Senior High School

General Physics 1
Quarter 1 - Module 1
Units, Physical Quantities and
Measurements
General Physics 1- Grade 12
Alternative Delivery Mode
Quarter 1 - Module 1: Units, Physical Quantities and Measurements
First Edition, 2020

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 Senior High School

General Physics 1
Quarter 1 - Module 1:
Units, Physical Quantities and Measurements

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 Table of Contents

What This Module is About ........................................................................................................................i

What I Need to Know ...................................................................................................................................i
How to Learn from this Module ............................................................................................................... ii
Icons of this Module .................................................................................................................................... ii

What I Know ................................................................................................................................................. iii

First Quarter
Lesson 1: Unit Conversion and Scientific Notation
What I Need to Know ..................................................................................................... 1
What’s In: Check It Out! ................................................................................................ 2
What’s New: Pass the Message ................................................................................ 3
What Is It: Learning Concept: Scientific Notation ............................................. 4
Significant Figures ........................................... 5
What’s More: Exercises .............................................................................................. 6

What Is It: Learning Concepts: Unit Conversion ................................................. 7-9

What’s More: Exercises ............................................................................................... 10

What I Have Learned:.................................................................................................... 11
What I Can Do: Performance Task and Enrichment Activity ............................ 12
Sample Format for the Performance task……………………13-14

Lesson 2: Accuracy and Precision

What’s In ............................................................................................................................ 15
What I Need to Know ..................................................................................................... 15
What’s New ....................................................................................................................... 16

What Is It: Learning Concepts: Accuracy & Precision ........................................ 17-18

What’s More: Data Analysis ........................................................................................ 19

What I Have Learned:.................................................................................................... 20

Assessment: (Post-Test) ................................................................................................. 21

Key to Answers .......................................................................................................................................... 22
Appendices A &B ..................................................................................................................................... 23
References .................................................................................................................................................. 24
 Module 1
Units, Physical Quantities and
Measurements

What This Module is About

This module demonstrates your understanding and skill in solving

measurement problems involving conversion of units as well as expressing it in
scientific notation. Since Physics and measurement are inseparable, measurement
entails accuracy and precision. This module emphasizes the difference of the two,
accuracy and precision, and its equal importance in taking measurement.

This module will help you explore the basic concepts on topics that will help
you solve measurement problems in the succeeding topics in Physics.

This module has two (2) lessons:

 Lesson 1- Unit Conversion and Scientific Notation
 Lesson 2- Accuracy and Precision

What I Need to Know

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. Solve measurement problems involving conversion of units, expression of

measurements in scientific notation (STEM_G-12EU-Ia-1)

2. Differentiate accuracy from precision (STEM_G-12EU-Ia-2)

How to Learn from this Module

To achieve the learning competencies cited above, you are to do the following:
• Take your time reading the lessons carefully.
• Follow the directions and/or instructions in the activities and exercises diligently.
• Answer all the given tests and exercises.

Icons of this Module

What I Need to This part contains learning objectives that

Know are set for you to learn as you go along the
module.

What I know This is an assessment as to your level of

knowledge to the subject matter at hand,
meant specifically to gauge prior related
knowledge
What’s In This part connects previous lesson with that
of the current one.

What’s New An introduction of the new lesson through

various activities, before it will be presented
to you

What is It These are discussions of the activities as a

way to deepen your discovery and under-
standing of the concept.

What’s More These are follow-up activities that are in-

tended for you to practice further in order to
master the competencies.

What I Have Activities designed to process what you

Learned have learned from the lesson

What I can do These are tasks that are designed to show-

case your skills and knowledge gained, and
applied into real-life concerns and situations.
 What I Know

MULTIPLE CHOICE:

Directions: Read and understand each item and choose the letter of the correct answer.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Which of the following is equivalent to half a meter?

