Measurement

The Importance of Units

Every measurement is composed of a number and a unit.

The number is meaningless without the unit.

• proper aspirin dosage = 325 (milligrams or pounds?)

• a fast time for the 100-meter dash = 10.00 (seconds
or days?)

The English system uses units like feet (length),

gallons (volume), and pounds (weight).

The metric system uses units like meters (length), liters

(volume), and grams (mass). 1
 Measurement
The Metric System of Units
Each type of measurement has a base unit.

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 Measurement
The Metric System of Units
• Other units are related to the base unit by a power of 10.
• The prefix of the unit name indicates if the unit is larger
or smaller than the base unit.

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 Measurement
Measuring Length

1 kilometer (km) = 1,000 meters (m)

1 km = 1,000 m

1 millimeter (mm) = 0.001 meters (m)

1 mm = 0.001 m

1 centimeter (cm) = 0.01 meters (m)

1 cm = 0.01 m

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 Measurement
Measuring Mass
Mass is a measure of the amount of matter in an
object.

Weight is the force that matter feels due to gravity.

1 kilogram (kg) = 1,000 grams (g)

1 kg = 1,000 g

1 milligram (mg) = 0.001 grams (g)

1 mg = 0.001 g

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 Measurement
Measuring Volume

1 kiloliter (kL) = 1,000 liters (L)

1 kL = 1,000 L

1 milliliter (mL) = 0.001 liters (L)

1 mL = 0.001 L

Volume = Length x Width x Height

= cm x cm x cm
= cm3

1 mL = 1 cm3 = 1 cc

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Uncertainties in Measurements
–Every measurement carries
uncertainty
–All measurements must include
estimates of uncertainty with them
–There is an uncertainty of at least
one unit in the last digit
Three volume measurements
with their uncertainties:
• Large graduated cylinder, 8 ± 1 mL
• Small graduate cylinder, 8.0 ± 0.1 mL
• Pipet or buret, 8.00 ± 0.01 mL
–Uncertainty of ± in the last
digit is assumed but not
stated
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Significant Figures
Tell us…
• How much information we
know about a
measurement…
• How good a measurement
is…
 Significant Figures
Exact and Inexact Numbers
An exact number results from counting objects or is
part of a definition.
•10 fingers
•10 toes
•1 meter = 100 centimeters

An inexact number results from a measurement or

observation and contains some uncertainty.
•15.3 cm
•1000.8 g
•0.0034 mL

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 Significant Figures
Determining Significant Figures

Significant figures are all the digits in a measured

number including one estimated digit.

Rule 1: All nonzero digits are always

significant

65.2 g 255.345 g
3 sig. figures 6 sig. figures

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 Significant Figures
Rules to Determine When a Zero
is a Significant Figure

Rule 2: Zeroes between nonzero digits are significant

figure

29.05 g 1.0087 mL
4 sig. figures 5 sig. figures

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 Significant Figures
Rules to Determine When a Zero
is a Significant Figure

Rule 3: Zeroes at the end of a number with a decimal

place are significant figure
3.7500 cm 620. lb
5 sig. figures 3 sig. figures

• zeroes at the beginning of a number are NOT

significant figure
0.00245 mg 0.008 mL
3 sig. figures 1 sig. figure
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 Significant Figures
Rules to Determine When a Zero
is a Significant Figure

Rule 4: Zeroes at the end of a number without a

decimal are NOT significant figure

2570 m 1245500 m
3 sig. figures 5 sig. figures
Example:
Using different balances, 3 different students
weigh the same object. They report the
following masses:
a.1.611 g
b.1.60 g
c.0.001611 kg
How many significant figures does each
value have?
 A. Determine the number of
significant figures.
1) 23000 g
2) 0.0045 kg
3) 2009 mL
4) 26.09 km
5) 7653 m
 B. Determine the number of
significant figures.
1) 193000 mL
2) 0.0028000 kg
3) 2011 cm
4) 10.09 km
5) 7653000 mg
 Significant Figures
Rules for Multiplication and Division
The answer has the same number of significant figures
as the original number with the fewest significant
figures.

4 sig. figures

351.2 miles 63.854545 miles

=
5.5 hour hour

2 sig. figures Answer must have

2 sig. figures.

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 Significant Figures
Rules for Rounding Off Numbers
to be retained to be dropped

63.854545 miles = 64 miles

hour hour

first digit to be dropped 2 sig. figures

Answer
If the first digit
to be dropped is: Then:
•between 0 and 4 •drop it and all remaining digits
•between 5 and 9 •round up the last digit
to be retained by adding 1
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 Significant Figures
Rules for Addition and Subtraction
The answer has the same number of decimal places
as the original number with the fewest decimal places.

10.11 kg 2 decimal places

3.6 kg 1 decimal place

6.51 kg answer must have

1 decimal place

= 6.5 kg final answer

1 decimal place
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 Extra rule:
Exact numbers are
considered to have an
infinite number of
significant figures. These
are numbers which are
part of a formula.
Seatwork: Perform the following operations
and express your answers in the correct
number of significant figures
a) 14.00 L – 12.5 L + 102.75 L
b) A toy weighs 64.8 kg. His brother weighs 76
kg. How much heavier is his brother?
c) 3.20 cm x 24.9 cm
2.1 cm
d.) The label of a 120 g candy bay says that it
provides 435 calories. How many calories
per gram does the candy provide?
 Scientific Notation

In scientific notation, a number is written as:

y x 10x Exponent:
Any positive
or negative
Coefficient: whole number.
A number between
1 and 10.

