Back to notes
What is an estimated digit in a measurement?
Press to flip
An estimated digit is the last recorded digit in a measurement, marking the point where certainty ends and estimation begins.
How do you determine the number of decimal places to use in the result of an addition or subtraction calculation?
The number of decimal places in the result is determined by the measurement with the least number of decimal places.
Why do exact numbers have an infinite number of significant figures?
Exact numbers are defined values or counted quantities and are not subject to measurement uncertainty, so they are considered to have an infinite number of significant figures.
What is the rule for counting significant figures in non-zero digits?
Non-zero digits are always significant.
Why do all measurements have a degree of uncertainty?
All measurements have a degree of uncertainty due to limitations in the measuring device and the method of measurement.
What are captured zeros and are they significant?
Captured zeros are zeros between two significant figures, and they are significant.
What is the 'Weakest Link Principle' in significant figure calculations?
The result of a calculation cannot be more precise than the least precise measurement in the calculation.
Provide an example demonstrating the rule for decimal places in addition or subtraction.
Example: 6.8 + 11.934 = 18.7 (rounded to the tenths place). The sum is rounded to have the same number of decimal places as the term with the least number of decimal places.
Explain why leading zeros are not considered significant.
Leading zeros are not considered significant because they serve only as placeholders and do not represent a measured value.
How can ambiguous zeros be clarified in terms of significant figures?
Ambiguous zeros can be clarified using scientific notation to specify the number of significant figures explicitly.
Provide an example demonstrating the rule for significant figures in multiplication or division.
Example: 6.38 × 2.0 = 13 (rounded to 2 significant figures). The product has the same number of significant figures as the factor with the smallest number, 2 significant figures in this case.
Under which conditions are trailing zeros considered significant?
Trailing zeros are considered significant if they are to the right of the last non-zero digit and to the right of the decimal place.
Why should rounding be done only at the end of a calculation involving significant figures?
Rounding should be done only at the end to prevent cumulative rounding errors and to ensure the final result reflects the correct number of significant figures.
What determines the number of significant figures in the result of a multiplication or division calculation?
The number of significant figures in the result is determined by the measurement with the smallest number of significant figures used in the calculation.
How would the number of significant figures differ when using a simple balance versus a precise balance?
A simple balance provides less certainty and fewer significant figures, typically ending in the tenths place, while a precise balance can measure to the thousandths place, providing more significant figures.
Previous
Next