Measurements and Problem Solving

Vocabulary flashcards for measurements and problem solving.

Measurement

Determine a quantity.

Unit

A standard of measure; always included with measurements.

Accuracy

How close a measurement is to the accepted value.

Precision

How well numbers are grouped together based on the measurement process.

Significant figures

Digits in a measurement that are known with certainty plus one estimated digit. Non-zero numbers are always significant. Zeros between non-zero numbers are significant. Leading zeros are never significant. Trailing zeros are significant only if the number contains a decimal point.

Dimensional Analysis

A method of problem-solving that uses the units of measurement to guide the calculations.

Density

The ratio of mass to volume (mass/volume).

Conversion Factor

A ratio derived from the equality between two different units that can be used to convert from one unit to the other.

SI unit for length

Meter (m)

SI unit for volume

Cubic meter (m³), but liter (L) is commonly used (1 L = 1 dm³ = 1000 cm³ = 1000 mL)

SI unit for mass

Kilogram (kg), but gram (g) is a more useful lab scale unit.