x 1000000mm

= 125000000mm

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.

Speed of light: 299792458 m/s

 3 feet = 1 meter

315 feet = 105 meters

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

The line’s length is 8.10cm.

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

(a) 0.0015 _2 s.f._ (b) 0.15_2 s.f.__ (c) 1.500_4 s.f. __ (d) 1.0005_5 s.f__

(e) 1.00050_6 s.f.__ (f) 0.00010000 _5 s.f__ (g) 6.35106_6 s.f.__ (h) 160x10-21_23 s.f__

10. Compute the following quantities to the correct number of significant figures.

(a) 5.0000 x 2= 10.000 (b) 5.0000 x 2.0 (c) 2.5x10-2 – 2.5

(d) 2.5x10-2 – 2.50 (e) 2.5x10-2 - 2.500 (f) 5.0000 / 2

(g) 2.5x10-2 - 3.14 (h) 2.50x10-2 / 4.50

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
a wooden meter stick is capable of supplying.
The measured length of this line is 6.60mm.

12. What is the precision of this measurement?

The precision of the measurement is 0.1cm/0.10mm.

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.

Area:

=Side x side

=6.60mm x 6.60mm

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

The raw uncertainty is ±0.05cm

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

15. Find the absolute uncertainty in the measurement.

The absolute uncertainty is ±3.8cm.

16. Find the raw uncertainty in the measurement.

The raw uncertainty is ± 0.1 cm.

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.