Physics Reviewer o It changes over time depending on the

Physics development of the technology

- Study of nature
Order of Magnitude
- Measurements • Prefix
o In order to measure physical
o To denote the order
quantities a measuring equipment is
required Peta X1015 Mili X10-3
▪ Scale, unit of measurements,
Tera X1012 Micro X10-6
physical measurements

Fundamental Quantities Giga X109 Nano X10-9

• Length – meter (m)
Mega X106 Rico X10-12
o The measurements or extent of
something from end to end Kilo X103 Sento X10-15
o Operational definition
Centi X10-2
▪ Distance traveled by light in
1/299792458 m/s
Significant Figures
• Mass – kilograms (kg)
- Number of reliably known digits in a number
o A coherent body of matter with no
1,279,000 - 4 sig fig = 1.279 x 106
definite shape
0.00023605 - 5 sig fig = 2.3604 x 10-4
o Operational definition
0.00250600 - 6 sig fig = 2.506000 x 10-3
▪ Mass of certain platinum,
iridium alley (Higgs Boson) - The final result of a multiplication/division
• Time – seconds (s) should have no more than the numerical value
o The indefinite continued process of with the fewest significant figures
existence and events - When adding/subtracting, final result should
o Operational Definition
contain no more decimal places than the
▪ Time decay of a radioactive number with the fewest decimal places
cesium
• Electric Current – ampere (A) Uncertainty in Measurements
o Flow of electric charge - All measurements have uncertainty
o Operational Definition - Uncertainty in a numerical value is assumed

▪ Force per length between two
current carrying wire
• Thermodynamic Temperature – Kelvin (K)
o Measure proportional to the thermal
energy of the given body at
equilibrium
o Operational Definition
to be one or few units in the last digit
specified
- It is important to state the estimated
uncertainty when giving the result of
measurements
- Percent Uncertainty
o Ratio of the uncertainty to the

▪ Absolute zero of an ideal gas measured value, multiplied by 100

• Amount of Substance – mole (mol) Precision
o The number of specified group of - Repeatability of measurements using a given

entities present in a substance instrument

• Luminous intensity – candela (cd) Accuracy
o an expression of the amount of light - Nearness/how close a measurement to the

power emanating from a point source “true” value


within a solid angle of an steradium
• Operational Definition
o It is where the unit is being calibrated
and defined
Kinematics
- Study of motion
- How object move
- Displacement = / x⃑ /
o Change in position
- Velocity = / v/⃑
o Rate of change in displacement
- Acceleration = / a⃑ /
o Rate of change of velocity