Measurement Systems and Significant Figures Flashcards

Flashcards covering measurement systems, metric units, sig figs, density, and temperature scales.

Measurement

The determination of the dimensions, capacity, quantity, or extent of something.

English system

A system of measurement used in commerce with units such as the inch, foot, pound, quart, and gallon.

Metric system

A decimal unit system used in scientific work with units such as the gram, meter, and liter.

Giga- ($G$)

A metric prefix meaning $1,000,000,000$ or $10^9$.

Mega- ($M$)

A metric prefix meaning $1,000,000$ or $10^6$.

Kilo- ($k$)

A metric prefix meaning $1000$ or $10^3$.

Deci- ($d$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.1$ or $10^{-1}$.

Centi- ($c$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.01$ or $10^{-2}$.

Milli- ($m$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.001$ or $10^{-3}$.

Micro- ($\mu$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.000001$ or $10^{-6}$.

Nano- ($n$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.000000001$ or $10^{-9}$.

Pico- ($p$)

A metric prefix meaning $0.000000000001$ or $10^{-12}$.

Meter ($m$)

The base unit of length in the metric system, slightly larger than a yard ($1.00\,m = 1.09\,yd$).

Gram ($g$)

The base unit of mass in the metric system, equal to approximately $1/454\,lb$.

Mass

A measure of the total quantity of matter in an object which remains constant regardless of location.

Weight

A measure of the force exerted on an object by gravitational forces that varies with geographical location.

Liter ($L$)

The base unit of volume in the metric system, slightly larger than a quart ($1.00\,L = 1.06\,qt$).

Volume

The amount of space occupied by a three-dimensional object.

Exact Number

A number whose value has no uncertainty associated with it, typically found in definitions, counting, or simple fractions.

Inexact Number

A number whose value has a degree of uncertainty associated with it, resulting any time a measurement is made.

Significant Figures

The digits in a measurement that are known with certainty plus one digit that must be estimated.

Leading Zeros

Zeros at the beginning of a number that do not count as significant figures (e.g., $0.048$ has 2 sig figs).

Confined Zeros

Zeros between nonzero digits that are always counted as significant figures (e.g., $16.07$ has 4 sig figs).

Trailing Zeros

Zeros at the right end of a number that are significant only if the number contains an explicitly shown decimal point.

Multiplication/Division Rule for Sig Figs

The answer contains the same number of significant figures as the measurement with the fewest significant figures.

Addition/Subtraction Rule for Sig Figs

The answer has no more digits to the right of the decimal point than are found in the measurement with the fewest digits to the right of the decimal point.

Scientific Notation

A system where numbers are expressed in the form $A \times 10^n$, where $A$ is a coefficient and $n$ is an exponent.

Conversion Factors

Ratios of equivalent quantities that specify how one unit of measurement is related to another.

Dimensional Analysis

A step-by-step process used to convert a given result from one system of units to another by multiplying by conversion factors to cancel unwanted units.

Density

The ratio of the mass of an object to the volume occupied by that object ($\text{Density} = \frac{\text{mass}}{\text{volume}}$).

Kelvin (K) to Celsius conversion

$$K = ^\circ\text{C} + 273$$

Fahrenheit to Celsius conversion

$$^\circ\text{C} = \frac{5}{9} \times (^\circ\text{F} - 32)$$

Celsius to Fahrenheit conversion

$$^\circ\text{F} = \frac{9}{5} \times (^\circ\text{C}) + 32$$

Absolute zero

The lowest possible temperature, defined as $0\,K$, $-273^\circ\text{C}$, or $-460^\circ\text{F}$.