Measurement

Many properties of matter are quantitative. When a number represents a

measured quantity, the units of that quantity must always be specified.
SI Units – International System of Units
SI Base Units
Base Quantity Name of Unit Symbol
length meter m
mass kilogram kg
time second s
current ampere A
temperature Kelvin K
amt. substance mole mol
luminous intensity candela cd

Prefixes Used with SI Units

Name Symbol Multiplier
mega M 106
kilo k 103
deka da 10
deci d 10-1
centi c 10-2
milli m 10-3
micro  10-6
nano n 10-9
pico p 10-12
femto f 10-15

Definitions
 Mass - measure of the quantity of matter in a body
Weight - measure of the gravitational attraction for a body
Common Conversion Factors
Length
1 m = 39.37 inches
2.54 cm = 1 inch
Volume
1 liter = 1.06 qt
1 qt = 0.946 liter

Density Calculations
Density is the mass of an object divided by its volume:
mass m
density= d=
volume V
Example: Calculate the density of mercury if 100 grams occupies a volume of 7.36
cm3?
Strategy: We are given mass and volume, so
mass 100 grams g
density= = =13 . 6 3
volume 7 .36 cm 3
cm
Practice Exercise 5. Calculate the volume of 65.0 g of the liquid methanol if its
density is 0.791 g/ml.
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Practice Exercise 6. What is the mass in grams of a cube of gold (density = 19.32
g/cm3) if the length of the cube is 2.00 cm.

Temperature – is a measure is a measure of how hot or cold a substance is relative to

another substance.

The three temperature scales commonly used

1. Celsius, oC
2. Fahrenheit, oF
 3. Kelvins, K

Temperature Conversion

1. Converting degrees Fahrenheit to degrees Celsius

o
5 C
o
o
C = (0F - 32oF) x 9 F

2. Converting degress Celsius to degrees Fahreheit

9o F
o
o
F = ( oC x 5 C ) + 32oF
3. Converting degrees Celsius to Kelvins
K = oC + 273
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Example: A child has a body temperature of 38.7oC.
a. If normal body temperature is 98.6oF, does the child have a fever?
b. What is the child’s body temperature in kelvins?
Strategy:
a. To find out if the child has a fever, convert from oC to oF and determine whether
38.7oC is higher than 98.6oC
9
(38 . 7o C )+32
o
F= 5
= 101.7oF the child has a fever
b. Convert temperature in oC to K
K = 38.7oC + 273.15
= 311.8 K
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Practice Exercise 7. Mercury melts at 234 K, lower than any other pure metal. What
is the melting point in oC? and oF?
Uncertainty in Measurement:

Significant Figures

The measurements should be expressed with proper number of significant

figures. Significant figures are the digits in a number that are known with certainty and
the last digit being uncertain. For example, if the length of a ball pen is measured using
a meter stick calibrated in decimeters and the reading falls between 0.1 and 0.2m, this
is estimated to be about 0.15m with two significant figures (SF). However, if a meter
stick calibrated in centimeters is used, the reading can be observed with certainty
between 15 cm and 126 cm. The length is estimated to be about 15.5 cm (0.155m),
this time with 3 SF.

Rules for Counting Significant Figures in A Given Number

1. All non-zero digits are significant.
Ex. 12.5 has 3 SF
2. All zeroes between non-zero digits are significant.
Ex. 1001 has 4 SF
3. For values less than one, all zeroes between the decimal and the first non-zero
digit are not significant.
Ex. 0.01 has 1SF
4. All zeros to the right of the decimal point and to the right of anon-zero digit are
significant.
Ex. 0.200 has 3 SF
Ex. 2.000 has 4 SF
Computation Rules
In measurements, the following rules apply to computing and reporting
experimental values.
1. In expressing an experimental quantity, retain no more than one uncertain digit.
2. In rounding off numbers,
a. Increase the last digit by 1 if the next digit is greater than 5.
Ex. 1.2360 and 1.2372 are both rounded off to 1.24
 b. Retain the last digit if the next digit is less than 5
Ex. 1.2349 and 1.2340 are both rounded off to 1.23
c. If the next digit is exactly 5, retain the last digit if ever, or increase by 1 if
odd.
Ex. 1.2350 rounded off to 1.24
1.2250 is rounded off to 1.22
3. In addition and subtraction, the answer should be rounded off so as to retain the
digits only as far as the first column containing estimated digits.
Ex. 1.185
1.23482
2.13
+ 8.3401
12.88992 rounded off 12.89
4. In multiplication and division, the answer should be rounded off so as to have
the same number significant figures as there are in the item of the data with the
smallest number of significant figures.
Ex. 2.1831
x 1.1
2813
2813
3.0943 rounded off to 3.1