Slide 1

Physics is the study of the behavior of matter and energy in the world around us. What is Physics? Slide 2 See Table 1-1 for Fields of Physics Mechanics Thermodynamics Vibration and Waves Optics Relativity Quantum Mechanics Slide 3 The Scientific Method Identify the problem. Create a hypothesis. Test the hypothesis. Observe data and make conclusions. Create a new hypothesis or test until you create a theory. Slide 4 Controlled Experiments Experimental variables. Control. Laws and theories Slide 5 Other Physics terms Model Slide 6 Measurements In Experiments Numbers as Measurements Always include dimensions or units SI units are the standard for science. Learn your SI prefixes on p 12. See Sample Problem 1A page 14. Slide 7 Accuracy and Precision Accuracy is how close you are to the real measurement. Precision is how close your measurements are to each other. Slide 8 Significant Figures Significant figures are decimal places that are accurate zeros can be place holders or significant figures non-zero numbers are always significant figures. Use the Atlantic Pacific rule to determine significant digits. Report 1 more decimal place beyond the finest units on your measuring device. Slide 9 Significant Figures Version Number 1 Rule #1: All non-zero digits are significant. Rule #2: Zeros in front of a number are not significant. Rule #3: Zeros between non- zero digits are significant. Rule #4: Zeros at the end of a number are significant if there is a decimal point in the number. Version Number 2 Use this diagram to help determine the number of significant figures in a measured value Pacific | Map of US | Atlantic If the decimal point is present, start counting digits from the Pacific (left) side, starting with the first non-zero digit. 0.003100 (4 sig. figs.) If the decimal point is absent, start counting digits from the Atlantic (right) side, starting with the first non-zero digit. 31,400 ( 3 sig. figs.) Examples 2,300 2 sd 300. 3 sd 300 1sd.000045 2sd