Lab1_Calculations_Worksheet_F19

PHYS 1403 Lab 1: Scientific Calculations Worksheet Name: CWID: Enter you answers to each question in the data tables and yellow highlighted areas below. When completed, please upload this file using the lab submission link in Canvas (please submit this file in .doc, .docx, or .pdf formats only). Please be sure that all data tables and all yellow highlighted questions are completed. BACKGROUND INFORMATION The various metric units are shown below: Metric Unit Abbreviation # of Meters 1 nanometer 1 nm 10 -9 1 micrometer 1  m 10 -6 1 millimeter 1 mm 10 -3 (.001) 1 centimeter 1 cm 10 -2 (.01) 1 meter 1 m 1 1 kilometer 1 km 10 3 (1000) The following are some equivalent lengths in the British system. These equivalent lengths are called conversion factors. Metric Unit British Equivalent Conversion Factor 1 cm 0.394 in 1 cm = 0.394 in 1 in = 2.54 cm 1 m 39.4 in 1 m = 39.4 in 1 ft = 0.305 m 1 km 0.62 mi 1 km = 0.62 mi 1 mi = 1.61 km Some other conversion factors that will be useful are: 1 mile = 5280 ft 1 ft = 12 inches Converting from one metric unit to another or from a metric unit to a British unit is easy. Study the following examples: 1

Example # 1 How many centimeters are there in 1 kilometer? 1 km = 1 km × 1000 m 1 km × 100 cm 1 m = 100,000 cm = 1.00 × 10 5 cm In this example, note how the km in the numerator cancels the km in the denominator. Also the meters cancel out leaving cm in the result. When writing the conversion factors it is a good idea to first write the units and then put the appropriate numbers next to them. The final answer is given in exponential notation (also called scientific notation ). This is to avoid writing too many zeroes. The table below shows the exponents for some numbers: 10 = 1 x 10 1 1 = 1 x 10 0 100 = 1 x 10 2 0.1 = 1 x 10 -1 1000 = 1 x 10 3 0.01 = 1 x 10 -2 Example # 2 How many millimeters are there in 56 meters? 56 m = 56 m × 1000 mm 1 m = 56,000 mm = 5.60 × 10 4 mm 56,000 mm can be written as 56 x 10 3 mm or 560 x 10 2 mm or 5.60 x 10 4 mm. However, the convention is to keep the number between 1 and 9.99, so 5.60 x 10 4 mm will be the preferred way to write this result. Example # 3 How many miles are there in 4580 kilometers? First Way: 4580 km = 4580 km × 0.62 mi 1 km = 2840 mi Second Way : 4580 km = 4580 km × 1 mi 1.61 km = 2845 mi Using a different conversion factor MAY give you a slightly different result as this example shows. But its important to ask, is this difference significant? For the purpose of measurements and calculations in this lab, a difference of 5 miles in 2840 miles is not significant, so either answer would be counted correct. 2