A. 500 𝑐𝑚 B. 50 𝑐𝑚 C. 100 𝑚𝑚 D. 10 𝑚𝑚

2. A book has a mass of 500 𝑔, how many kilograms does it weigh?

A. 5 𝑘𝑔 B. 1 𝑘𝑔 C. 0.5 𝑘𝑔 D. 0.25 𝑘𝑔

3. Which of the following has the smallest value?

A. 29 𝑐𝑚 B. 0. 0025 𝑘𝑚 C. 4.5 × 10−3 𝑚 D. 10,000 𝑚𝑚
4. The average thickness of the leg of an ant is 0.035 𝑐𝑚. How many millimeters is this?
A. 35 𝑚𝑚 B. 3.5 𝑚𝑚 C. 0.0035 𝑚𝑚 D. 0.35 𝑚𝑚
5. Which of the following relationships of quantities is TRUE?
A. 200 𝑔 = 0.2 𝑘𝑔 C. 1 𝑘𝑔 < 900 𝑔
B. 5 000 𝑔 > 5 𝑘𝑔 D. 0.5 𝑘𝑔 = 5 000 𝑔

6. Which of the following is the BEST example of a number expressed in scientific

notation?
A. 15.2 × 102 C. 0.71 × 10−2
B. 8.43 × 103 D. 0.039 × 10−3

7. What is 7.236 × 10−3 written in standard form?

A. 72.36 B. 0.7236 C. 0.007236 D. 0.07236

8. The speed of light in a vacuum is about 299, 800, 000 𝑚/𝑠. Which of the following
values in scientific notation is its equivalent?
A. 2.998 × 106 𝑚/𝑠 C. 2.998 × 108 𝑚/𝑠
B. 2.998 × 107 𝑚/𝑠 D. 2.998 × 109 𝑚/𝑠

9. MOR radio station in Cagayan de Oro city operates at a frequency of 91.9 Mega
Hertz. What is 91.9 × 106 𝐻𝑧 written in standard form?
A. 9, 190, 000 𝐻𝑧 C. 919, 000, 000 𝐻𝑧
B. 91, 900, 000 𝐻𝑧 D. 9, 190, 000, 000 𝐻𝑧

10. Which of the following is equal to 0.051 × 10−3 ?

A. 5.1 × 10−1 B. 5.1 × 10−4 C. 5.1 × 10−5 D. 5.1 × 10−6
 Lesson
Unit Conversion and
1 Scientific Notation

What I Need to Know

Physics is an experimental science. Experiments are performed in order to test

hypotheses. Experiments are also performed to measure physical quantities. Physical
quantities can be expressed in terms of a number of fundamental quantities. Mass,
distance, and time are some examples of fundamental quantities. A physical quantity will
only make sense if compared to a standard reference. For example, a 3.5 𝑚 cloth you
bought from Everbest Store means that the cloth’s length is 3.5 times longer compared to a
meter stick (or a tape measure that is 1m long). Here, the meter stick is considered as our
standard reference. Therefore, stating that the cloth is 3.5 is not informative per se.

Look at the figure to the right. How difficult will it be in giving

a mental picture without a standard reference?

To make sure that scientist throughout the world means the

same thing when referring to a measurement; standards have been
defined for measurements of time, mass and length.

In this lesson, you are to solve measurement problems

involving conversion of units, and expression of measurements in
scientific notation.
 What’s In

You have learned in Grade 11 Chemistry about the rules of significant figures. Recall
that significant figures of a number written in positional notation are digits that carry
meaningful contributions to its measurement resolution.

Check It Out!

Determine the number of significant figures of the values given below:

1. 0.0025  ___________
2. 12. 00030  ___________
3. 3.1416  ___________
4. 20.20  ___________
5. 0. 4  ___________

Rules in determining the number of significant figure: (A short recall)

1. All nonzero digits are significant.

2. All zeros between nonzero digits are significant.
3. All zeros before the first nonzero digit are NOT significant.
4. All zeros to the right of the last nonzero digit are significant.

This concept which you learned in your previous science subject will be used in our
entire topic involving measurement. Thus, it is important to remember and apply these rules.
 What’s New ( more logical if sample situation involved the use of lengthy digits to suit
the LC)

PASS THE MESSAGE

A. Situation:

You received a text message from your service “You are nearing the
provider as shown in the screen of your cellular phone. end of your payment
period and you only
You need to send the message below but the have one text message
message is too long to send as one text message. left before you go over
Shorten this to create the shortest text message possible. the limit!”

