Units, Physical Quantities, and Vectors Flashcards
an experimental science in which physicists seek patterns that relate the phenomena of nature.
Physics
In SI units, length is measured in _________, time in _______, and mass in _________.
meters
seconds
kilograms
The uncertainty of a measured quantity is indicated by its number of
significant figures
offers techniques for setting up and solving problems efficiently and accurately.
problem-solving strategy
vector quantity is represented in
boldface italic type with an arrow over it
Solving Physics Problems STEPS
IDENTIFY the relevant concepts
SET UP the problem
EXECUTE the solution
EVALUATE your answer
The patterns are called
physical theories
uncertainty is indicated by the number of meaningful digits
significant figures
simply a change in the position of an object
displacement
The _________ is also called the error because it indicates the maximum difference there is likely to be between the measured value and the true value
uncertainty
three fundamental quantities of physics
length, time, and mass
A very well established or widely used theory is called a
physical law or principle
For multiplication and division, the answer can have no more significant figures than the _________ number of significant figures in the factors
smallest
has both a magnitude and a direction in space.
vector quantity
can be described by a single number.
scalar quantity
An equation must be ____________. Terms to be added or equated must always have the same units.
dimensionally consistent
is the most widely used system of units.
International System (SI for Système International)
Two vectors may be added graphically using either the
parallelogram method or the head-to-tail method.
For addition and subtraction, the number of significant figures is determined by the term having the __________ to the right of the decimal point.
fewest digits
The _________ of the line shows the vector’s direction.
direction
The magnitude of A is written as
A
The British unit of time
second
METRIC PREFIXES (positive)
decagon 1
hecto 2
kilo 3
mega 5
giga 9
tera 12
peta 15
exa 18
zetta 21
yotta 24
These units are used only in the
United States and a few other countries, and in most of these they are being replaced
by SI units
British System
An__________ of a quantity gives a rough idea of its magnitude
order-of-magnitude estimate
METRIC PREFIXES (negative)
deci 1
centi 2
milli 3
micro 5
nano 9
pico 12
femto 15
atto 18
zepto 21
yocto 24
The _______ of the line shows the vector’s magnitude
length
SI unit of force
N
