Lab 1:

The Science of Measurement

Objective
▪ To review on basic knowledge in dealing with measurements.
▪ To recall basic mathematical laws in conducting experiments.

Introduction
Physics is a science in which mathematical laws are tested by experiment [1]. Physicists perform experiments
to test hypotheses about how changing one variable in a situation affects another variable [2]. The accurate analysis
of such experiments requires numerical measurements [2]. The laboratory is a workshop where physicists get firsthand
knowledge of physical principles and experimental method [3].

When scientists do research, they must communicate the results of their experiments with each other and
agree on a system of units for their measurements [2]. However, not every observation can be described using one of
these units, but the units can be combined to form derived units [2]. Derived units are formed by combining the seven
base units with multiplication or division [2]. Sometimes it is necessary to convert units from one measurement system
to another or convert within a system [4] (from kilometers to meters).

Example
An object has a density of 80.0 pounds per cubic foot. Express its density in grams per cubic
centimeter.

Solution
𝑙𝑏 𝑙𝑏 453.6 𝑔 1 𝑓𝑡 3 1 𝑚3 36288 𝑔
80.0 3
= 80.0 3
× × 3
× 6 3
=
𝑓𝑡 𝑓𝑡 1 𝑙𝑏 0.02832 𝑚 10 𝑐𝑚 28320 𝑐𝑚3

Uncertainty and Significant Figures. All measurements are affected by errors [5] and uncertainties. Measured
values are known only to within the limits of experimental uncertainty [1]. The accuracy of an experiment depends upon
a number of factors or conditions many of which are not easily ascertained [5]. It is the degree of agreement between
the experimental result and the true value [6]. The uncertainty or error of a measured value depends on the
measurement technique used [7]. In many cases the uncertainty of a number is not stated explicitly [7]. Instead, the
uncertainty is indicated by the number of meaningful digits, or significant figures, in the measured value [7]. Significant
figures are digits required to express a number to the same accuracy as the measurement it represents [3]. The number
of significant figures in a measurement, like for example, 2.531, is equal to the number of digits that are known with
some degree of confidence (2, 5, and 3) plus the last digit (1), which is an estimate or approximation. As we improve
the sensitivity of the equipment used to make a measurement, the number of significant figures increases.

Postage Scale 31g 1 significant figures

Two-pan balance 2.53  0.01 g 3 significant figures
Analytical balance 2.531  0.001 g 4 significant figures
 RULES FOR COUNTING SIGNIFICANT FIGURES [8]

1 All nonzero digits are significant.

2 All zeroes between two nonzero digits are significant.
3 Zeroes to the right of a nonzero digit but to the left of an understood decimal point are not significant unless
indicated to be significant. A bar on top of the zero up to which you wish to consider, may be used.
4 All zeroes to the right of a decimal point but to the left of a nonzero digit are not significant.
5 All zeroes to the right of a decimal point and following a nonzero digit are significant.
6 All exponential numbers have no effect on the number of significant figures.

In adding or subtracting quantities, the number of places in the result should equal the smallest number of decimal
places of any term in the equation [1].

Example
150.0 g H2O (using significant figures)
+ 0.507 g salt
150.5 g solution

In multiplying or dividing quantities, the number of significant figures in the final answer is the same as the number of
significant figures in the least accurate of the quantities being multiplied, where “least accurate” means “having the
lowest number of significant figures” [1].

Example
1.000 𝑙𝑏
2.531 𝑔 × = 0.005580 𝑙𝑏
453.6 𝑔

Rounding-off Numbers.

RULES FOR ROUNDING-OFF NUMBERS [8]

1 In rounding-off numbers, the last figures kept should be unchanged if the first figure dropped is less than 5.
2 In rounding-off numbers, the last figure kept should be increased by 1 if the first figure dropped is greater
than 5.
3 In rounding-off numbers, if the first figure dropped is 5, and all the figures following the five are zero or if
there are no figures after 5, then the last figure kept should be unchanged if the last figure is even.
4 In rounding-off numbers, if the first figure dropped is 5, and all the figures following the fives are zero or if
there are no figures after the 5, then the last figure kept should be increased by 1 if the last figure is odd.
5 In rounding-off numbers, if the first figure dropped is 5, and there are any figures following the five that are
not zero, then the last figure kept should be increased by 1.

Scientific Notation. Handling very large or very small numbers is simplified by using scientific notation. In
this notation, the number is written as a product of a number between 1 and 10 and a power of 10, such as 10 2 (=100)
or 103 (=1000).

Example
1 12,000,000 = 1.2 x 107
 2 The distance from the earth to the sun, about 150,000,000,000 m, is written as 1.5 x 10 11 m.

The numbers 11 and 7 in the example above are called the exponent. For numbers smaller than 1, the exponent is
negative.

Example
3 0.1 = 10-1
4 0.0001 = 10-4

When numbers in scientific notation are multiplied, the exponents are added; when numbers are divided, the exponents
are subtracted.

Example
5 102 x 103 = 100 x 1000 = 100,000 = 102+3 = 105
102 100
6 = = 102−3 = 10−1
103 1000

In adding or subtracting numbers written in scientific notation when their exponents don’t match, rewrite either of the
numbers so that its powers of 10 is the same as that of the other.

Example
7 (1.200 x 102) + (8 x 10-1) = (1200 x 10-1) + (8 x 10-1) = 1208 x 10-1 = 120.8

When the exponents are different, that is, one of the numbers is much smaller than the other, the smaller number can
be neglected in addition or subtraction [9].

Example
8 (2 x 106) + (9 x 10-3) = 2,000,000 + 0.009 = 2,000,000.009  2 x 106

Density. The density, , of any substance is defined as its mass per unit volume [2].

