Chapter 1 Flashcards
accuracy
the closeness of a measurement to the actual value
base unit
a unit that defines the standard for one of the seven physical quantities in the International System of Units (SI
calibration
the process of correcting for systematic error of a measuring device by comparing it to a known standard
celsius scale
a temperature scale in which the freezing and boiling points of water are defined as 0°C and 100°C, respectively
chemical change
a change in which one or more substances are converted into one or more substances with different composition and properties
chemical property
a characteristic of a substance that appears as it interacts with, or transforms into, other substances
chemistry
the scientific study of matter and its properties, the changes it undergoes, and the energy associated with those changes
combustion
the process of burning in air, often with release of heat and light
composition
the types and amounts of simpler substances that make up a sample of matter
controlled experiment
an experiment that measures the effect of one variable at a time by keeping other variables constant
conversion factor
a ratio of equivalent quantities that is equal to 1 and used to express a quantity in different units
cubic meter
the derived SI unit of volume
data
pieces of quantitative information obtained by observation
density
an intensive physical property of a substance at a given temperature and pressure, defined as the ratio of the mass to the volume: d = m/V; liquids and solids use g/cm^3; gases us g/L
derived unit
any of various combinations of the seven SI base units
dimensional analysis
a calculation method in which arithmetic steps are accompanied by canceling units that represent physical dimensions
energy
the ability to do work, that is, to move matter
exact number
a quantity, usually obtained by counting or based on a unit definition, that has no uncertainty associated with it and, therefore, contains as many significant figures as a calculation requires
experiment
a set of procedural steps that tests a hypothesis
extensive property
property, such as mass, that depends on the quantity of substance present; depends on the EXTENT of the sample size
gas
a gas fills its container regardless of the shape because its particles are far apart
heat
the energy transferred between objects because of a difference in their temperatures only
hypothesis
a testable proposal made to explain an observation. if inconsistent with experimental results, a hypothesis is revised or discarded
intensive property
a property, such as density, that does not depend on the quantity of substance present
kelvin (absolute) scale
the preferred temperature scale in scientific work, which has absolute zero (0 K, or − 273.15°C) as the lowest temperature
kelvin (K)
the SI base unit of temperature. the kelvin is the same size as the Celsius degree
kilogram (kg)
the SI base unit of mass, only base unit with a prefix
kinetic energy
the energy an object has because of its motion
liquid
a liquid fills a container to the extent of its own volume and thus forms a surface
liter (L)
a non-SI unit of volume equivalent to 1 cubic decimeter (0.001 m3)
mass
the quantity of matter an object contains. balances are designed to measure mass
matter
anything that possesses mass and occupies volume
meter (m)
the SI base unit of length
milliliter (mL)
a volume (0.001 L) equivalent to 1 cm3
model (theory)
a simplified conceptual picture based on experiment that explains how a natural phenomenon occurs
natural law
a summary, often in mathematical form, of a universal observation
natural law
a summary, often in mathematical form, of a universal observation
observation
a fact obtained with the senses, often with the aid of instruments. quantitative observations provide data that can be compared
physical change
a change in which the physical form (or state) of a substance, but not its composition, is altered
physical change
a change in which the physical form (or state) of a substance, but not its composition, is altered
physical property
characteristic shown by a substance itself, without interacting with or changing into other substances
potential energy
the energy an object has as a result of its position relative to other objects or because of its composition
precision
the closeness of a measurement to other measurements of the same phenomenon in a series of experiments
property
a characteristic that gives a substance its unique identity
random error
error that occurs in all measurements (with its size depending on the measurer’s skill and the instrument’s precision) and results in values both higher and lower than the actual value
round off
the process of removing digits based on a series of rules to obtain an answer with the proper number of significant figures (or decimal places
scientific method
a process of creative proposals and testing aimed at objective, verifiable discoveries of the causes of natural events
second
the SI base unit of time
SI unit
a unit composed of one or more of the base units of the Système International d’Unités, a revised form of the metric system
significant figures
the digits obtained in a measurement. the greater the number of significant figures, the greater the certainty of the measurement
solid
one of the three states of matter. a solid has a fixed shape that does not conform to the container shape
state of matter
one of the three physical forms of matter: solid, liquid, or gas
systematic error
r type of error producing values that are all either higher or lower than the actual value, often caused by faulty equipment or a consistent flaw in technique
temperature (T)
a measure of how hot or cold a substance is relative to another substance. a measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a sample
thermometer
a device for measuring temperature that contains a fluid that expands or contracts within a graduated tube
thermometer
a device for measuring temperature that contains a fluid that expands or contracts within a graduated tube
uncertainty
a characteristic of every measurement that results from the inexactness of the measuring device and the need to estimate when taking a reading
variable
a quantity that can have more than a single value.
volume (V)
the amount of space occupied by a sample of matter
weight
the force that is exerted by a gravitational field on an object and is directly proportional to the object’s mass
macroscopic properties
can be measured directly (eg. taking a pH)
submicroscopic
cannot be measured directly, determined indirectly (eg. too small numbers for our devices, like how no one has measured the mass of an electron)
kilo
k
10^3
1km=1x10^3m
centi
c
10^-2
100cm=1m
milli
m
10^-3
1000mm=1m
micro
mu
10^-6
10^6mum=1m
nano
n
10^-9
10^9nm=1m
10^10 oA
=1m
