Numbers, Units and
Measurement
Objectives
Explains standard notation
Tests you on the use of your calculator
Describes how to work out the units of a quantity
Defines accuracy and precision
Looks at errors and the use of significant figures
Very small and very big numbers
Science often involves very large and very small numbers. Such numbers may be
cumbersome to write down, and an abbreviated notation (known as ‘standard’ or
‘scientific’ notation) is often used. This relies upon the following mathematical
symbolism:
10 ^6 0.000 00110 ^5 0.000 0110 ^4 0.000 110 ^3 0.10 ^2 0.10 ^1 0.100 1101 10102 100103 1 000104 10 000105 100 000106 1 000 000Contents
1.1Very small and very big
numbers 11.2Logarithms 21.3Units 31.4Errors in experiments 61.5Reporting
measurements 101.5Revision questions 141
UNIT