Wks Full Pack L2a
Wks Full Pack L2a
Wks Full Pack L2a
Overview
All measurements have uncertainty. In science, it is important to indicate the
uncertainty when you are reporting numbers since this indicates the reliability of the data
and the quality of instruments being used. When a scientist takes a measurement, she
records all the digits she is certain of and includes one digit that has some uncertainty. For
instance, if a standard metric ruler were used to find the length of a pen, the reading may
fall between 15.4cm and 15.5cm. The scientist may estimate that the length is closer to the
15.5 mark and report the value as 15.47cm. In this measurement, only the 7 is uncertain and
is probably off by 1 or 2 at the most.
Sometimes the uncertainty will be reported using the ± symbol. For example, 244 ±
3. When the ± symbol is not used, expect that the right-most digit is uncertain and could be
off by 2. For example, a value of 34.23mL means that the scientist is fairly certain the value
is between 34.21 and 34.25mL with the best guess being 34.23mL.
Besides measurements, scientists also report calculated values (like density). There is
a two-part rule that indicates how to round calculated numbers so that they show the same
degree of uncertainty as the measurements they were calculated from. To use the rule for
multiplication and division you will need to know how many significant digits each factor has.
The number of significant digits is the number of digits that indicate precision. It is the
number of digits you are certain of and the one uncertain digit. The number of significant
digits in 15.47cm (length of the pen) is 4.
As you can see from the examples, some of the zeros get counted and some don’t.
On the other hand, all non-zeros are counted all of the time.
Laliberte, 9/9/08
Chemistry Worksheet: Significant Figures #1
Enter the number of significant figures for each of the numbers below.
Perform the following addition and subtraction calculations and express your
answer to the correct number of significant figures.
12. 45 + 25 + 0.006 =
Perform the following multiplication and division calculations and express your
answer to the correct number of significant figures.
20. 63556 / 12 =
Laliberte, 9/9/08
Chemistry Worksheet: Significant Figures #2
Part1: Enter the number of significant figures for each of the numbers below.
Part 2: Perform the following addition and subtraction calculations and express
your answer to the correct number of significant figures.
12. 71 + 22 + 0.019 =
20. 56 ÷ 12345 =
Chemistry Worksheet: Significant Figures #3
Answer each problem using significant figures.
ADDITION
Laliberte, 9/9/08
1. 3.84 + 2.74 + 0.07 = 4. 6.75 + 2.73 + 2.8634 =
SUBTRACTION
MULTIPLICATION
DIVISION
Laliberte, 9/9/08
3. 5.5 kg = __________lbs 8. 175 lbs = __________ kg
11. How many liters of gasoline can be held in a gas tank with capacity 12.5 gallons?
12. If you donate 1.00 pints of blood, how much blood have you given in mL?
13. How many fluid ounces are in a 2.00 liter soda bottle?
Laliberte, 9/9/08