Module 1 dba

1.00
Thales of Miletus, Greek philosopher: He used indirect measurement to calculate the height of the
pyramids. He compared the length of his shadow to his height to create a proportion with the length
of the pyramid’s shadow and unknown height during the same time of day. It was something no one
had thought to do before.

DIRECT AND INDIRECT: Direct and indirect measurement are used by physicists to investigate all
types of phenomena. Even now, with our innovative tools and technology, we still use indirect
measurement to answer questions about our world and beyond. For example, this graph shows
CO2 levels during the last three glacial cycles. Scientists measure carbon sources in glacier ice cores
samples. From their measurements, they indirectly calculate the amount of CO 2 in previous
millennia.

Due to the size of an object (very small or very large), it may be difficult or impossible to make a
direct measurement. An alternative method known as indirect measurement may be utilized.

WHAT IS SCIENCE WHAT ISN’T SCIENCE?

Science is our knowledge of the natural world and the process through which that knowledge is built.
This body of knowledge has been gathered over thousands of years and is the result of observation,
inquiry, rational thinking, and questioning. It has developed from group efforts and individual
discoveries. Sometimes a practice or belief claims to be science but does not follow the scientific
method or cannot be proven reliable through experimentation. These practices are examples of
pseudoscience, which literally means "fake science."

 Is the study or data documented completely, and does it follow a controlled and testable
scientific method?
 Does the information contain just the facts and avoid mixing in opinion and assumption?
 Is the information presented purely for public knowledge, avoiding being connected with a
new product that is for sale?
 Does the information come from a third party that is not profiting from the results of the
study?
 Has the study been retested by other scientists with the same results?
 Are the results reported and published in a scientific journal?

Writing in science should include examples, details, facts, explanations.

1.01
Physics is a beautiful combination of both language arts and mathematics.

Mean—a calculated statistical value which can be used to describe the typical data in a set. The
mean is found by adding all the data values in the set and dividing by the number of items. It is also
called the "average".

mean (average) =
Outlier—a value which is extremely high or extremely low when compared to the other numbers in
the data set. If outliers are present in the data, then the mean will not be a true picture of the center
of the data.

Median—the middle value in a set of arranged numbers. It is found by counting down from the top or
up from the bottom (n + 1)/2 scores. The median is used as the center of the data when outliers are
present.
If the data set has an odd number of values, the median is exactly the middle number.
If the data set has an even number of values, the median is the average of the two middle scores.

Weighted Means—a mean value which is calculated by multiplying numbers in the data set by
weight factors and then dividing the sum by the total weights.
The direction that a weighted mean will go from the normal average all depends upon the value
being multiplied.

EXPONENT RULES:

Product Rule
To multiply powers that have the same base, keep the base and add the exponents. Using
algebraic symbols, we can write this rule as:

am • an = am+n
Quotient Rule
To divide powers that have the same base, keep the base and subtract the exponents. Using
algebraic symbols, we can write this rule as:

am ÷ an = a^m/a^n = am – n
Zero Power Rule
Any number (except zero) raised to the zero power equals 1. Note: 00 is undefined. Using algebraic
symbols, we can write this rule as:

a0 = 1
Negative Exponent Rule
Any whole number a (except zero) raised to the −nth power is the reciprocal of a raised to the nth
power. Using algebraic symbols, we can write this rule as:

a−n = 1/a^n, when a ≠ 0

SCIENTIFIC NOTATION:
 Numbers greater than 1 have a positive exponent on the power of 10.
 Numbers between 0 and 1 have a negative exponent on the power of 10.
Science notation on calculator: 2.45 is the numeric value, and 23 is the exponent on the
power of 10. So the display of 2.45 E23 can be read as 2.45 • 1023.

QUADRATIC FORMULA:

1.02
Since the term "variable" is associated with "change," we can think of variables as changing
quantities. In a well-designed experiment, you only want to have two quantities that are changing.
These quantities are called the independent variable and the dependent variable.
The independent variable is sometimes called the "manipulative" because it refers to a quantity
that is changed by the experimenter. In our experiments, you will be changing this quantity.
The dependent variable is sometimes called the "respondent" because it refers to a quantity that
changes as a response to the changes you make with the independent variable.

The horizontal axis of your graph is called the x-axis, and the vertical axis of your graph is called
the y-axis.

The independent variable is placed on the x-axis, and the dependent variable is placed on the y-
axis.

You also need a title, and to choose the proper scale for your graph. Lastly, be sure to show the
scale numbers on the lines, not the spaces of your graph grid.

