Physics for Life Sciences Lecture Notes

These flashcards cover key concepts from the 'Physics for Life Sciences' lecture notes, highlighting fundamental principles, errors in measurement, and the importance of significant figures.

What are the primary units in the SI system for physical quantities?

The primary SI units include meter (m) for length, second (s) for time, kilogram (kg) for mass, Kelvin (K) for temperature, Ampere (A) for electric current, mole (mol) for the amount of substance, and candela (cd) for luminous intensity.

What essential steps are involved in a physical investigation?

The essential steps are: 1) Experiment and observation under controlled conditions, 2) Model development and mathematical description, 3) Formulation of physical theories and laws, and 4) Making predictions based on those theories.

What are the two types of measurement errors?

The two types of measurement errors are systematic errors, which are reproducible and caused by factors such as miscalibration, and random (statistical) errors, which occur by chance fluctuations.

What does significant figures indicate in a measurement?

Significant figures indicate the precision of a measurement; they show which digits in a number are meaningful in terms of accuracy and reliability.

How does one identify significant figures when multiplying and dividing?

In multiplication and division, the number of significant figures in the result is determined by the factor with the least number of significant figures.

What characterizes a Gaussian distribution in physics?

A Gaussian distribution, commonly referred to as the normal distribution, is characterized by its bell-shaped curve, representing the distribution of values around a mean.

What is the purpose of using standard units in measurements?

Standard units allow for consistency and comparability of measurements across different locations and by different observers.

What is the significance of rounds in measurements?

Rounding can introduce errors in measurements, particularly depending on the order of operations performed during calculations, hence the need for careful management.

Why is the Mars Climate Orbiter's failure significant in the context of unit measurement?

The Mars Climate Orbiter's failure highlighted the critical importance of consistent units in engineering and navigation, as the loss occurred due to a failure to convert units correctly.

What does the term 'absolute error' refer to in a measurement?

Absolute error refers to the difference between the measured value and the true value of the quantity being measured.