Chapter 1, Problem 32A

(a)

To determine

The reason for difficulty to tell the number of significant figures in the measurement.

Answer to Problem 32A

The difficulty occurs in the number of significant figures in the measurement due to the variation in the number of significant figures.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The number of the significant figures describes the level of the accuracy of the measurement. The more is the number of significant figure higher will be the accuracy in measurement.

The number of significant figures in the $100\text{g}$ is 1. If the precision of the measuring device is $0.1\text{g}$ then we can measure the measurement like $99.6\text{g}$ or $99.7\text{g}$ . The number of significant figure for the measurement $99.6\text{g}$ or $99.7\text{g}$ becomes 3 that is different from the number of significant figure in the $100\text{g}$ . It causes the difficulty in the number of significant figures in the measurement.

Conclusion:

Thus, the difficulty occurs in the number of significant figures in the measurement due to the variation in the number of significant figure.

(b)

To determine

The method by which the number of significant figures in the measurement become clear.

Answer to Problem 32A

The number of the significant in the measurement becomes clear by addition of the zeros after the decimal.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

The increase in the number of the significant digits after the decimal clears the measurement.

The number of the significant in the measurement becomes clear by addition of the zeros after the decimal because the precision increase due to addition of the number of the zeros after the decimal.

Conclusion:

Thus, the number of the significant in the measurement becomes clear by addition of the zeros after the decimal.