Quarter 1- Module 1
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
Core Subject Description: Mechanics of particles, rigid bodies, and fluids; waves; and heat and thermodynamics using the methods
and concepts of algebra, geometry, trigonometry, graphical analysis, and basic calculus
Introductory Message
To the parent: This module is designed to meet the current needs of your children under our present condition (pandemic).
As partners to the learning process of your children, we the teachers are humbly requesting you to please assist us under your close
supervision for their development hence this module is prepared by.
To the students: This module is prepared and intended to increase your knowledge and help you in your studies. It will also
help you to expand your knowledge and learn the concepts related to this subject. Since we are under the crisis (pandemic) this
module is prepared for you by our dear students for your self-study at home under the guidance and supervision of your honest and
devoted parent.
At the end of this module, you should be able to:
1. Solve measurement problems involving conversion of units and expression of measurements in scientific notation.
2. Differentiate random errors from systematic errors.
3. Estimate errors from multiple measurements of a physical quantity using variance.
FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS
As the different concepts of physics are introduced, it is important to review the fundamentals of mathematics that will be
used most commonly throughout physics. Included here are the chemistry pages for Unit Conversions and Significant
Figures, as well as an introduction to vectors that are used for nearly every topic in physics.
Unit Conversion
Base Units: The following are seven base units used
in the metric system:
Table 1. Base Units
Property Unit Symbol Metric-Metric Conversions: Conversion factors for
the metric system can be determined from prefixes
Amount of substance mole mol added to -meter. Some of the common prefixes are
given below:
Electric current ampere amp
Length meter m
Luminous intensity candela cd
Mass kilogram kg
Temperature kelvin K
Time second s
Table 2. The following factors are commonly applied.
Table 3. Prefixes for the Metric System
Scientific Notation
Scientific notation offers a convenient way of
expressing very large or very small numbers. A positive Prefix Symbol Factor
power of 10, when the number given is larger than 10.
A negative power of 10, when the number given is femto- f 10-15
smaller than 1.
pico- p 10-12
Rules of Using Scientific Notation in
Computations
Addition and Subtraction
nano- n 10-9
- Before adding or subtracting we need to
transform all of the powers of 10 to be the micro- µ 10-6
same.
Ex. 3.4 x 105+ 9.7 x 106 = 0.34 x 106+ 9.7 x 106 milli- m 10-3
= 10.04 x 106
centi- c 10-2
= 1.0 x 107
Multiplication deci- d 10-1
- To multiply two numbers in scientific
notation, multiply their coefficients and add Base unit 100
their exponents.
Ex. (3.4 x 105)(9.7 x 106) = 32.98 x 105 +6 deca- D 101
= 32.98 x 1011
= 3.3 x 1012 hecto- h 102
Division
- To divide two numbers in scientific notation, kilo- k 103
divide their coefficients and subtract their
exponents. mega- M 106
Ex. (3.4 x 106)÷ (9.7 x 1013) = 0.35 x 10 6−13
= 0.35 x 10−7 giga- G 109
= 3.5 x 10−8
Measurement Errors
- classified as either random or
systematic, depending on how the
measurement was obtained (an
instrument could cause a random error in
one situation and a systematic error in
another). Random errors usually result
from the experimenter’s inability to take
the same measurement in exactly the
same way to get exact the same number.
Systematic errors, by contrast, are
reproducible inaccuracies that are
consistently in the same direction.
Systematic errors are often due to a
problem which persists throughout the
entire experiment.
Common sources of error in physics laboratory experiments are:
Incomplete definition (may be systematic or random) — One reason that it is impossible to make
exact measurements is that the measurement is not always clearly defined.
Environmental factors (systematic or random) — Be aware of errors introduced by your immediate
working environment.
Instrument resolution (random) — All instruments have finite precision that limits the ability to
resolve small measurement differences.
Calibration (systematic) — Whenever possible, the calibration of an instrument should be checked
before taking data.
Estimation of Errors
- To estimate the error in a measurement, we need to know the expected or standard value and
compare how far our measured values deviate from the expected value. The absolute error,
relative error, and percentage error are different ways to estimate the errors in our
measurements.
The mean value
To calculate the mean, we need to add all measured values of
x and divide them by the number of values we took.
Estimating the absolute error
To estimate the absolute error, we need to calculate the
difference between the measured value x0 and the expected
value or standard xref:
Estimating the relative error
To estimate the relative error, we need to calculate the
difference between the measured value x0 and the standard value
xref and divide it by the total magnitude of the standard value
xref:
Estimating the percentage error
To estimate the percentage error, we need to calculate
the relative error and multiply it by one hundred. The
percentage error is expressed as ‘error value’%. This error tells
us the deviation percentage caused by the error.
First Quarter
Module 1-Assessment
GENERAL PHYSICS 1
Name: ________________________________ Grade Level & Strand: ____________ Score: ___________
Teacher’s Name: Joan L. Lomo
A. Directions: Read the statements and write the numbers in scientific notation on the
space provided before each item.
_________ 1. The population of the world is about 7,117,000,000.
_________ 2. The distance from Earth to the Sun is about 92,960,000 miles.
_________ 3. The human body contains approximately 60,000,000,000,000 or more cells.
_________ 4. The mass of a particle of dust is 0.000000000753 kg.
_________ 5. The length of the shortest wavelength of visible light (violet) is 0.0000004
meters.
B. Directions : Convert the following measurements. Show your solution in converting
the unit on the space below.
1. 586 cm = _______m
2. 4.28 m = _______mm
3. 1396mg = _______kg
4. 1375L = _______kL
5. 12g = ________cg
C. Directions : List down at least 2 common sources of errors and how to prevent them.
Example of Systematic Error Example of Random Error
(1) (1)
(2) (2)
