Topic 1.

1 – Measurements in physics Formative Assessment

NAME: _________________________________ TEAM:__
THIS IS A PRACTICE ASSESSMENT. Show formulas, substitutions, answers (in spaces provided) and units!
1. Find the difference in order of magnitude for the following comparison: The size of the atom to the
size of the nucleus. 5 orders of magnitude
1. _________________
-10 -14 -10 - -15 5
10 / 10 = 10 = 10 .

2. Find the order of magnitude for the following calculation: The time it takes light to transverse a
quark. 10-26 seconds
2. _________________
speed = distance / time so that time = distance / speed = 10-18 m / 108 ms-1 = 10-26 seconds.

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. C
3. ____
-2 2 -2 -1 -2 2 -2 -1
2
a. a = v / x ms = (m s )m [ OK] c. a=v /t2
ms = (m s )s [ NOT OK]
-1 -2 -2 -2 -1
b. v = at ms = (ms )(s) [OK] d. a=F/m ms = kgms kg [ OK ]

4. Convert 484 mi s h-1 to feet. Be sure to show each well-chosen one. 4. _________________
710. ft
( 484 mi s / h ) ( 5280 ft / mi )( 1 h / 3600 s) = 709.86666 ft.

5. Estimate how many kilograms are in a 225-pound man. 100. kg

5. _________________
( 225 lbs ) ( 1 kg / 2.2 lb ) = 102.2727 kg.

6. Using the technique of the well-chosen one, convert the quantity 125 km into its equivalent in mm.
( 125 km )( 1000 m / 1 km )( 1000 mm / 1 m ) = 125000000 mm.
1.25×108 mm
6. _________________
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. 10-6 s
7. _________________
2
( 315 ft) ( 1 m / 3 ft ) = 100 m = 10 m. Then speed = distance / time so that
time = distance / speed = 102 m / 108 ms-1 = 10-6 s.
8. Find the line’s length to the maximum number of significant figures allowed by the centimeter ruler.
8.51 cm to 8.53 cm8.
_________________ (85.1 mm to 85.3 mm)

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

(a) 0.0015 ___
2 (b) 0.15 ___
2 (c) 1.500 ___
4 (d) 1.0005 ___
5
(e) 1.00050 6
___ 5
(f) 0.00010000 ___ (g) 6.35106 3
___ (h) 16010-21 2
___

10. Compute the following quantities to the correct number of significant figures.
(a) 5.0000  2 (b) 5.0000  2.0 (c) 2.510-2 – 2.5 (d) 2.510-2 – 2.50
10
_____________ 10.
_____________ -2.5
_____________ -2.48
_____________
(e) 2.510-2 – 2.500 (f) 5.0000  2 (g) 2.510-2 -  (h) 2.5010-2  4.50
-2.475 3 -3.117 0.0056
_____________ _____________ _____________ _____________