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 Scientific Notation
HOW TO Convert a Standard Number to Scientific Notation

Example Convert these numbers to scientific notation.

2,500 0.036

Step [1] Move the decimal point to give a number

between 1 and 10.
2500 0.036
Step [2] Multiply the result by 10x, where
x = number of places the decimal was moved.
•move decimal left, •move decimal right,
x is positive x is negative

2.5 x 103 3.6 x 10−2

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 Scientific Notation
Converting a Number in Scientific Notation
to a Standard Number

•When the exponent x is positive, move the

decimal point x places to the right.

2.800 x 102 = 280.0

•When the exponent x is negative, move the

decimal point x places to the left.

2.80 x 10–2 = 0.0280

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Seatwork: Express into scientific notation

1) 123.05 mL
2) 975,200,000 g
3) 0.0000025 km
4) 0.1258 oC
5) 0.0025003 m
Seatwork: Express into standard number

1) 6.852x105
2) 5.85x1015
3) 3.6x10-5
4) 2.68452x10-1
5) 8.2x10-7
Problem Solving Using the Factor-Label
Method
Conversion Factors
Conversion factor: A term that converts a quantity in
one unit to a quantity in another unit.

original desired
x conversion factor = quantity
quantity

•Conversion factors are usually written as equalities.

2.21 lb = 1 kg
•To use them, they must be written as fractions.
2.21 lb or 1 kg
1 kg 2.21 lb
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 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using One Conversion Factor
Factor-label method: Using conversion factors to
convert a quantity in one unit to a quantity in
another unit.
•units are treated like numbers
•make sure all unwanted units cancel

To convert 130 lb into kilograms:

130 lb x conversion factor = ? kg

original desired
quantity quantity
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 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using One Conversion Factor

2.21 lb
1 kg
130 lb x or Answer
2 sig. figures
1 kg
2.21 lb = 59 kg

•The bottom conversion factor has

the original unit in the denominator.
•The unwanted unit lb cancels.
•The desired unit kg does not cancel.
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 Using the Factor-Label Method
HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

How many grams of aspirin are in a 325-mg

Example
tablet?

Identify the original quantity and the desired

Step [1]
quantity, including units.
original quantity desired quantity
325 mg ?g

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 Using the Factor-Label Method
HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

Step [2] Write out the conversion factor(s) needed

to solve the problem.
1 g = 1000 mg

This can be written as two possible fractions:

1000 mg or 1g
1g 1000 mg

Choose this factor to

cancel the unwanted
unit, mg. 39
 Using the Factor-Label Method
HOW TO Solve a Problem Using Conversion Factors

Step [3] Set up and solve the problem.

325 mg x 1g = 0.325 g
1000 mg
3 sig. figures 3 sig. figures
Unwanted unit
cancels.

Write the answer with the correct number

Step [4]
of significant figures.
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 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using Two or More
Conversion Factors
Always arrange the factors so that the denominator in
one term cancels the numerator in the preceding term.
How many liters is in 1.0 pint?
1.0 pint ?L
original quantity desired quantity
•Two conversion factors are needed:
2 pints = 1 quart 1.06 quarts = 1 liter
2 pt or 1 qt 1.06 qt or 1L
1 qt 2 pt 1L 1.06 qt

First, cancel pt. Then, cancel qt.

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 Using the Factor-Label Method
Solving a Problem Using Two or More
Conversion Factors

•Set up the problem and solve:

1.0 pt x 1 qt x 1 L = 0.47 L
2 pt 1.06 qt
2 sig. figures 2 sig. figures

•Write the answer with the correct number of

significant figures.

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 Convert!
a) 3.9 mL to L
b) 112.2 lbs to kg
c) 2.814 cm2 to m2
d) 50.9 km/hr to m/s
e) 28.3 g/cm3 to kg/m3
 Temperature
Temperature is a measure of how hot or cold an object is.
Three temperature scales are used:
•degrees Fahrenheit (oF)
•degrees Celsius (oC)
•Kelvin (K)

To convert from oC to oF: To convert from oF to oC:

o
F = 1.8(oC) + 32
o
C = oF − 32
1.8

To convert from oC to K: To convert from K to oC:

K = oC + 273 o
C = K − 273
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 Temperature
Comparing the Three Temperature Scales

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 Density
Density
Density: A physical property that relates the mass of
a substance to its volume.
mass (g)
density =
volume (mL or cc)

To convert volume (mL) To convert mass (g)

to mass (g): to volume (mL):
g mL
mL x = g g x = mL
mL g

density inverse of density

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 Density
Solving Problems with Density
•If the density of acetic acid is 1.05 g/mL, what is
the volume of 5.0 grams of acetic acid?
5.0 g ? mL
original quantity desired quantity
•Density is the conversion factor, and can be
written two ways:
1.05 g 1 mL
1 mL 1.05 g

Choose the inverse density

to cancel the unwanted unit, g.
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 Density
Solving Problems with Density

•Set up and solve the problem:

5.0 g x 1 mL = 4.8 mL
1.05 g
2 sig. figures 2 sig. figures
Unwanted unit
cancels.

•Write the final answer with the correct number

of significant figures.
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