1. Unit 1A:SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
INSTRUCTIONS FOR NOTETAKING:
Copy ALL words & examples unless otherwise indicated.
Copy NO tables or diagrams unless otherwise indicated.
Use Cornell (2-column style) format.
Leave room after each EQ for a 3 sentence summary.

2. Unit 1A:SCIENTIFIC MEASUREMENT
OBJECTIVES (Don’t Copy!)
Convert Between Standard Notation to Scientific Notation
Identify Significant Figures & Uncertainty in Measurements
Perform Operations with Significant Figures
Addition & Subtraction
Multiplication & Division

3. Scientific notation consists of two parts:
1. A number between 1 and 10 (the “coefficient”)
2. A power of 10
Ex:
x 108
7.01

4. What is Scientific Notation?
a way of expressing really big numbers or really small numbers.
For some numbers, scientific notation is more concise.

5. Converting from StandardScientific Notation
EX: Convert 289,800,000 to scientific notation. _______ x 10___
2.898 8
STEP 1: Moving the decimal, convert this number so that it falls between 1 and 10.
STEP 2: Count the number of places you moved the decimal. This is the exponent.
If the number was large to start with, exponent is positive
If the number was small to start with, exponent is negative

6. Examples Given: 0.000567 5.67 x 10 ___ -4 STEP 1 STEP 2
NOTE: This is a very small number, so the exponent is SMALL (negative)
5.67
x 10 ___ -4
___________
STEP 1
STEP 2

7. Converting Scientific Notation to Standard
Example: x 10 -7
STEP1 : Using the sign on the exponent, decide which way to move your decimal.
Negative sign, move to the left (negative direction)
Positive sign, move to the right (positive direction)
STEP 2: Move the decimal the same number of spaces as the exponent indicates.
Use zeros to hold “empty” spaces.

8. Scientific Notation & Your Calculator
Video Instructions- Using Calculator

9. Plugging Scientific Notation into My Calculator
Find the button on your calculator that is used to enter SCIENTIFIC NOTATION. Write it HERE___ OR
(Do Not Copy) Note: If you find one of the symbols ABOVE a key, rather than ON a key, you must push EE
EXP
2nd EE
2nd
EXP

10. Plugging Scientific Notation Into My Calculator
Ex: Plug this number into your calculator: 8.93 x 1o-13
(leave the blanks empty for now)
Write the steps you used below
Type 8.93
Push ______ button.
Type_____13_____
Push ____OR____ button
What I see on the screen is _________
NOTE: Use your calculator’s keys if they differ from what is written here EE
NOTE: Sometimes these 2 steps can be reversed
+/-
(-)

11. Scientific Notation: Doing Calculations (copy the problem & table)
Ex: 3 x x 105
USE
CALCULATOR:
Problem
3 x 104 +
2.5 x 105
What you type
3 EE 4
2.5 EE 5
What you see on calculator
304
2.505
NOTE: Use your calculator’s keys if they differ from what is written in table & fill them in
NOTE: Answers must be in scientific notation!
Calculator says:
Correct Answer: 2.8 x 105

12. Practice Calculator says: 0.0521 9.1 x 10-3 + 4.3 x 10-2
ANSWER: 5.21 x 10-2

13. Scientific Notation:Multiplying&Dividing (copy the problem & table)
Ex: (6.1 x 10-3) (7.2 x 109)
USE
CALCULATOR:
Problem
6.1 x 10-3 x
7.2 x 109
What you type
6.1 EE 3-
7.2 EE 9
What you see on calculator
6.1-03
7.209
NOTE: Use your calculator’s keys if they differ from what is written in table
NOTE: Answers must be in scientific notation!
Calculator says:
Correct Answer: x 107

14. Uncertainty in Measurement
There is a degree of uncertainty in every measurement.
Here are some concepts to help us understand how reliable our measurements are!
Accuracy
precision
error
significant figures

15. Accuracy v. Precision (copy the table)
What it is
How do I measure it?
Example
Accuracy
how close a measurement comes to the ACTUAL value of what is being measured
Compare MEASUREMENT to ACTUAL VALUE to determine
Precision
how close a series of measurements are to one another.
Compare 2 or more MEASUREMENTS to one another.

16. Accuracy v. Precision

17. Accuracy v. Precision copy question & leave room for your team answer
Question for discussion: What causes a situation where there is HIGH precision but LOW accuracy?

18. Error in Measurement Error = experimental value – accepted value
Ex: water boils at °C
Ex: thermometer reads °C
Error = experimental value – accepted value
(copy equation on P. Table)
Error can be a + or – value
Discussion Question: Is the example above POSITIVE or NEGATIVE error?
Answer: Error = °C Error = ____ ° C ( error is ____)

19. Error in Measurement: % Error
Percent Error = | error | x
accepted value
(copy equation on P. Table)
Example | °C | x
100.0 °C
Answer: 0.9 % error