“Hi Kayla! Today, I got drenched in the rain while

walking home from school since I forgot to bring my
umbrella. I can’t believe it! My bag wasn’t zipped all the
way. When I got home all my papers got soaked.
I cannot read our homework to be passed tomorrow.
Kindly send it to me. Thank you so much!”

Write you message in the space provide in the screen of your cellular phone below.

_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
_______________________________
 What Is It

Physical quantities vary from very large numbers (e.g. the speed of light in a vacuum
= 299, 800, 000 𝑚/𝑠) to very small numbers (length of a certain wavelength of visible light of
0.0000004 𝑚). For scientists and students like you writing large or very small numbers can
be a waste of time, energy and even your resources like ink and paper.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation, also called exponential notation, is a convenient way of writing

values using the power of ten notation wherein we can determine the number of significant
digits as well as the place value of the digit. Place values are denoted by prefixes. (See
appendix A for the SI prefixes found in the last page of this lesson)

Format: 𝐶. 𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀𝑀 × 10𝑒

where: 𝐶- the characteristic digit, may be any digit from 0-9

𝑀– the mantissa digits, may be any digit from 0-9
10 – base
𝑒– exponent, the number of times the decimal point is moved to either
towards left or right

Rules in expressing standard notation to scientific notation:

1. When the decimal point is moved from right to left, the result is positive exponent.
Example: 7806. 123 = 7. 806123 × 103 = 7.81 × 103

2. When the decimal point is moved left to right, the result is negative exponent.
Example: 0.00007806123 = 7.806123 × 10−5 = 7.81 × 10−5

Rules converting scientific notation back to standard notation are shown below.

1. Move the current decimal point according to the number of places based on the
exponent
(+) positive exponent : move to the RIGHT
Example:

(−) negative exponent : move to the LEFT

Example:
Rules in Addition and Subtraction involving scientific notation

1. When two or more quantities are added or subtracted, make sure the exponents are
the same.
[𝐼𝑓 𝑛𝑜𝑡, 𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑠𝑒 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑎𝑑𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑐𝑖𝑚𝑎𝑙 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑥𝑝𝑜𝑛𝑒𝑛𝑡. 𝑈𝑠𝑒 𝐿𝐴𝑅𝑆 (𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝐴𝑑𝑑, 𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡)]

2. Add/subtract the number. Keep the exponent the same.

Example:
(a) (6.2 × 103 ) + (1.74 × 103 ) = (6.2 + 1.74) × 103 = 7.94 × 103

(b) (7.1 × 103 ) + (5.2 × 105 ) = (0.071 × 105 ) + (5.2 × 105 ) = 5.271 × 105

- 𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝐴𝑑𝑑, 𝑅𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑆𝑢𝑏𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑡 𝑜𝑟 𝐿𝐴𝑅𝑆 (here we will adjust 7.1 × 103 to have
an exponent of 105 )
-From 103 𝑡𝑜 105 , we will move two decimal places to the left since we
added two to the exponent, that becomes 0.071 × 105

Rules in Multiplication and Division involving scientific notation

1. Powers of ten are added in multiplication
Example: (1.50 × 102 ) (1.20 × 103 ) = (1.50)(1.20) × 102+3 = 1.80 × 105

2. Powers of ten are subtracted in division

1.50×102 1.50
Example: = (1.20) × 102−3 = 1.25 × 10−1
1.20×103

Significant Figures

1. In adding or subtracting quantities, the least number of decimal places in any of the
numbers being added or subtracted should also be the number of the decimal places
in the answer.
Example:
2.15 𝑚 (two decimal places)
+ 1.8 𝑚 (one decimal place) → LEAST
0.4367 𝑚 (four decimal places)

4.7 𝑚 (ONE decimal place)

2. In multiplying or dividing quantities, the least number of significant figures in the input
number should also be the number of significant figures in the answer.
Example:
(four significant figures)
10.58 𝑐𝑚
x 2.14 𝑐𝑚 (three significant figures) (LEAST)

(three significant figures)

𝟐𝟐. 𝟔 𝒄𝒎𝟐
 What’s More

Exercises: Choose the best answer. Write you answers on a separate sheet of
paper.

