Measurement, Calculations and Problem Solving

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers measurement uncertainty, significant figure rules, scientific notation, metric prefixes, and unit conversion concepts based on the lecture transcript.

Uncertainty

Indicated by the last reported digit in a measurement; for example, a reporting of $0.6^{ \text{o}}C$ implies $0.6 \text{ +/- } 0.1^{ \text{o}}C$.

Accuracy

A measure of how close a series of measurements are to the true or target value.

Precision

A measure of the consistency or reproducibility of a set of measurements, regardless of how close they are to the true value.

Scientific Notation

A method of writing numbers consisting of a decimal part (a number between $1$ and $10$) and an exponential part ($10$ raised to an exponent, $n$).

Significant Figures

The digits in a reported number that represent the precision of the measurement; the greater the precision, the greater the number of these figures.

Interior Zeros

Zeros located between two nonzero digits (such as in $408$ or $7.0301$) which are always significant.

Leading Zeros

Zeros that appear before the first nonzero digit (such as in $0.0032$) which serve only to locate the decimal point and are not significant.

Trailing Zeros

Zeros at the end of a number that are significant if a decimal point is present (e.g., $45.000$) but NOT significant if no decimal is present (e.g., $200$).

Exact Numbers

Numbers that have an unlimited number of significant figures because they come from discrete counting (e.g., $1 \text{ dozen} = 12$), defined quantities (e.g., $1 \text{ in.} = 2.54 \text{ cm}$), or integral numbers in equations.

Multiplication and Division Rule (Sig Figs)

The rule stating that the result follows the same number of significant figures as the factor with the fewest significant figures.

Addition and Subtraction Rule (Sig Figs)

The rule stating that the result carries the same number of decimal places as the quantity carrying the fewest decimal places.

SI Units

The International System of Units; a system for science measurements based on the metric system that uses prefixes to adjust basic units.

Kilo- (k)

A metric prefix representing a multiple of $1000$ or $1 \times 10^3$.

Cent i- (c)

A metric prefix representing a fraction of $0.01$ or $1 \times 10^{-2}$.

Milli- (m)

A metric prefix representing a fraction of $0.001$ or $1 \times 10^{-3}$.

Micro- ($\mu$)

A metric prefix representing a fraction of $0.000001$ or $1 \times 10^{-6}$. The Greek letter mu ($\mu$) is its symbol.

Nano- (n)

A metric prefix representing a fraction of $0.000000001$ or $1 \times 10^{-9}$.

Unit Conversion Factor

A ratio of two equivalent quantities (e.g., $\frac{100 \text{ cm}}{1 \text{ m}}$) used to convert a quantity from one unit to another.

Density

A physical property and derived unit defined as the ratio of a substance's mass to its volume ($Density = \frac{mass}{volume}$).