Chapter 1: Matter, Energy, and Measurement

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core definitions, systems of measurement, dimensional analysis, density, dosage, and temperature scale conversions from Chapter 1.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Energy

A major component of our universe, defined as the capacity to do work.

Work

The act of moving an object against an opposing force.

English System

A system of measurement common in the United States (only).

Metric System

A system of measurement preferred in medicine and science.

SI System

An international system of measurement based on the metric system.

Meniscus

The curved surface of a liquid.

Significant Figures

The degree of confidence in a measurement, consisting of all certain digits plus one uncertain digit.

Precision

Indicates how close individual measurements are to one another.

Accuracy

Indicates how close measurements are to a true value.

Dimensional Analysis

A process that evaluates units to properly set up a calculation, where units are multiplied, divided, and canceled like algebraic quantities.

Conversion Factor

A fraction formed from an equality that uses two different units to describe the same measured amount.

Density

The mass of a substance divided by its volume ($\text{Density} = \frac{\text{mass of a substance}}{\text{volume of a substance}}$).

Specific Gravity

An important diagnostic factor related to kidney function, calculated as $\text{specific gravity} = \frac{\text{density of substance}\left(\frac{\text{g}}{\text{mL}}\right)}{\text{density of water}\left(\frac{\text{g}}{\text{mL}}\right)}$.

Prescribed Dosage

A conversion factor calculated as $\frac{\text{mass of drug}}{\text{kg body weight}}$.

q.d.

A medical dosage abbreviation meaning once per day (give the entire amount once each day).

b.i.d.

A medical dosage abbreviation meaning twice per day (divide the total amount by 2 and give every 12 hours).

Celsius to Fahrenheit Conversion

The equation used to convert temperature from $^\circ\text{C}$ to $^\circ\text{F}$: $^\circ\text{F} = (1.8 \times ^\circ\text{C}) + 32.0$.

Fahrenheit to Celsius Conversion

The equation used to convert temperature from $^\circ\text{F}$ to $^\circ\text{C}$: $^\circ\text{C} = \frac{^\circ\text{F} - 32.0}{1.8}$.

Celsius to Kelvin Conversion

The equation used to convert temperature from $^\circ\text{C}$ to Kelvin: $\text{K} = ^\circ\text{C} + 273.15$.

Increasing Metric Prefixes

Prefixes that increase the size of a unit, including kilo ($10^3$), mega ($10^6$), giga ($10^9$), and tera ($10^{12}$).

Decreasing Metric Prefixes

Prefixes that decrease the size of a unit, including deci ($10^{-1}$), centi ($10^{-2}$), milli ($10^{-3}$), micro ($10^{-6}$), nano ($10^{-9}$), and pico ($10^{-12}$).