Significant figures
- A useful method to express the uncertainty in measurement.
- Significant figure rules(see pages 20 and 21 in BLB)
- All nonzero digits are significant
- Zeros between nonzero digits are significant
- Zeros that precede the first nonzero digit are not significant. Reading from left to right begin counting with the first nonzero digit.
- Zeros are significant when they appear; in the middle of a number, at the end of a number that includes a decimal point.
- Zeros at the end of a number without a decimal point are ambiguous. We will assume they are NOT significant.
Practice assigning significant figures.
(Note: The Practicing assigning significant figures is a HyperCard stack. Inorder for this file to run you will have to have HyperCard installed on your computer. If you are on a PC you are OUT OF LUCK. If you are on a Mac there is a chance.)
Using Significant Figures (Practice animation
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Dimensional Analysis/Unit Conversions