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Description and Measurement. Ms. Pollock 8th Grade Physical Science 2009 - 2010. Measurement. Way to describe world using numbers how much, how long, how far more reliable than opinion describes events Olympics. Estimation. Rough measurement
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Description and Measurement Ms. Pollock 8th Grade Physical Science 2009 - 2010
Measurement • Way to describe world using numbers • how much, how long, how far • more reliable than opinion • describes events • Olympics
Estimation • Rough measurement • using something familiar to guess size of new object • based on previous experience • chefs • firefighters
Estimation • Use “about” • check for reasonable answers • doorknobs about 1 m from floor • sack of flour about 2 kg • walk about 5 km/h
Precision and Accuracy • Precision: how close measurements are to each other • same every time • also number of decimal places possible with particular tool • degrees of precision
Precision and Accuracy • Accuracy: comparison of measurement to real, actual, or accepted value • How close you are to the desired value
Precision and Accuracy • Important to medical procedures • Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) • treatment of brain cancer without damaging healthy cells
Rounding a Measurement • Some instruments not capable of great precision • rounding rules important for estimation • digit to right of digit being rounded is 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4: number remains same • digit to right of digit being rounded is 5, 6, 7, 8, or 9: number increases by one • digits to right of digit being rounded are right of decimal: delete them • digits to left of digit being rounded are left of decimal: change to zeros
Rounding a Measurement • Length of sidewalk 135.841 m • rounded to tenths place • 135.8 m • digit to right of tenths place (number 8) was 4 • rounded to ones place • 136 m • digit to right of ones place (number 5) was 8
Precision and Number of Digits • Rounding necessary when numbers do not divide evenly • digits that reflect precision significant • digits other than zero • final zeros after decimal point (6.545 600 g) • zeros between other digits (507.0301 g) • initial zeros NOT significant (0.000 2030 g) • zeros in whole number possibly significant (1650) • numbers counted, rather than measured
Applying Math: Rounding • The mass of one object is 6.941 g. The mass of a second object is 20.180 g. You need to know these values only to the nearest whole number to solve a problem. What are the rounded values? • 6.941 g (number to right of ones place = 9) • 7 (rounded up) • 20.180 g (number to right of ones place = 1) • 20 (remained same)
Following the Rules • Rules for determining significant figures in calculations • multiplication and division • determined by number with fewer digits • 6.14 X 5.6 = 34.384 • 3 2 2 • addition and subtraction • least precise place value • 6.14 + 5.6 = 11.74 • 100s 10s 10s