1. Apply the rules in identifying the number of significant figures in each of the following:
(a) 0. 00054 (d) 0. 016500
(b) 830 (e) 32.0040
(c) 356, 000 (f) 5.130 × 105

2. Express the following numbers in scientific notation: (Answers should include three
significant figures)
(a) 65, 000 (c) 2, 450, 000
(b) 0. 001327 (d) 0. 00001997

3. Perform the indicated operations: (All answers should be expressed in scientific

notation. Apply the rules for significant figures in your final answer.)

(a) (4.0 × 10−6 ) × (3.0 × 104 ) =

(b) (32 × 106 ) − (2 × 107 ) =

(𝟑×𝟏𝟎𝟖 )(𝟖×𝟏𝟎𝟒 )
(c) =
(𝟔×𝟏𝟎𝟓 )

(d) 0.868 𝑘𝑔 + 2.35 𝑘𝑔 − 21.5 𝑘𝑔 =

(e) (3.25 𝑚)(2.1 𝑚) =

4. Convert the given standard notation below to scientific notation. Then, perform the
indicated operation. Apply the rules for significant figures in your final answer.

150, 000 × 0.0025 × 20

=
3, 000, 000 × 0.015 × 150
 What Is It

Unit Consistency and Conversion of Units

There are two major systems of units in the world namely; SI (derived from French
Systeme International) units also known as Metric system and the English system.
Although the system of units used by engineers and scientists is the metric system since
1960, some countries continue to adapt the English system of units like for example the
United States of America. However, the conversions between the SI unit and English system
of units have been well-defined. (See appendix B found in the last page of this lesson for
conversion factors)

Multiplying and/or dividing units just like ordinary algebraic expressions give an easy
way to convert a quantity from one unit to another to be dimensionally consistent.

Example:

(a) To convert 0.58 𝑚 to 𝑚𝑚

Conversion factor to be used: 1𝑚 = 1 000 𝑚𝑚

1000 𝑚𝑚
0.28 𝑚 × = 280 𝑚𝑚
1𝑚

(b) To convert 90 𝑘𝑚/ℎ in meters per second

Conversion factors to be used:

1𝑘𝑚 = 1, 000 𝑚 1 ℎ𝑟 = 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛 = 60 𝑠

𝑘𝑚 1000 𝑚 1ℎ 1 𝑚𝑖𝑛
90 × × × = 25 𝑚⁄𝑠
ℎ 1 𝑘𝑚 60 𝑚𝑖𝑛 60 𝑠

𝑘𝑔 𝑔
(c) To convert 50 𝑚3 to 𝑐𝑚3

Conversion factors to be used:

1 𝑘𝑔 = 1000 𝑔 1 𝑚 = 100 𝑐𝑚

𝑘𝑔 1000 𝑔 1𝑚 3 𝑔
50 3 × ×[ ] = 0.05 ⁄ 3
𝑚 1 𝑘𝑔 100 𝑐𝑚 𝑐𝑚
(d) Converting units with different prefixes (See appendix A for the SI prefixes found
in the last page of this lesson)

(i.) Example: convert 5 Megameter to meter

5 𝑀𝑚 → 𝑚𝑒𝑔𝑎 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 106

5 𝑀𝑚 = 5 × 106 𝑚

(ii.) Example: convert 7 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠 to 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑚𝑠

7 𝑚𝑔 → 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖 𝑚𝑒𝑎𝑛𝑠 10−3 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒

7 𝑚𝑔=7 × 10−3 𝑔

(iii.) Example: 5 𝑘𝑚 to 𝑐𝑚
kilo means 103 so, 5 𝑘𝑚 = 5 × 103 𝑚

1 𝑐𝑚 = 1 × 10−2 𝑚
1 𝑐𝑚
(5 × 103 𝑚) × = 5 × 105 𝑐𝑚 𝑜𝑟 500, 000 𝑐𝑚
1×10−2 𝑚

* ANOTHER way to do this: 5 𝑘𝑚 to 𝑐𝑚

Step 1: subtract exponents
*kilo has exponent of 103 and centi has exponent of 10−2

3 subtract -2 =5

from kilo to centi

Step 2: move decimal places according to difference of exponents to the direction of
wanted unit.