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝐷𝑒𝑛𝑠𝑖𝑡𝑦 =
𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

𝑚
𝜌=
𝑉

This is determined by measuring the mass and volume of the substance and taking the ratio, m/V. For a regularly-
shaped object, the volume can be calculated using the formulas

4
𝑉= 𝜋 𝑟3 Sphere
3
𝑉 = 𝑙𝑤ℎ Rectangular block
𝑉 = 𝜋 𝑟2 ℎ Cylinder

References
1 Raymond A. Serway & Jerry S. Faughn. College Physics, 6th Edition. Brooks/Cole Pub. Co.. New York, USA. 2003.
2 Raymond A. Serway & Jerry S, Faughn. Physics. Holt, Rinehart & Wilson. Austin, Texas, USA. 2006.
3 Cicero H. Bernard & Chirold D. Epp. Laboratory Experiments in College Physics, 7 th Edition. John Wiley & Sons, Inc..
USA. 1995.
4 Raymond A. Serway. Physics for Scientists & Engineers, 6th Edition. Brooks/Cole Pub. Co.. New York, USA. 2003.
5 Arsenio R. Ronquillo & Bee-Ching U. Ong Kian Koc. Laboratory Manual for Physics 211 (Engineering). JMC Press, Inc.
2002.
6 Maville T. Alastre-Dizon, Katherine C. Malabanan & Donald B. Bautista. Science: Science and Technology for the Future
IV. Diwa Scholastic Press, Inc. 2004.
7 Hugh D. Young & Roger A. Freedman. Sears and Zemansky’s Univeristy Physics with Modern Physics, 11th Edition.
Pearson Addison-Wesley, California, USA. 2004.
8 Hideliza L. Portugal, et al. Science and Technology 4: Physics. Vibal Publishing House, Inc.. Quezon City, Philippines.
1997.
9 Paul Tipler & Gene Mosca. Physics for Scientists & Engineers, 5th Edition Extended Version. W.H. Freedman & Co.
California, USA. 1999.
Name: Score:
Course & Section: Date Performed:
Group Number: Date Submitted:
Name of Instructor:

Activity 1
Physics: The Science of Measurement
Laboratory Report

I. Direction: Complete the following table of equivalents.

1. 644 mm = 6. 676 cm3 =

cm mL

2. 0.865 m/s = 7. 52 g =
km/h kg

3. 856 cm = 8. 0.898 km/h2 =

km m/s2

4. 2.974 km/h = 9. 0.0000764 kg =

mi/h mg

5. 5.46 mL = 10. 112 ft =

L km

II. Direction: Write the number of significant figures there are in each of the following.

1. 64,400.00 = 6. 34,230,000 =

2. 12,950 = 7. 123.4500 =

3. 8.0124 = 8. 0.002140 =

4. 0.000523 = 9. 2.06 x 10-2 =

5. 5.006345 = 10. 213,840 =

III. Direction: Convert the following number in common notation to scientific notation, and convert numbers
in scientific notation to common notation.
1. 34,700 = 6. 4.004 x 10-4 =

2. 0.0000063 = 7. 7.003 x 107 =

3. 123.987 = 8. 1.744 x 10-6 =

4. 0.007527 = 9. 2.86 x 1012 =

5. 45,656 = 10. 8.678 x 10-2 =

IV. Direction: Round-off each of the following to the number of significant figures indicated.

5 4 3 2

1. 65.46426
2. 876,529,134
3. 354,256,875
4. 0.0853426
5. 4,876.23
V. Direction: Calculate the following, round-off to the correct number of significant figures, and express your
result in scientific notation. Show your solutions.

1. (5.6 x 10-5) (0.0000075) / (8.05 x 10-2) =

2. (14.2) (6.4 x 107) (8.2 x 10-9) – 4.06 =

3. (6.1 x 10-6)2 (3.6 x 104)3 / (3.6 x 10-11)1/2 =

 4. (0.000064)1/3 / [(12.8 x 10-3) (490 x 10-1)1/2] =

5. (3.74 x 10-8) + (3.81 x 10-9) =

VI. Problem Solving.

1 On many of the roads in Canada the speed limit is 100 km/h. What is the speed limit in miles per hour?

2 If you could count P1 per second, how many years would it take to count 1 billion pesos (1 billion = 109)?

3 A right circular cylinder has a diameter of 6.8 in and a height of 2 ft. What is the volume of the cylinder in (a)
cubic feet, (b) cubic meters, (c) liters?
4 A man uses his hand to measure the width of a tabletop. If his hand has a width of 12 cm at its widest point,
and he finds the tabletop to be 10.5 hands wide, what is the width of the tabletop in cm? in meters?

5 The United States uses about 550 billion barrels of oil a year. Express this rate in (a) gallons/s and (b) L/s.

6 A hydrogen atom is about 0.1 nm in diameter. How many hydrogen atoms lined up side-by-side would make
a line 1 cm long?

7 The diameter of a hydrogen atom is about 0.1 nm, and the diameter of a proton is about 1 fm. How much
bigger is a hydrogen atom than a proton?
8 The standard kilogram is a platinum-iridium cylinder 39.0 mm in height and 39.0 mm in diameter. What is the
density of the material?

9 One gallon of paint (volume = 3.78 x 10-3 m3) covers an area of 25.0 m2. What is the thickness of the paint on
the wall?

10 The mass of the Sun is about 1.99 x 1030 kg, and the mass of a hydrogen atom, of which the Sun is mostly
composed, is 1.67 x 10-27 kg. How many atoms are there in the Sun?