Lecture PowerPoints

Chapter 1
Tools for Physics

This chapter contains three sections.

•Mathematical tools for physics
•Experimental tools for physics
•Handling data and modelling
 1-1-4 Significant Figures

When multiplying or dividing numbers, the

result has as many significant figures as the
number used in the calculation with the fewest
significant figures.
Example: 11.3 cm x 6.8 cm = 77 cm
When adding or subtracting, the answer is no
more accurate than the least accurate number
used.
 1-1-4 Significant Figures

Tools for physics page 338:

Must use the true calculation when calculating. However,

when writing the answer we should use the significant figure
form.
 3 significant
figures.

Quick check-9
An object has a weight of 6.10 × 102 N. C
19M.1.SL.TZ2.5

What is the change in gravitational potential

energy of the object when it moves through
O
8.0 m vertically?
2 significant figure.
= Use 2 significant figures in the answer. (We
use the least amount of significant figures! ①

A. 5 kJ
↳
B. 4.9 kJ
Ep
:

m .

g .. n
=
48805
↳ 88kJ
C. 4.88 kJ
=

In physics we
=4 9kJ .
usually round up
the numbers if
D. 4.880 kJ they are equal or
bigger to 7
 If the first number after the point is equal or bigger to 5 we look at the ones on
the right.
And if they’re 7,8,9 we can round up. If they’re 6,5,4,3,2,1,0 we should just
erase these number after the first.
Quick check-10 (NOT ALWAYS! JUST USUALLY!)

What is the sum of 2.67 + 1.976 + 2.1?

-
A) 6.7
B) 6.75 2 670 .

1 976
C) 6.746
.

D) 6.7460 - 67 = .
Quick check-11
4 significant figures

What is the difference between 103.5 and

102.24? 5 significant figures
A) 1.3
B) 1.26
Since the significant figures are > than 3 significant figures we need a
more precise result.. Which is why we can’t say the answer is A or B for
this question.
-
C) 1.260 However, we still need to make it have less significant figures to some
extent. We have 4 significant figures in the question so we use that.
D) 1.2600
 1-1-4 Significant Figures
Examiner Guidance
•
 1-1-4 Significant Figures
Examiner Guidance
Some numbers are exact because they are
known or defined with complete certainty.
2 sf 3sf 3sf

2sf
The least amount of sf is 2 so
we use 2sf in the answer.
2sf
 1-1-4 Significant Figures
Examiner Guidance
Some numbers are exact because they are
known or defined with complete certainty.
1-1-4 Significant Figures
Quick check-12
What is the product of 12.56 and 2.12?
A) 27 12 56x2 12
.
.
=

26 6
X
.

B) 26.6
C) 26.23
D) 26.627
Quick check-13
3 If 488
- -

What is the result of 2.43 ÷ 4.561?

A) 5.3278 × 10-1 2 43
:

4-561
=

0 532778
.

It
.

B) 5.328 × 10-1 =0 533

C
.

-1
C) 5.33 × 10
D) 5.3 × 10-1
 1-1-5 The (Odd-Even) Rounding Rule

For example, consider the number 3.250 000 0... where the
zeros continue indefinitely. How does this number round to
2 s.f.?

Because the digit before the 5 is even we do not round up,

•

so 3.250 000 0... becomes 3.2

But 3.350 000 0... rounds up to 3.4 because the digit before
•

the 5 is odd.
Quick check-14

Round off each number to the required number of

significant figures.

• 1.2367 to 4 sf 1 237
.

• 1.2384 to 4 sf 1 238
.

• 0.01352 to 3 sf 0 0B5
.

• 2.051 to 2 sf 2 0
.
 1-1-5 The (Odd-Even) Rounding Rule
Significant figures in simple calculations
 1-1-5 The (Odd-Even) Rounding Rule
Significant figures in simple calculations
Practice questions (page338)
I

m
1) Ek =

35
=
=10 .
450) ~2 .

Vizes
388
-
28
-

--
v =
12 . 4722

V= 12

35f
--

21P =

=
--357 1 . 00 · 102
=-
0 917
.

0 .
917V =
1 00.
·
102

1 . 00 . 102
v =-
0 .
917

v =
109 051 .

V = 109