Juan Sumulong Campus

Mr Andro R Romano
Science Teacher

• Solve measurement problems

involving conversion of units,
expression of measurements in
scientific notation; (STEM_GP12EU-Ia1)
• Differentiate accuracy from
 precision; (STEM_GP12EU-Ia-2)
• Differentiate random errors from
systematic errors. (STEM_GP12EU-Ia-3)

a) define uncertainty;
b) perform operations with
significant digits;
c) perform rounding off numbers;
 d) perform operations using
scientific notation.

We use instruments to measure physical quantities. Thus, our goal

is to get an accurate and precise measurement.
Direction: Read the statements below, put a check( /) if it
has to be followed and cross (x) if not.
What is Uncertainty?
UNCERTAINTY
➢ is the estimated error in
recording a data.
 ▪ The distinction between the measurements
with a ruler and with a caliper is in
their uncertainty; the measurement
with a caliper has a smaller
uncertainty.
▪ The uncertainty is also called the
error because it indicates the
maximum difference there is likely to
3 mm be between the measured value and
the true value.

2.91 mm
 What is Accuracy and Precision?
Accuracy and precision are used in context of measurement:
Accuracy
➢ refers to how close it is likely to
be to the true value – by writing
the number, the symbol±, and a
second number indicating the
uncertainty of the measurement.
Precision
➢ also called repeatability refers to
the closeness of two or more
measurements to each other.
 Accuracy Precision
Examples:
Example: • If you weigh a given substance five
• If in laboratory you obtain a weight times, and get 3.2 kg each time, then
measurement of 3.2 kg for a given your measurement is very precise.
substance, but the actual or known • If on average, your measurements
weight is 10 kg, then your for a given substance are close to the
measurement is not accurate. In this known value, but the measurements
case, your measurement is not close are far from each other, then you
to the known value. have accuracy without precision.
Note: Precision is independent of accuracy. You can be very precise but
inaccurate. You can also be accurate but imprecise.
 What is Random and Systematic Errors?
All experimental uncertainty is due to either random errors or systematic errors:
Random errors are statistical fluctuations in
the measured data due to the precision
limitations of the measurement device.
Example:
• You measure the mass of a ring three times • The cloth tape measure that you use to
using the same balance and get slightly measure the length of an object had been
different values: 17.46 g, 17.42 g, 17.44 g, the stretched out from years of use. (As a result,
differences of masses are the random errors. all your length measurements were too small),
Systematic errors are reproducible hence there is systematic errors.
inaccuracies that are consistently in • The electronic scale you use reads 0.05 g too
the same direction. high for all your mass measurements (because
it is improperly tared throughout your
experiment), hence there is a systematic error.
Example:
 Activity 1.1: Is it Accurate or Precise?
A. Given dart diagrams below, determine if it shows accuracy and/or
precision.

Activity 1.2: Think and Analyze!

Analyze the cases below then interpret whether the data are accurate and/or precise.

NO
There is no standard value to
YES each other.
The measurement is close with YES
compared to. NO
 done using the same
The measurement is close to set-up.
the true value.
Measurement must be

SIGNIFICANT
FIGURES
RuleMeasurement Expression
➢ they comprise all digits that Significant Figures

are known with conventionally placed digits are significant.

certainty plus the first to the left of a decimal 5. All zeros to the right of a decimal
digit that is uncertain. point in such an point and to the right of a nonzero

The position of the expression is never 3.digit,Zeros to the right of a nonzero digit are significant.
but to the left of an understood 14567.3
decimal point is significant. It is just decimal point, are not significant 34.128
relevant. used to locate the unless specifically indicated as
significant by a bar placed above
3.986

Rules in Counting decimal point. the rightmost, such zero becomes 34.0045
1. All nonzero digits are significant. significant.
Significant Figures
1.00006017 20037089

4. All zeros to the right of a decimal

The single zero
ഥ
108,000000 108,�� 00
point but to the left of a nonzero
2. All zeros between two nonzero digit are not significant.* 108,00000��ഥ
 0.030670890 700.00000000 2
6 3
0.000509 5 4 4
0.02876 4 9 8
0.0000036 11
6
0.4087 9 3
8 4

OPERATIONS WITH SIGNIFICANT

FIGURES
❖ Addition and Subtraction The 1. 20.63 cm + 6.6 cm + 3. 786 cm =
31.016 cm Answer: 31.0 cm
answer must contain the same
number of decimal places as 2. 387.876L – 197.23L = 190.646 L
Answer: 190.65 L
the term with the least number ❖ Multiplication and Division The
of decimal places. answer must contain the same
Examples: number of significant figures as
the term with the least number
 of significant figures. Answer: 55 m3
2. 69.48 m by 3.62 s = 19.19337017 m/s
Examples: Answer: 19.2 m/s
1. 9.25 m x 0.52 m x 11. 35m = 54.5935 m3

