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An Introduction to Physics. The Scientific Method. Make an observation Formulate a hypothesis Test the hypothesis via experiments Evaluate the hypothesis Reevaluate/Conclusions. Scientific Measurement: The Metric System. What do we use this for?.
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The Scientific Method • Make an observation • Formulate a hypothesis • Test the hypothesis via experiments • Evaluate the hypothesis • Reevaluate/Conclusions
What do we use this for? • The Metric System is the key to unlock the world, for how can we know what we have if we don’t know how much we have
Parlez-vous francais? • The Metric System is often called the International System of Units
Metric Conversions • How do we convert from one unit to another? • Since bases are multiples of 10 all we have to do is “jump” to the correct prefix • Biggers Base unit Smallers • M, k, h, da m, l, g, s d, c, m, μ
Convert these: • 5 km to dam 5km to mm • 5 dm to cm 5 hm to cm • 5 mm to km 5 dm to dam
Significant Digits • Numbers (digits) that show the degree of accuracy and precision of a measurement • Accuracy: How close a measurement is to the accepted value • Precision: Repeatability of a set of measurements to be similar in value
Atlantic-Pacific Rule • Atlantic: • If the decimal is absent, start counting from the right (Atlantic Ocean) side with the first nonzero. Once you start counting keep on counting. • 2040
Atlantic-Pacific Rule • Pacific • If the decimal is present, start counting from the left (Pacific Ocean) side with the first nonzero. Once you start counting keep on counting. • 0.034500
How many significant digits are in these numbers? • 2,339,009 • 0.00987 • 0.005600 • 203040
Math with Significant Digits • When you add and subtract simply line up the decimals and keep the fewest places after the decimal in your answer. • 234.0098 + 3.01 = ? • 234.0098 – 30.0 = ?
Math with Significant Digits • When you multiply and divide, your answer should have the fewest digits shown in the original numbers. • 2.2 x 3 = ? • 2.100 / 7.0 = ?
Parallax • Error in measurement due to the position of the viewer’s eye in comparison to the position of the object to be measured
Parallax Activity • You will measure the diameter of a paper circle using three different methods. • Circle on top of ruler while looking directly overhead • Ruler on top of circle while looking directly overhead • Ruler on top of circle while looking from the side • You will need to repeat each, 3 times!