Significant Figure and Precision/Accuracy
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are 0s between nonzero digits significant?
ALWAYS Ex: 1005 (4 SFs) and 7.03 (3 SFs)
are 0s at the start of a number significant?
Never Ex: 0.02 (1 SF) and 0.00026 (2 SFs)
When are 0s significant at the end of a number?
ONLY if the 0s are after the decimal point AND the nonzeros Ex: 0.0200 (3 SFs) and 3.0 (2 SFs) and 500 (1 SF)
Why are 0s after a number and decimal considered significant?
Because if they are part of the measurement that an instrument gives you, then the instrument was sensitive enough to measure that zero
When you add and subtract your answer should have the same number of decimal places as?
Your answer should have the same umber of decimal places as the value that has the fewest decimal places
When multiplying or dividing your answer should have the same number of SigFigs as what?
Your answer should have the same number of significant figures as the value with the fewest significant figures
Simplified difference between add/substract SigFigs and multiply/divide SigFigs?
A/S = fewest decimal places M/D = fewest SigFigs
Accuracy
how close a measurement is to reality
Precision
how close the series of measurements are to each other. So the closer together the measurements are (or bullet holes in a target) the more precise it is
If a target has a bunch of bullet holes close together at the edge of the target. Is it precise or accurate?
Precise, NOT accurate
How do you calculate % Error?
% error = (actual-theoretical)/theoretical x 100