Rounding Off Numbers

1. If the figure to be dropped is five, or greater than five, increase by one the value of the last
figure to be retained.
Examples:
a) 78.567 rounded off to the nearest hundredths place is 78.57
b) 123.345 rounded off to the nearest hundredths place is 123.35
c) 457.9679 rounded off to the nearest thousandths place is 457.968
2. If the figure to be dropped is less than five, the last figure to be retained should not be
changed.
Examples:
a) 5.052 rounded off to the nearest hundredths place is 5.05 b) 136.324
rounded off to the nearest one's place is 136
c) 98230.478 rounded off to the nearest tens place is 98230

What is Scientific Notation?

➢ method of writing or expressing very large or very small numbers into its
exponential form.

Form: M x 10n
Where:
M – number greater than or equal to one but less than ten
n – number of times the decimal point is moved. It can be a
positive or negative integer.
 Scientific Notation?
Rules:
1. Determine M by moving the decimal point in the original number to the left or right so
that the only one nonzero digit is to the left of it.
2. Determine n by counting the number of places the decimal point has been
moved. If moved to the left, n is positive.
moved to the right, n is negative.
Examples:
Positional form Exponential form
Diameter of the earth = 1 300 000 000 cm ans. 1.3 x 109 cm Diameter of a
hydrogen atom = 0.000 000 01 cm ans. 1 x 10 -8 cm Speed of light = 30 000
000 000 cm/s ans. 3 x 1010cm/s
 Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Which of the following refers to the repeatability of the

measurement using a given instrument?

A. Accuracy C. Uncertainty

B. Precision D. Unit

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. Which of the following refers to the repeatability of the
measurement using a given instrument?

A. Accuracy C. Uncertainty

B. Precision D. Unit

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer. 2.

The number of significant figures in 0.00150 is ___________

 A. 2 C. 4

B. 3 D. 5

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer. 2.

The number of significant figures in 0.00150 is ___________

A. 2 C. 4
 B. 3 D. 5

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

3. What is the value of 56.35 if it is rounded off to the nearest

tenths?

A. 56. 30 C. 50.00

B. 56.40 D. 60.00
 Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

3. What is the value of 56.35 if it is rounded off to the nearest

tenths?

A. 56. 30 C. 50.00

B. 56.40 D. 60.00

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
4. What errors occur in measurements of temperature due to poor thermal
contact between the thermometer and the substance whose temperature
is to be found?
C. Both systematic and
A. Neither systematic nor random errors
random errors

B. Systematic errors D. Random errors

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.
4. What errors occur in measurements of temperature due to poor thermal
contact between the thermometer and the substance whose temperature
is to be found?
C. Both systematic and
A. Neither systematic nor random errors
random errors

B. Systematic errors D. Random errors

Evaluation
Multiple Choice: Choose the letter of the correct answer.

5. Which diagram best illustrates high precision and low

accuracy?
Activity 1: Units & Measurements (2) Instruction: Illustrate in the
dart board the following: (Use 4 (four) dots)
 Activity 1: Units & Measurements (2)
Instruction: Analyze the cases below then interpret whether the data are
accurate and/or precise.
 Activity 2: Units & Measurements (2)
For Your Reflection: 1. Why learn measurement uncertainty?
Explain and provide one example. (10 points)
Perform these operations with significant digits: (1 point each)
1. 24.687 m + 2.33 m + 3.2 m
2. 9.46 cm + 25.45 cm + 491.55 cm + 9.0972 cm + 11.8 cm
3. 28.63 L – 15.4 L
4. 3.22 m x 2.2 m
5. 2.567 cm x 3.02 cm x 0.0021 cm
6. 36.5 m / 3.1416 s
7. 28.653 m + 37.35 m + 13.1 m
8. 420.171 mL – 220.57 mL
9. 7.3 s x 2.25 s
10. 72.8 kg – 2.95 kg
 Activity 3: Units & Measurements (2)
For Your Reflection: 1. Why do we round numbers? (10 points)
Perform these operations using scientific notation: (1 point
each) 1. (1230) + (500)
2. (0.00003574) (7520)
3. (0.000075) / (1500)
4. (4.92 x 106) + (2.7 x 108)
5. (6.85 x 105) x (2.38 x 10-3)
6. (4.932 x 10-4) / (6.429 x 102)
7. (9.67 x 104) + (8.09 x 103) + (3.632 x 102)
8. (4.753 x 10-5) + (7.49 x 10-6) – (5.25 x 10-7)
9. (2.94 x 103) (9.432 x 10-5)
10. (5.432 x 10-8) / (1.495 x 10-10)