Problem Party!

Today is a problem party.  You will be practicing working with scientific notation, the metric system and significant figures.  These ideas will be ubiquitous throughout the remainder of the year, and I want you to have the tools to deal with them with confidence. 

We are a team and everyone has a role to play.  If you already feel you understand these ideas, it is your job to bring your tablemates into the bliss of understanding, and to deepen your comprehension of these ideas by teaching them to someone else.  If you are someone who still has questions, it is your job to speak up with specific questions so that your neighbors can have the chance to explain how things work.  IÕll be here to consult as well. 

The goal is NOT to walk away with the right answers on the page, but rather to leave today with a better understanding of the material, so you find success on your test. 

 

1) Write the # of sig figs given in the measurement and then write the numbers to the corresponding form.

Standard Notation

How many sig figs are in this mass?

Scientific Notation

623,000 g

 

 

230. g

 

 

0.0034 g

 

 

12 g

 

 

0.0000890 g

 

 

9,870 g

 

 

45,000 g

 

 

0.0012 g

 

 

8,900,000,000 g

 

 

 


 

Standard Notation

How many sig figs are in each mass?

Scientific Notation

 

 

4.5 x 10-5 g

 

 

2.98 x 10-3 g

 

 

3.1 x 102 g

 

 

6.33 x 10-7 g

 

 

1.1 x 102 g

 

 

7.54 x 104 g

 

 

9.11 x 10-3 g

 

 

8.776 x 10-6 g

 

 

1.42 x 105 g

 

 

2) Convert the following measurements to the stated units in the stated form. 

Kilo (K)

Hecto (H)

Deca (D)

Base unit

deci (d)

centi (c)

milli (m)

micro (μ)

nano (n)

103

102

101

100

10-1

10-2

10-3

10-6

10-9

 

Measurement

Standard Notation

Scientific Notation

155 cm =

nm

nm

155 cm =

Km

Km

2.77 x 10-7 Kg =

mg

mg

8.67 x 104 µL =

cL

cL

0.000876 Ks =

ds

ds

 

Space for doodling (or math if you need scratch paper).

 

3) Identify the correct number of significant figures in each of the following measurements, then in the last column indicate whether this is a measurement of  mass, length, or volume. Include whether this measurement is BIG, mediocre ( I could feel it, see it, but no big deal, or really tiny.

Value

Number of Significant Figures

Which type of measurement is this? BIG, mediocre, really tiny

4.50 g

 

 

100.0 g

 

 

9.1 x 10-3 L

 

 

0.0010110 m

 

 

6700 Km

 

 

340 L

 

 

280,010 L

 

 

0.0023 g

 

 

102,000. m

 

 

102,020 L

 

 

0.00230  mL

 

 

0.0023020 g

 

 

1,010.030  mg

 

 

2.3 x 10-5 L

 

 

2.3010 x 10-6 Km

 

 

120  Hm

 

 

0.001010 g

 

 

100.10 g

 

 

2.10 x 104 nm

 

 

 


3) Write the answers to each of the calculations. First list all the digits displayed by your calculator, then with the correct number of SigFigs.

Problem

Calculator Answer

Rounded Answer with the correct # of SigFigs

0.0023 x 0.0121 =

 

 

98/0.003 =

 

 

340 x 0.0005 =

 

 

65.90/ 34.001 =

 

 

 

4) A student measures the volume of liquid water with a 20 mL graduated cylinder. They report the volume to be 16.52 mL. Use the space below to complete the following. A) How many significant figures are in this measurement? B) How many digits were measured and how many digits were estimated in this measurement? C) Draw a picture of the graduated cylinder that shows the values for consecutive markings, the level of water in this graduated cylinder, include the meniscus formed, and be sure your drawing is clear enough for another scientist to understand the relationship between the markings and the number of significant figures in the measurement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

5)  Describe one specific beneficial interaction you had while tackling this assignment where you were giving help to/ receiving help from a classmate.  Explain what made it successful as best you can.