Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th Ed + Masteringphysics: Chapters 20-35
Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th Ed + Masteringphysics: Chapters 20-35
4th Edition
ISBN: 9780136139249
Author: Douglas C. Giancoli
Publisher: PEARSON EDUCATION (COLLEGE)
bartleby

Videos

Textbook Question
Chapter 1, Problem 2Q

Why is it incorrect to think that the more digits you represent in your answer, the more accurate it is?

Expert Solution & Answer
Check Mark
To determine

The reason for it is incorrect to think that the more digits to represent answer, more accurate it is.

Answer to Problem 2Q

The number of digits in an answer indicates the precision of the measurement it do not give more information about accuracy. Thus, it is incorrect to think that representation of a answer in more digits increases the accuracy of answer.

Explanation of Solution

Precision of a measurement indicates the reproducibility of the measurement using a given instrument. It is the degree to which repeated values are close together with the same environmental condition. Accuracy of a measurement refers the closeness of the measurement to the actual value. In a measured value or in an answer, the number of digits give the precision with which one measures the quantity. It gives very little information about the accuracy of the measurement.

If a measurement is done by great precision using an instrument which is calibrated incorrectly, then it cannot be considered as an accurate measurement. Thus, number of digits cannot give prediction about the accuracy of a measurement.

Conclusion:

Therefore, the number of digits in an answer indicates the precision of the measurement it do not give more information about accuracy. Thus, it is incorrect to think that representation of a answer in more digits increases the accuracy of answer.

Want to see more full solutions like this?

Subscribe now to access step-by-step solutions to millions of textbook problems written by subject matter experts!

