Scientific Measurement

 

 

(Source)

Rules for determining Significant Figures

  1. All non-zero numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9) are ALWAYS significant.
    1. Examples:
      1. 342  3 significant figures
      2. 91    2 significant figures
      3. 4,957.64  6 significant figures
  2. Zeroes that are between two non-zero numbers are ALWAYS significant.
    1. Examples:
      1. 104  3 significant figures
      2. 9,904  4 significant figures
      3. 870.06  5 significant figures
  3. If a number does not have a decimal point, the zeroes at the end of the number are place holders. These zeroes are NOT significant.
    1. Examples:
      1. 990,000  2 significant figures
      2. 10  1 significant figure
      3. 760,400 4 significant figures (the zero between the 6 and 4 IS significant- see rule 2)
  4. If a number begins with a decimal point, the zeroes at the beginning are place holders. These zeroes are NOT significant.
    1. Examples:
      1. 0.085  2 significant figures
      2. 0.000394021  6 significant figures (the zero between the 4 and 2 IS significant- see rule 2)
      3. 0.2  1 significant figure
  5. If a number does have a decimal point, the zeroes at the end of the number are ALWAYS significant.
    1. Examples:
      1. 386.50  5 significant figures
      2. 0.1290  4 significant figures
      3. 0.006080  4 significant figures (the zero between the 6 and 8 IS significant- see rule 2)

Quiz group:

The instrument used to measure mass is the
balance
graduated cylinder
ruler
stopwatch

A graduated cylinder has 20.0 cm3 of water in it when a marble is dropped in. The water level rises to 21.5 cm3. What is the volume of the marble?
1.5 cm3
20.0 cm3
21.5 cm3
41.5 cm3

The process used to find the volume in the above question is called:
water displacement
irregular volume
water subtracting

 

Which of these is a quantitative observation?
The candle is 2.0 cm long.
The wick of the candle is curled at the top.
The wax contains carbon and hydrogen.

Significant Figures Review (Click the number to reveal the answer)
Number

62

Significant Figures: 2

620

Significant Figures: 2

6200

Significant Figures: 2

0.00870

Significant Figures: 3

0.0875190

Significant Figures: 6

347

Significant Figures: 3

870,401,000

Significant Figures: 6

300,008

Significant Figures: 6

30

Significant Figures: 1

879,800

Significant Figures: 4

4

Significant Figures: 1

0.309

Significant Figures: 3

2.00

Significant Figures: 3

2.086 x 103

Significant Figures: 4

4.850 x 10-5

Significant Figures: 4

9.0008 x 107

Significant Figures: 5

1.0203 x 10-2

Significant Figures: 5