After you have plotted all of the data pairs, you will draw a line that best represents the trend
indicated by the data pairs. If the points seem to lie mostly in a straight line, use a ruler to draw a
line

1.03
There are three basic shapes that you will frequently encounter as you graph data: a positively
sloping diagonal line, a half-parabola, and a hyperbola.

linear relationship:
diagonal line, linear relationship, y = mx + b, Remember that "m" is the symbol for the slope of
the line, and "b" is the symbol for the y-intercept. Since the slope of the diagonal line is constant,
we can replace the "m" in the equation with a "k." The "k" will be our symbol for a constant, an
unchanging [Link] meaning of the graph suggested by the graph line and equation is "y" is
directly related to "x," or more specifically, distance is directly related to time.

Power (Quadratic) Relationship:

Half-parabola, linear relationship, y = kx2, Distance is graphed on the y-axis so "distance" can
replace the "y" in the equation. Time is graphed on the x-axis so "time" can replace the "x" in the
equation. The generic equation y = kx2 becomes distance = k(time squared) or d = kt2.
The meaning of the graph suggested by the graph line and equation is distance is directly related
to time squared.

Inverse Relationship:

hyperbola, inverse relationship, y = kx−1 or y = k (1/x). Volume is graphed on the y-axis

so "volume" can replace the "y" in the equation. Pressure is graphed on the x-axis
so "pressure" can replace the "x" in the equation. The meaning of the graph suggested by the
graph line and equation is volume is directly related to the reciprocal of pressure. The same
meaning could also be expressed as volume is inversely related to pressure.

1.04
Metric System: One reason for the wide-spread use of the metric system is that it seems easier to
learn and remember. Instead of multiple words for units of measurement, such as inches, yards, and
miles for length, the metric system uses only one word for length, the meter (the international
standard unit of length).

Conversion Factor: In a conversion factor, the numerator and denominator equal the same
amount, just in different units. For example, to convert 3 miles into feet, you would multiply 3 miles
by a conversion factor created from the units of miles and feet. Because 1 mile equals 5,280 feet,
two conversion factors can be created:

SI Base Units: Le Système International des Unités (The International System of Units), abbreviated
as SI units, is the primary system used by scientists and engineers. It will also be used as you learn
physics. In this system, scientists have specified what units should be used as the seven base units
of measurement from which all other units are derived.
Quantity (Symbol) Name of Unit (Symbol)

Length (l) Meter (m)

Mass (m) Kilogram (kg)

Time (t) Second (s)

Electric current (I) Ampere (A)

Thermodynamic temperature (T) Kelvin (K)

Amount of substance (n) Mole (mol)

Quantity (Symbol) Name of Unit (Symbol)

Luminous intensity (Iv) Candela (cd)

SIG FIGS:
1. All nonzero digits are significant.

2. All zeros between nonzero digits are significant.

3. Zeros that come before (to the left of) any nonzero digits are not significant. They
are just place holders in numbers less than one.

4. Zeros at the end (to the right) of a number are only significant if there is a decimal
somewhere in the number.

5. All digits in the coefficient of a number in scientific notation must be significant.

It is often preferable to take several measurements and use the average of these readings when
analyzing the results. For example, in performing a series of measurements, a student may
become biased in favor of the first observation.

Reading a value from a scale involves lining up an object with the marks on the scale. The apparent
distance between two objects, and hence the value of the reading, depends on the position of the
eye. A reading may appear to be different when viewed with one eye or the other, or when the head
is moved from side to side or up and down. This apparent measurement difference is due to a
change in position of the observer and is called parallax.

1.05
A metric ruler is adequate for measuring short distances in most of our laboratory investigations, but
you can use a Vernier caliper for precise measurements of small objects.

The top(outside) and bottom (inside) scales slide back and forth along the main scale; these are
called the Vernier scales. The reading for the thickness of the object you are measuring is made
using the top (outside) scale.

1.07
Parts of an experiment Title, Purpose, Hypothesis, Introduction, Materials, Procedure, Data,
Questions, and Conclusion, dependent and independent variable, all other quantities must
be controlled.
Motion: change in position of an object relative to a frame of reference.

Frame of reference: an object that you assume is fixed.

Speed: how fast an object is moving

Velocity: Measure of speed and direction

Acceleration: The rate at which velocity changes

Force: Push of pull applies to an object

Friction: Force that works against the motion of an object

Force= Mass x Acceleration