* move the decimal 5 places to the right (toward centi)

5 𝑘𝑚 = 5 0 0 0 0 0 𝑐𝑚 or 5 × 105 𝑐𝑚

5 decimal places to the right

 (iv.) Example: 384.0 𝑚𝑔 to 𝑑𝑔
milli means 10−3 so, 384.0 𝑚𝑔 = 384.0 × 10−3 𝑔

conversion factor (See appendix A for the SI prefixes found in the last page of
this lesson) 1𝑑𝑔 = 0.1 𝑔

1 𝑑𝑔
(384.0 × 10−3 𝑔) × = 3. 840 𝑑𝑔
0.1 𝑔

* ANOTHER way to do this: 384.0 𝑚𝑔 to 𝑑𝑔

Step 1: subtract exponents
*milli has exponent of 10−3 and deci has exponent of 10−1

-1 − -3 =2

deci milli
Step 2: move decimal places according to difference of exponents to the direction of
wanted unit.

* move the decimal 2 places to the left (toward deci)

384.0 𝑚𝑔 = 3. 8 4 0 𝑑𝑔

2 decimal places to the left

 What’s More

Exercises: Write you answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Below are the given measurements, convert as indicated.

(a) 365 𝑑𝑎𝑦𝑠 into 𝑚𝑖𝑛

(b) 94.3 𝑀𝐻𝑧 into 𝑘𝐻𝑧

(c) 450 𝑐𝑚2 into 𝑘𝑚2

(d) 72 𝑛𝑚 into 𝑚𝑚

(e) 130 𝑚𝑖/ℎ into 𝑘𝑚/𝑠

(f) 40.0 𝐿 to 𝜇𝐿

(g) 5 𝜇𝐿 to 𝑚𝐿

2. Indicate which is greater (>) or lesser (<) by writing the correct symbol. If the
quantities are equal write (=). Show your solution.

(a) 50 𝑑𝑚 _____ 0.005 𝑚𝑚

(b) 0.03 𝑀𝑔 _____ 30 𝑘𝑔

(c) 7.8𝑥102 𝑛𝑚 _____ 0.78𝑥107 𝜇𝑚

(d) 2/3 𝑘𝑚 _____ 1/5 𝑀𝑚

 What I Have Learned

I. General Instruction: Solve the following measurement problems involving

conversion of units. Write your answer in a separate sheet of paper, showing
complete solution, from standard notation to scientific notation

1. Joeff, who is an exchange student from Germany, is studying in the United States.
He wishes to buy a new pair of jeans, but the sizes are all in inches. If his waist size
is 85 𝑐𝑚, what is its waist size in 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠?

2. The total area of the alveoli in the human lung is about 70𝑚2 .What is the area in
(a) 𝑐𝑚2
(b) 𝑖𝑛2

3. A Chevrolet Camaro convertible travels along the highway at a speed of 128 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
What is it the speed of the car (a) in 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 𝑠𝑒𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑? (b) in 𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑠 𝑝𝑒𝑟 ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑟?

4. The Spirochetes, contain very thin bacteria with some species having cell diameters
of about 0.15𝜇𝑚.What is its diameter in 𝑛𝑎𝑛𝑜𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠?

5. A government owned land will be set converted as a new wildlife refuge. Its
dimensions are 5 × 105 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠 by 4 × 104 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠. Find the area of the land in
𝑠𝑞𝑢𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑚𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑠.

II. Check your understanding!

1. Explain the importance of a standard measurement.

2. What’s the advantage(s) of writing quantities in scientific notation?

 What I Can Do

Name: ______________________________

Date Performed: ______________________

Performance Task #1:

Measurement

Objective(s):
 Use appropriate measuring tool to take the measurement of physical
quantities such as height and weight.
 Convert the values to its equivalent units.
 Apply the rules of significant figures.

1. Measure the height (𝑚) and mass (𝑘𝑔) of your family member using
appropriate measuring tool.
2. Fill up the table data and results. Use conversion factor for the equivalent
conversion.

