Physics: Unit 0 Physics Skills
How to Multiply With Scientific Notation
Multiply the coefficients and add the exponents (Ex. 6.4 E3 X 1.5 E8 = 9.6 E11)
Symbols to Know
Naught is symbolized as 'o' and means initial. Delta or a triangle means change in.
Scientific Notation
Numbers with many zeroes are best expressed in scientific notation. Small numbers have negative exponents, while large numbers have positive exponents. Ex 8400 converts to 8.4 X 10^3
Trigonometry and Pythagorean Theorem
Pythagorean Theorem = a^2 + b^2 = c^2 SOH = Sine = Opposite/hypotenuse CAH = Cosine = Adjacent/ hypotenuse TOA = Tangent = Opposite/ Adjacent
SI Units: The Metric System
Quantity: Name: Symbol Length: meter: m Mass: kilogram: kg Volume: liter: L Time: seconds: s Current: ampere: A Temperature: Kelvin: K Amount: mole: mol
Scientific Method
Question Research Hypothesis Experiment Analysis Conclusion
Scalars Vs. Vectors
Scalars only have magnitude. Vectors describe both magnitude and direction of a physical thing. Magnitude is how big something is. Direction is a description of where it is going.
Vectors
Symbolized as a 'v' with an arrow above it, and are drawn as arrows where the size of the arrow represents its magnitude. The way vectors are drawn matters. Negative vectors mean opposite direction.
How to Calculate Error
((observed value - true value) / (true value)) X 100 = percent error
Convert the following to scientific notation: (a) 1,000,000 (b) 0.14 (c)70 (d) 0.00789
(a) 1.0 E 6 (b) 1.4 E -1 (c) 7.0 E 1 (d) 7.89 E -3
Answer the questions below based on your understanding of errors: (a) The freezing point of water is 273.2 K, but it was measured at 250.1 K. What is the percentage error? (b) The mass of a penny is 2.67 g, but it was measured at 2.55 g. What is the percentage error? (c) The air pressure was 101.3 kPa, but the weatherman said it was 101.3 kPa. What is the percentage error?
(a) 8.46% (b) 4.49% (c) 0.0%
Factor Label Method
A problem-solving procedure in which equations are set up so that unwanted units cancel diagonally and only the desired units remain.
For each group of values listed below, write the items in order from largest to smallest. Then state whether the values represent distance, mass, or volume:
Answer: (Reference the front of the reference table) (a) 10 km, 10 pm, 10 μm, 10 dm (b) 0.5 μL, 0.5 nL, 0.5 cL (c) 1.2 mm, 1.2 km, 1.2 cm (d) 3.5 cg, 3.5 g, 3.5 ng, 3.5 μg
How to Divide With Scientific Notation
Divide the coefficients and subtract the exponents and then subtract one more (Does not always work)
Vectors not at a 90 degree angle
Treat this line as your resultant vector and work backwards. Use two 90 degree vectors to determine the direction and magnitude of this resultant. Use SOHCAHTOA.
Vector resultants
When two vectors are added they result in a resultant vector.
Measuring and estimating
You can estimate one number past the smallest unit on the device.
Metric Prefixes
kilo (k) = 1,000 = 10^3 deci (d) = 0.1 = 10^-1 centi (c) = 0.01 = 10^-2 milli (m) = 0.001 = 10^-3 micro (μ) = 10^-6 nano (n) = 10^-9 pico (p) = 10^-12
