Significant figures

There are known numerical values that are not subject to fractional error, and therefore do not affect the number of significant figures in a calculation. These are called “exact numbers.” Some examples include: 1 foot = 12 inches, 100 years in a century, 2.54 cm in an inch. Therefore, if a number is considered exact, it does not affect the accuracy of a calculation. When taking significant figures into account for a problem, exact numbers will not affect them either. When performing a measurement on a digital instrument, read and record all of the numbers as displayed, including zeros after the decimal point. But on a scaled instrument, estimate one more figure than you can actually read from the scale. This accounts for the inaccuracies and errors that occur naturally. Accuracy is “a measure of the deviation of the measured value from the true or accepted value.” Precision is “a measure of the agreement of experimental measurements with each other.” Significant figures relate to precision rather than accuracy. The more precisely a measurement is performed, the more significant digits one can have. If given a measured value, assume that the number of digits given reflect the precision of the measurement. When given a value, the answer cannot be more precise than the data that is…

Significant figures are the numbers that are important when performing calculations in chemistry and other fields of science. These numbers are important to scientists because they determine the accuracy and precision to which their measurements and calculations were made. Significant figures are important to the scientific method because the results of experiments that are performed to test hypotheses can be altered due to mistakes of significant figures. Measurements are only as accurate as…

No one will argue that determining the number of significant figures and keeping with the rules of those “sigfigs” throughout an already strenuous calculation can be a pain. Countless points and half-points have been deducted from tests throughout chemistry’s ages from students claiming that significant figures are, ironically, insignificant. But, let’s consider the following scenario. Joey is in his inorganic chemistry lab. The second step to the lab tells him to measure out the mass of Iron he…

Conclusion The hypothesis for the best angle to shoot a paintball to achieve the farthest distance possible was rejected.The data from the experiment that supports this conclusion is, the distance of the paintball that was shot from a 35 degree angle traveled, on average, 126.56 meters. This distance is 2.84 meters greater than the average distance of the paintball shot at 30 degrees. The average distance of the paintballs shot at 35 degrees was also, 15.31 meters larger than the average…

When considering significant figures, only the first digit above zero is considered, and then followed by any number of digits following. For example when representing numbers on a table and the number of digits is consistent in each answer (5 digits require the number 568 to become 00568), calculating the numbers would mean ignoring any digit before the first digit above 0, and to the left of a decimal point. When decimals are calculated, all 0s are considered after the decimal point, as they…

be selected by whomever is creating the report. However, there are some basic formatting rules that should be followed in all reports. One of these is always use the passive voice in lab reports. One reason for this is to abstain from any personal bias, as well as making the procedure steps clear. “Using the passive voice also clarifies procedures an descriptions so they can be easily reproduced and compared” (Purdue). All procedure steps should be written as a past tense, such as “the water was…

When using a 100 mL graduated cylinder marked every 1 mL, there should be one decimal places in each reading. The first decimal place is an estimated because the graduated cylinder is marked for every 1 mL. The final definitive number is in the ones place, so the tenth place should be estimated, as the last digit of measurement is usually estimated. For example, on a 100ml graduated cylinder marked every 1 mL, a sample reading would be 75.6mL, three significant figures, because 75 would be shown…

I believe that Gustav Stresemann was a significant figure in German history because, he negotiated to receive American loans under the Dawes Plan, and he also invented the Rentenmark, and he also accepted the Treaty of Versailles. Gustav felt that Germany could make progress in Europe by accepting The Treaty of Versailles. Stresemann was Chancellor of Germany, but he only served for a couple of months. Gustav Stresemann was the German Chancellor for only a short-term and was a leading member of…

African sculpture is most often figurative, representing the human form. It is primarily fashioned from wood. The African sculpture can be described as monumental, meaning that the figure or form is not separated from the wood in which it is carved, which gives is a feel of heavy permanence. These aspects are visible in the African sculpture, Figure of Bena, Mboi, Yunger people in Nigeria 14th-16th century, Nigeria, Eastern Gongola Valley, and Figure of the Jukan people 19th-early 20th century,…

Yet upon a second more detailed examination, traditional elements of composition began to appear. In the center of the piece, there is an identifiable pyramidal structure of the figures, with the reclining nude upon the boot at the base, the three figures, Mary, Jesus, and the contemplative apostle in the back, making up the body of the pyramid, and sun-ring at the top. Vanity and lust fall below qualities of compassion and wisdom, which ultimately is under godliness and piety. Another…