Lesson 1

Question 1

accuracy

Answer 1

the degree to which a measured value agrees with correct value for that measurement

Question 2

approximation

Answer 2

an estimated value based on prior experience and reasoning

Question 3

classical physics

Answer 3

physics that was developed from the Renaissance to the end of the 19th century

Question 4

conversion factor

Answer 4

a ratio expressing how many of one unit are equal to another unit

Question 5

derived units

Answer 5

units that can be calculated using algebraic combinations of the fundamental units

Question 6

English units

Answer 6

system of measurement used in the United States; includes units of measurement such as feet, gallons, and pounds

Question 7

fundamental units

Answer 7

units that can only be expressed relative to the procedure used to measure them

Question 8

kilogram

Answer 8

the SI unit for mass, abbreviated (kg)

Question 9

law

Answer 9

a description, using concise language or a mathematical formula, a generalized pattern in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and repeated experiments

Question 10

meter

Answer 10

the SI unit for length, abbreviated (m)

Question 11

method of adding percents

Answer 11

the percent uncertainty in a quantity calculated by multiplication or division is the sum of the percent uncertainties in the items used to make the calculation

Question 12

metric system

Answer 12

a system in which values can be calculated in factors of 10

Question 13

model

Answer 13

representation of something that is often too difficult (or impossible) to display directly

Question 14

modern physics

Answer 14

the study of relativity, quantum mechanics, or both

Question 15

order of magnitude

Answer 15

refers to the size of a quantity as it relates to a power of 10

Question 16

percent uncertainty

Answer 16

the ratio of the uncertainty of a measurement to the measured value, expressed as a percentage as

Question 17

physical quantity

Answer 17

a characteristic or property of an object that can be measured or calculated from other measurements

Question 18

physics

Answer 18

the science concerned with describing the interactions of energy, matter, space, and time; it is especially interested in what fundamental mechanisms underlie every phenomenon

Question 19

precision

Answer 19

the degree to which repeated measurements agree with each other

Question 20

quantum mechanics

Answer 20

the study of objects smaller than can be seen with a microscope

Question 21

relativity

Answer 21

the study of objects moving at speeds greater than about 1% of the speed of light, or of objects being affected by a strong gravitational field

Question 22

scientific method

Answer 22

a method that typically begins with an observation and question that the scientist will research; next, the scientist typically performs some research about the topic and then devises a hypothesis; then, the scientist will test the hypothesis by performing an experiment; finally, the scientist analyzes the results of the experiment and draws a conclusion

Question 23

second

Answer 23

the SI unit for time, abbreviated (s)

Question 24

SI units

Answer 24

the international system of units that scientists in most countries have agreed to use; includes units such as meters, liters, and grams

Question 25

significant figures

Answer 25

express the precision of a measuring tool used to measure a value

Question 26

theory

Answer 26

an explanation for patterns in nature that is supported by scientific evidence and verified multiple times by various groups of researchers

Question 27

uncertainty

Answer 27

a quantitative measure of how much your measured values deviate from a standard or expected value

Question 28

units

Answer 28

a standard used for expressing and comparing measurements