3. Provide pictures on this task you performed.

Data and Results:

Name of your HEIGHT MASS

family
members *Measuring instrument used: *Measuring instrument used:
__________________________ ___________________________________
𝑚 𝑐𝑚 ft 𝑘𝑔 𝑔 𝑙𝑏
Solution: (This is for the conversion of units)
Documentation: (Pictures)

Enrichment Activity: Practice exercises!

Refer to Appendix A for the SI prefixes found in the last page of this lesson. Fill-in the
blanks with the correct values to justify the relationship of the quantities given. Write your
answer on a separate sheet of paper.

1. 15 𝑝𝑚 = _________ 𝑚 6. 0.005 𝑘𝑔 = ________ 𝑐𝑔

2. 25 𝑚𝑚 = ________ 𝑐𝑚 7. 60 𝑚𝑔 = ________ 𝑔

3. 90 𝑑𝑚 = ________ 𝑚 8. 100 L = ________ mL

4. 9.8 ℎ𝑚 = ________ 𝑑𝑚 9. 5, 000 𝑚𝐿 ________ 𝑘𝐿

5. 35 𝑔 = ________ 𝑚𝑔 10. 0.88 𝑘𝑙 = ________ 𝐿

 Lesson
Accuracy and Precision
2
What’s In

In lesson 1, you have learned how to express very large and small physical quantities
into scientific notation applying the number of significant figures. You also learned solving
measurement problems involving conversion of units.

In lesson 2, you will learn the definition of two important terms when we talk about
measurements; accuracy and precision as well as its importance. You will also familiarize
measuring instruments of varying precision and its advantage.

What I Need to Know

Often times, accuracy and precision are used interchangeably. However, these two
terms mean different things. As what you have learned in the previous topic, physicists
perform experiments and these experiments involve measurements. It is important to be
both accurate and precise in taking scientific measurements.

Why do you think it is important to be both accurate and precise in measurement?

Can you think of situations encountered in daily life that need to be accurate and precise?
What do you think will happen if measurements are in accurate and less precise?

In this lesson, you are to differentiate accuracy from precision.

 What’s New

General Instruction: Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.

I. Study the image below. The bull’s-eye represents the accepted true value. Each
cross represents a repeated measurement of the same quantity. Inside the box,
choose its descriptions ( A to D) that describe each of the figures.

A. Precise and Accurate C. Not accurate but precise

B. Accurate but not precise D. Not accurate and not precise

Figure 1 Figure 2

Figure 3 Figure 4

II. (1) What is your basis of your choices in describing the figures above?

(2) What is your idea about accuracy? How about precision?

 What Is It

Accuracy and precision in measurements are important in many aspects of the world;
may it be in the field of research, medicine, electronics/technology, manufacturing, and
among others. Take for example, inaccurate dose of medicine may harm patient. In the
same way, inaccurate measurements used in appliances for example may cause it to
explode, even might spark fire that will cause harm to humans and properties. Even a
difference of 0.01 accuracy and precision might lead to undesirable results.

Accuracy refers to the closeness of the measurement to the true value or accepted
value. On the other hand, precision refers to the closeness among several measurements
that have been obtained in the same way. Let us differentiate accuracy and precision in the
context of a basketball player playing the game. We can say that a basketball player has a
high degree of accuracy if the player always makes a score even though he strikes in
different positions of the rim. However, if he does not make many baskets but always strikes
in the same position of the rim, then he has high degree of precision but not accurate. This
concept is also the same with the figures shown in the previous activity showing targets on a
dart board.

To better understand accuracy and precision of measurements, consider the

example below.

Example:

You weigh the new golf ball five times or five trials. The results are as follows:
45.89 𝑔, 45.91 𝑔, 46.00 𝑔, 45. 94 𝑔, 45. 90 𝑔. The accepted value for the mass of a new golf
ball is 45.93 𝑔.

Observe that the average of the five values from five trials is close to the accepted
value. Therefore, the measurement has high accuracy. If we consider the individual
measurements, observed that it agree among the five measurements. Therefore, we can say
that the measurements are precise.

