INTRODUCTION TO MEASUREMENTS

Prefixes
SYMBOL NAME MEANING
12
T tera x 10 multiplied by 1,000,000,000,000
Rewrite the following:
G giga x 109 multiplied by 1,000,000,000
a) 10cm =_______ m
M mega x 106 multiplied by 1,000,000
3
b) 9 ns =_________ s
k kilo x 10 multiplied by 1,000 c) 500 000W = ______ kW
c centi x 10-2 divided by 100 d) 200 mg = _______kg
-3
m milli x 10 divided by 1,000
-6
micro x 10 divided by 1,000,000
-9
n nano x 10 divided by 1,000,000,000
-12
p pico x 10 divided by 1,000,000,000,000

Significant Figures
Rules for counting significant figures are summarized below.
 Zeros at the beginning of the number are never significant. 0.000000099 has significant figures.
 Zeros within a number are always significant. 4308 and 40.05 contain significant figures.
 Zeros that do nothing but set the decimal point are not significant. 470,000 has significant figures.
 Trailing zeros that aren't needed to hold the decimal point are significant. 4.00 has significant figures.

Write the number of significant figures in each number:

83.51 : ____ significant figures 1500 : ____ significant figures
10.01 : ____ significant figures 18.00 : ____ significant figures
40081 : ____ significant figures 0.008 : ____ significant figures
150 : ____ significant figures 2500.0 : ____ significant figures

Write 157.23 to 2 significant figures. ____________

Standard Form
A number is in standard form when it is expressed as A × 10n where A is a number between 1 and 10.
e.g. 2500 = 2.5 × 103 0.003= 3 ×10-3

To convert a number to standard form, shift the decimal place so that there is only one digit in front of it. Count the
number of spaces the decimal point has moved. This number is your index. If your decimal point has moved to the
left, your index is positive. If it moved to the right, it is negative.

Convert the following numbers to standard form: Convert the following numbers from standard form:

30260.34 = __________________ 8.85 × 105= __________________

0.006312 = __________________ 1.2 × 10-3 = __________________
300000 = ___________________
0.0580 = ____________________
 USING THE VERNIER CALIPER AND MICROMETER SCREW GAUGE

Vernier Caliper

The vernier caliper incorporates a main scale

and a sliding vernier scale which allows readings
to the nearest 0.01 cm. This instrument may be
used to measure outer dimensions of objects
inside dimensions and depths .
Micrometer Screw Gauge
The micrometer screw gauge is used to measure even smaller dimensions than the vernier callipers. The micrometer
screw gauge also uses an auxiliary scale (0.01mm) which is marked on a rotary thimble.

The rotating thimble is subdivided into 50 equal

divisions. The jaws can be adjusted by rotating the
thimble using the small ratchet knob.
 DENSITY AND RELATIVE DENSITY
1) Calculate
a) the density of a substance of volume 3m3 and mass 18kg
b) the mass of a solid of density 14gcm-3 and volume 7cm3
c) the volume of a liquid of density 2gcm-3 and mass 72g.

2) An object has a volume of 16cm3 and a mass of 40g. Calculate the density in gcm-3 and kgm-3.

3) A rectangular block of wood has the following dimensions: 8mm x 5mm x 100mm
a) Calculate the volume of the block in
(i) mm3 (ii) m3
b) If the density of the block is 650 kgm-3, find the mass of the block.

4) When 1cm3 of water is boiled, 1600cm3 of steam is produced. Starting from the density of water (1gcm-3),
use this information to calculate the density of steam.

5) 7000 kg of a substance take up a space of 2 ∙ 0 m3. Work out its relative density.

6) The relative density of sea water is 1 ∙ 03. A tank holds 20m3 of sea water. Calculate the mass of liquid in it.