The Science of Physics

Section 1

UNIT OUTLINE--TOPICS
What is Physics? Branches of Science Science Terms Scientific models Measuring and Units Powers of Ten and conversions Graphing Experimental Design Science vs. Technology Analyzing in Physics

The Science of Physics

Chapter 1

Section 1

OBJECTIVES

List basic SI units and the quantities they describe. Using prefixes and powers of ten. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. Taking good measurements Use significant figures in measurements and calculations.

The Science of Physics

INTERNATIONAL SYSTEM OF UNITS (SI UNITS)

Section 2

Developed for the sake of consistency ease of understanding sharing data

The Science of Physics

Section 2

BASE SI UNITS (STANDARD UNITS)

Measured quantity

The Science of Physics

Section 2

DERIVED UNITS
Derived Units: Combinations of the 7 base units. Examples
Area (length x width) m x m = m2 Velocity (distance/time) = m/s

50 m2
10 meters

5 meters

The Science of Physics

Section 2

The Science of Physics

NUMBERS AS MEASUREMENTS
In SI, the standard measurement system for science, there are seven base units. Each base unit describes a single dimension, such as length, mass, or time. The units of length, mass, and time are the meter (m), kilogram (kg), and second (s), respectively. Derived units are formed by combining the seven base units with multiplication or division. For example, speeds are typically expressed in units of meters per second (m/s).

Chapter 1

Section 2

The Science of Physics

Section 2

MEASUREMENTS
Measurements consist of a number and a unit. Example

100 meters
the number of units or value the unit

The Science of Physics

Chapter 1

Section 2

DIMENSIONS AND UNITS

Measurements of physical quantities must be expressed in units that match the dimensions of that quantity. In addition to having the correct dimension, measurements used in calculations should also have the same units.
For example, when determining area by multiplying length and width, be sure the measurements are expressed in the same units.

The Science of Physics

Chapter 1

Section 2

OBJECTIVES

List basic SI units and the quantities they describe. Using prefixes and powers of ten. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. Taking good measurements

The Science of Physics Section 2 Measurements in

Chapter 1

SI PREFIXES
In SI, units are combined with prefixes that symbolize certain powers of 10. The most common prefixes and their symbols are shown in the table.

Experiments

Section 2

The Science of Physics

Chapter 1

Section 2

OBJECTIVES

List basic SI units and the quantities they describe. Using prefixes and powers of ten. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. Taking good measurements

The Science of Physics Section 2 Measurements in

Chapter 1

Accuracy and Precision

Experiments

Section 2

Accuracy is a description of how close a measurement is to the correct or accepted value of the quantity measured. Precision is the degree of exactness of a measurement. A numeric measure of confidence in a measurement or result is known as uncertainty. A lower uncertainty indicates greater confidence.

The Science of Physics

Section 2

ACCURACY
Accuracy is the extent to which a measurement approaches the true value.

Actual Time: 2:10 pm

Your Time: 2:05 pm Your accuracy is off by 5 minutes

The Science of Physics

Section 2

ACCURACY AND PRECISION

Precision is the degree of exactness for a measurement.
It is a property of the instrument used. The length of the pencil can be estimated to tenths of centimeters.

Accuracy is how close the measurement is to the correct value.

The Science of Physics

Section 2

Instrument error

ERRORS IN MEASUREMENT

Method error

Instrument error is caused by using measurement instruments that are flawed in some way. Instruments generally have stated accuracies such as accurate to within 1%. Method error is caused by poor techniques (see picture below).

The Science of Physics accurate

Section 2 these darts show good accuracy

less accurate

which paint ball mark is more accurate?

- THE BULLS EYE REPRESENTS THE TRUE VALUE. - THE DARTS REPRESENT THREE SEPARATE MEASUREMENTS

The Science of Physics

Section 2

PRECISION
Precision is the degree of exactness of a measurement. Based on the scale of the measuring instrument.

Smallest tick marks represent millimeters (mm)

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Section 2

PRECISION VS. ACCURACY

A B C D

AGood precision and accuracy BSome accuracy and poor precision

CGood precision and poor accuracy DPoor precision and accuracy

The Science of Physics

Section 2

DISCUSSION QUESTION
When shooting free throws, is it better to be precise or accurate?

The Science of Physics

Section 2

Its better to be accurate.

The Science of Physics

Chapter 1

Section 2

OBJECTIVES

List basic SI units and the quantities they describe. Using prefixes and powers of ten. Distinguish between accuracy and precision. Taking good measurements

The Science of Physics

Section 2

MEASUREMENTS
Dimension - the kind of physical quantity being measured
Examples: length, mass, time, volume, and so on Each dimension is measured in specific units.
meters, kilograms, seconds, liters, and so on

Derived units are combinations of other units.

m/s, kg/m3, and many others

Scientists use the SI system of measurement.

The Science of Physics

Section 2

HOW TO MEASURE?
Know how to operate the measuring instrument
Which unit(s) is represented? What does each tick mark represent? Are there multiple scales? Did you zero out the instrument (if possible)

Be skilled and patient enough to measure with the greatest detail possible

The Science of Physics

WHAT DO THE TICK MARKS REPRESENT ON A METER STICK?

What unit is represented by the smallest tick mark on the meter stick?

Section 2

m? dm? cm? mm? *

The Science of Physics

WHAT DO THE TICK MARKS REPRESENT ON A METER STICK?

What is the measurement? In mm? 65 mm In cm? 6.5 cm In dm? .65 dm In m? 0.065 m?

Section 2

The Science of Physics

Section 2

WHY SO MANY DIFFERENT UNITS OF MEASUREMENT FOR THE SAME QUANTITY?

Consider Mark and Suzy. They want to measure the length of a room. The quantity they are measuring is distance (measured quantity). They both measure length in units of feet (the length of one foot) This is their measuring units. One important detail: Marks foot is longer than Suzys foot.

The Science of Physics

Section 2

WHY SO MANY DIFFERENT UNITS OF MEASUREMENT FOR THE SAME QUANTITY?

Mark measures the length of the room. So does Suzy. Will they have the same measurement? Why or why not? Who will have the longer measurement in feet? Marks measurement is 18 feet and Suzys is 23 feet. The length of a markfoot is not the same as the length of a suzyfoot. To compare the two different measurements, one unit must be converted into the other so that both measurements are proportional. Standardizing units means to select either the length of Marks or Suzys foot as the accepted length of the unit called a foot.