To ensure high accuracy and precision, one consideration is using appropriate

measuring instruments designed to fit the purpose. For example; if you want to measure a
piece of wood, tape measure is suitable. But if you are going to use a tape measure in
measuring smaller objects, do you think it will yield an accurate and precise measurement?
Do you expect an accurate and precise measurement if you will use a ruler in measuring the
eternal diameter of a thin wire?

Let us familiarize three measuring instruments (as shown below), its advantages and
its precision.

A ruler can measure longer/larger

objects. The smallest scale division
is 1𝑚𝑚 or 0.1 𝑐𝑚.
 A vernier caliper allows to measure
length including outside
dimensions, inside dimensions and
depth of smaller objects with more
precision and accuracy. It can
measure up to 0.01 𝑚𝑚 or 𝑡𝑒𝑛𝑡ℎ
decimal place in 𝑚𝑚 which makes
it good to use in small and precise
measurements.

Micrometer is used to make

accurate measurements of the
thickness of a sheet of paper and
the external diameter of thin wires.
It can measure up to 0.001 𝑚𝑚 or
ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑑𝑡ℎ decimal place in 𝑚𝑚.

Study the picture of scale A and

scale B on the right. Which scale is
more accurate?

Why do you say so?

 What’s More: Data Analysis

General Instruction: Analyze the measurement data set provided and describe the data
set in terms of accuracy and precision.

Coin diameter

A gold coin has an ‘accepted’ diameter of 28.054 mm.

Two students are asked to measure the diameter of four gold coins. Student A used a simple
plastic ruler. Student B used a precision measuring tool called a micrometer.

Student A – plastic ruler Student B – micrometer

27.9 mm 28.246 mm
28.0 mm 28.244 mm
27.8 mm 28.246 mm
28.1 mm 28.248 mm

1. Calculate the average value for each set of measurements

Student A – plastic ruler Student B – micrometer

2. Compare the average value for each set with the accepted value:

 Which student’s data is more accurate? Justify your answer.

 Which student’s data is more precise? Justify your answer.

3. Explain any odd findings:

(Adopted from http://sciencelearn.org.z)

 What I Have Learned

Check your understanding! Answer the following questions. Write your

explanation on a separate sheet of paper.

1. Is there a difference in the accuracy of measurements of the reading if the

units used vary? Why?

2. Up to what precise measure could each instrument be read?

3. Which of these three measuring devices:ruler, verner caliper and micrometer

is the most versatile? Justify your answer.

4. The smallest unit on a ruler is 1mm. Two students measured the width of a
wooden block and recorded them as 5.25 cm and 5.27 cm. Analyze the data
gathered. Are these two equally precise? Write your comment.

5. Can measurements be accurate but not precise? Justify your answer by citing
a specific example.

6. Two students, John and Jay are given a small cylinder of aluminium of known
mass and asked to determine its density. (The ‘accepted’ density of
aluminium is 2.702 g/cm3.) Since density is mass/volume, the students need
to calculate the volume of the cylinder. The height and diameter of the
cylinder need to be measured in order to calculate its volume

John is told to use a simple plastic ruler and to make four independent
measurements for each dimension. Jay is told to use a precision measuring
tool called a micrometer.

John – plastic ruler Jay – micrometer

2.2 g/cm3 2.703 g/cm3
2.3 g/cm3 2.701 g/cm3
2.7 g/cm3 2.705 g/cm3
2.4 g/cm3 5.811 g/cm3

a. Which student’s data is more accurate? Cite factor(s) that might affect the
measurement’s accuracy.

b. Which student’s data is more precise? Cite factor(s) that might affect the
measurement’s precision.
 Assessment: (Post-Test)

Direction: Select the letter of your choice and write it in UPPER CASE written on a separate
sheet of paper.

