Chapter 2 - Measurement, SI Units, Prefixes, Notation, Density, and Significant Figures (Vocabulary)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 2: measurement, SI units and prefixes, standard vs. scientific notation, derived units, density, and significant figures.

Quantity

A property that has a numeric value and a unit (e.g., 34.67 cm).

Unit

A standard used to express the magnitude of a quantity; indicates what the quantity is measured in.

SI

International System of Units; the standard system of units with seven base units.

Fundamental (base) unit

A base unit in SI used to express basic quantities (e.g., meter, kilogram, second, kelvin).

Length

SI base unit for length; symbol m.

Mass

SI base unit for mass; symbol kg.

Time

SI base unit for time; symbol s.

Temperature

SI base unit for temperature; symbol K.

Prefix

A multiplier applied to a unit to scale its size by powers of ten (e.g., kilo-, centi-, micro-).

Kilo-

Prefix meaning 1,000×; symbol k.

Mega-

Prefix meaning 1,000,000×; symbol M.

Milli-

Prefix meaning 1/1,000; symbol m.

Micro-

Prefix meaning 1/1,000,000; symbol μ.

Nano-

Prefix meaning 1/1,000,000,000; symbol n.

Scientific notation

Expressing a number as a × 10^n, where 1 ≤ a < 10.

Standard notation

Regular decimal notation without powers of ten.

Exponent

The power of ten in a scientific notation expression.

Coefficient

The number in front of ×10^n in scientific notation (the a in a×10^n).

Derived unit

A unit formed by combining two or more fundamental units (e.g., m^2 for area, g/mL for density).

Density

Mass per unit volume; D = M/V.

Mass

Amount of matter; standard SI unit is kilogram.

Volume

Space occupied; common units include cm^3 and L.

Area

Derived unit equal to length × width; unit is m^2.

Significant figures

Digits in a measurement that convey its precision.

Exact number

A number with unlimited significant figures, such as counted items or defined quantities.

Leading zeros

Zeros at the beginning of a number are not significant.

Trailing zeros ambiguity

Zeros at the end of a number without a decimal point are ambiguous; use scientific notation to clarify.

Conversion factor

A ratio that equals 1 and is used to convert units (e.g., 1 inch = 2.54 cm).