Chapter 1 Solutions

Physics for Scientists and Engineers, 4th Ed + Masteringphysics: Chapters 20-35

Ch. 1 - Discuss how the notion of symmetry could be used...Ch. 1 - You measure the radius of a wheel to be 4.16 cm....Ch. 1 - Express the sine of 30.0 with the correct number...Ch. 1 - A recipe for a souffl specifies that the measured...Ch. 1 - List assumptions useful to estimate the number of...Ch. 1 - Suggest a way to measure the distance from Earth...Ch. 1 - Can you set up a complete set of base quantities,...Ch. 1 - (I) The age of the universe is thought to be about...Ch. 1 - (I) How many significant figures do each of the...Ch. 1 - (I) Write the following numbers in powers of ten...Ch. 1 - (I) Write out the following numbers in full with...Ch. 1 - (II) What is the percent uncertainty in the...Ch. 1 - (II) Time intervals measured with a stopwatch...Ch. 1 - (II) Add (9.2 103 s) + (8.3 104 s) + (0.008 106...Ch. 1 - (II) Multily 2.079 102 m by 0.082 101, taking...Ch. 1 - (III) For small angles , the numerical value of...Ch. 1 - Prob. 10PCh. 1 - (I) Write the following as full (decimal) numbers...Ch. 1 - (I) Express the following using the prefixes of...Ch. 1 - (I) Determine your own height in meters, and your...Ch. 1 - The Sun, on average, is 93 million miles from...Ch. 1 - What is the conversion factor between (a) ft2 and...Ch. 1 - (II) An airplane travels at 950km/h. How long does...Ch. 1 - (II) A typical atom has a diameter of about 1.0 ...Ch. 1 - Prob. 18PCh. 1 - (II) Determine the conversion factor between (a)...Ch. 1 - How much longer (percentage) is a one-mile race...Ch. 1 - (II) A light-year is the distance light travels in...Ch. 1 - (II) If you used only a keyboard to enter data,...Ch. 1 - (III) The diameter of the Moon is 3480km. (a) What...Ch. 1 - (I) Estimate the order of magnitude (power of ten)...Ch. 1 - (II) Estimate how many books can be shelved in a...Ch. 1 - (II) Estimate how many hours it would take a...Ch. 1 - (II) Estimate the number of liters of water a...Ch. 1 - (II) Estimate how long it would take one person to...Ch. 1 - Prob. 30PCh. 1 - (III) You are in a hot air balloon, 200 m above...Ch. 1 - (III) I agree to hire you for 30days and you can...Ch. 1 - (III) Many sailboats are moored at a marina 4.4 km...Ch. 1 - (III) Another experiment you can do also uses the...Ch. 1 - (I) What are the dimensions of density, which is...Ch. 1 - (II) The speed v of an object is given by the...Ch. 1 - (II) Three students derive the following equations...Ch. 1 - Prob. 38PCh. 1 - Global positioning satellites (GPS) can be used to...Ch. 1 - Computer chips (Fig. 113) etched on circular...Ch. 1 - Prob. 41GPCh. 1 - Prob. 42GPCh. 1 - A typical adult human lung contains about 300...Ch. 1 - One hectare is defined as 1.000 104m2. One acre...Ch. 1 - Estimate the number of gallons of gasoline...Ch. 1 - Use Table 13 to estimate the total number of...Ch. 1 - An average family of four uses roughly 1200 L...Ch. 1 - Estimate the number of gumballs in the machine of...Ch. 1 - How big is a ton? Thai is, what is the volume of...Ch. 1 - A certain audio compact disc (CD) contains 783.216...Ch. 1 - Prob. 52GPCh. 1 - Prob. 53GPCh. 1 - Noahs ark was ordered to be 300 cubits long, 50...Ch. 1 - Estimate how many days it would take to walk...Ch. 1 - One liter (1000cm3) of oil is spilled onto a...Ch. 1 - Jean camps beside a wide river and wonders how...Ch. 1 - Prob. 58GPCh. 1 - An angstrom (symbol A) is a unit of length,...Ch. 1 - The diameter of the Moon is 3480 km. What is the...Ch. 1 - Determine the percent uncertainty in , and in sin...Ch. 1 - If you began walking along one of Earths lines of...Ch. 1 - Prob. 63GPCh. 1 - Prob. 65GPCh. 1 - The density of an object is defined as its mass...Ch. 1 - Prob. 67GPCh. 1 - One mole of atoms consists of 6.02 1023...Ch. 1 - Recent findings in astrophysics suggest that the...
Knowledge Booster
Physics
Learn more about
Need a deep-dive on the concept behind this application? Look no further. Learn more about this topic, physics and related others by exploring similar questions and additional content below.
Similar questions
    Recommended textbooks for you
  • Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...
    Physics
    ISBN:9780078807213
    Author:Paul W. Zitzewitz
    Publisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
    An Introduction to Physical Science
    Physics
    ISBN:9781305079137
    Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    University Physics Volume 1
    Physics
    ISBN:9781938168277
    Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny
    Publisher:OpenStax - Rice University
  • Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
    Physics
    ISBN:9781133104261
    Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    College Physics
    Physics
    ISBN:9781285737027
    Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Inquiry into Physics
    Physics
    ISBN:9781337515863
    Author:Ostdiek
    Publisher:Cengage
  • Glencoe Physics: Principles and Problems, Student...
    Physics
    ISBN:9780078807213
    Author:Paul W. Zitzewitz
    Publisher:Glencoe/McGraw-Hill
    An Introduction to Physical Science
    Physics
    ISBN:9781305079137
    Author:James Shipman, Jerry D. Wilson, Charles A. Higgins, Omar Torres
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    University Physics Volume 1
    Physics
    ISBN:9781938168277
    Author:William Moebs, Samuel J. Ling, Jeff Sanny
    Publisher:OpenStax - Rice University
    Principles of Physics: A Calculus-Based Text
    Physics
    ISBN:9781133104261
    Author:Raymond A. Serway, John W. Jewett
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    College Physics
    Physics
    ISBN:9781285737027
    Author:Raymond A. Serway, Chris Vuille
    Publisher:Cengage Learning
    Inquiry into Physics
    Physics
    ISBN:9781337515863
    Author:Ostdiek
    Publisher:Cengage
    Components of a Vector (Part 1) | Unit Vectors | Don't Memorise; Author: Don't Memorise;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwMUELxZ0Pw;License: Standard YouTube License, CC-BY
    02 - Learn Unit Conversions, Metric System & Scientific Notation in Chemistry & Physics; Author: Math and Science;https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_SMypXo7tc;License: Standard Youtube License