1. What is the sum of 281.45 𝑔, 361.1 𝑔, and 5.301 𝑔? Apply rules in significant figures.
A. 648.9 𝑔 C. 648.850 𝑔
B. 648.85 𝑔 D. 648. 1 𝑔

2. You are using an electronic stop watch in one of your experiments in Physics. The
digital reading displays along with accuracy to how may second?
A. 0.01 𝑠 C. 0.10 𝑠
B. 0.1 𝑠 D. 1 𝑠

3. The density of aluminium is 2.7 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚3 . An experiment in the laboratory was

performed to measure the density of the material. The data in the choices below
came from the four groups who performed. Which of the following measurements is
most accurate?
A. 2.068 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚3 C. 2.709 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚3
3
B. 2.698 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚 D. 2. 721 𝑔⁄𝑐𝑚3

4. The diameter of a certain virus is 0. 0000002 𝑚 as viewed under a microscope. How

would this be expressed in scientific notation?
A. 2.0 × 106 𝑚 C. 2.0 × 10−7 𝑚
−6
B. 2.0 × 10 𝑚 D. 2.0 × 107 𝑚

5. Rio de Grande river has a total length of 505 𝑘𝑚. What is this length in 𝑚?
A. 50, 500 𝑚 C. 5.05 × 105 𝑚
B. 5, 050, 000 𝑚 D. 5.05 × 107

6. A foreigner is driving his car along North Luzon Express way (NLEX) at a speed of
60 𝑚𝑖/ℎ. Can he be charged off over speeding considering the maximum speed
along this express way is 100 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
A. Yes, because 60 𝑚𝑖/ℎ is beyond the maximum speed of 100 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
B. No, because 60 𝑚𝑖/ℎ is less than the maximum speed of 100 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
C. No, because 60 𝑚𝑖/ℎ is jus equal to the maximum speed of 100 𝑘𝑚/ℎ.
D. Not enough data is given to determine if he is over speeding or not.

7. Which of the following sets of measurements are precise?

A. 1.50 mm, 1.72 mm, 1. 09 mm, 1. 84 mm
B. 0.9 cm, 0.95 cm, 0.80 cm, 0.63 cm
C. 1.20 m, 1.02 m, 0.97 m, 1. 42 m
D. 0.84 dm, 0.85, 0.82, 0.83

8. Which of the following relationships of quantities is NOT true?

A. 2 𝑀𝑚 = 2 × 106 𝑚 C. 10𝑚𝑔 = 1 𝑑𝑔
B. 5 𝑚𝑔 = 0.005g D. 8𝐺𝑚 = 8 × 109 𝑚
9. Which of the following values is equivalent to 0.150 𝑚?
A. 150 𝑚𝑚 C. 15 𝑑𝑚
B. 150 𝑐𝑚 D. 1 500 𝜇𝑚
10. What is 7.5 millimeters expressed in centimeters?
A. 0.075 𝑐𝑚 B. 7.5 𝑐𝑚 C. 0.75 𝑐𝑚 D. 75 𝑐𝑚

Assessment:

Key to Answers

A. Pre-test
1. B
2. C
3. C
4. D
5. A
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. B
10. C

B. Post test

1. A
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. D
8. C
9. A
10. C
 APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. Prefixes Used with SI Units

APPENDIX B. Conversion Factor

Length Mass

1𝑚 = 100 𝑐𝑚 = 1 000𝑚𝑚 1 𝑘𝑔 = 103 𝑔 = 0.0685 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔

1𝑘𝑚 = 1 000 𝑚 = 0.6214 𝑚𝑖 1𝑔 = 6.85 × 10−5 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔
1𝑚 = 3.281 𝑓𝑡 = 39.37 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑠𝑙𝑢𝑔 = 14.59 𝑘𝑔
1 𝑐𝑚 = 0.3937 𝑖𝑛 1 𝑘𝑔 ℎ𝑎𝑠 𝑎 𝑤𝑒𝑖𝑔ℎ𝑡 𝑜𝑓 2.205 𝑙𝑏 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑔
1 𝑖𝑛 = 2.540 𝑐𝑚 = 9.8 𝑚⁄𝑠 2
1 𝑓𝑡 = 30.38 𝑐𝑚
1𝑦𝑑 = 91.44 𝑐𝑚
1 𝑚𝑖 = 5280 𝑓𝑡 = 1.609 𝑘𝑚
References

Manuals/Modules

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_-_accuracy_and_precision.pdf.
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