EDEN UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES

11-02-2021
TUTORIAL SHEET 1
COURSE CODE: NSC 1120
1.
a) State the difference between precision and accuracy
b) Would you consider the results you obtain during an experiment in the laboratory to be
accurate or precise? Explain.
c) What type of error is most likely to be encountered during the weighing of NaOH pellets
by the use of defected balance?
d) How would you minimize the error suggested in (c) above during the operation?
2. How many significant figures in each of the following:
a) 34.64076
b) 0.003059
c) 5010.0
d) 8032.090
e) 16000.
f) 2.08x10-5
g) 7.305000
h) 18000
3. Solve the following using the correct number of significant figures.
a) 36.02 – 0.4 -15
b) 0.004 + 3.5198+ 0.0118
c) 34.683+ 58.930 + 6835112
d) 34.05 -2.4 -0.02
e) 1.05 x10-4 ÷ 5.136
f) 2.567 x 9.8 ÷ 276.18
4. Convert the following measurements to the units stated.
a) 3.80 m to cm
b) 2.0 nm to m
c) 80 m/s to km/h
d) 1600 m-1 to cm-1
e) 69 μm to nm
f) 600 cm to μm
g) 300 pm to nm
h) 1.60 dm to μm
5. The speed limit on many highways in Zambia is 100 km/h. What would be posted in m/s?
6. Define the following terms:
a). Random error
b). Systematic error