MARY JOSETTE ACADEMY, INC.

Tigbe, Norzagaray, Bulacan

[email protected]

NAME:

GRADE AND STRAND:

GRADE: 12
SEMESTER: FIRST SEMESTER
SUBJECT TITLE: GENERAL PHYSICS 1
NO. OF HOURS/SEM: 80 hours/semester

GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Prepared by:

LESLIE S. MERMELO

NOTE: Only the Activities, and Quiz in each learning Kit shall be returned/ submitted during
the drop-off of the answered modules.

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Quarter 1 - Module 1 Introductory Concepts in Physics

Learning Competencies

• solve measurement problem involving conversion of units, expression of measurements in

scientific notation,
• differentiate accuracy from precision and random errors from systematic errors,
• estimate the uncertainty of a derived quantities; and
• identify different variable relationship

A. Measurement

As discussed in the previous grades, measurement is the art of comparing unknown value to a
standard, or the accepted set of values for a particular quantity.

Physical variables, such as time, temperature, and length, can be used to quantitatively describe
physical phenomena. The standards in which the physical quantities are expressed are called
units.

Table 1 SI fundamental quantities and units

Physical Quantity Unit

M Mass Kilogram (kg)
E electric current Ampere (A)
T Time second (sec)
T temperature Kelvin (K)
A amount of substance mole (mol)
L length meter (m)
L luminous intensity candela (cd)

Figure 2 Common Metric Conversion Factor

Let’s try to
Convert this!
960 cm - m

m = 960cm x
1m

100cm
m = 960cm x
1m
m = 9.6m
2.) 11 m2 – dm2 100cm
3.) 30 kg - g

dm2 = 11m2 x 10dm2

1m2
dm2 = 110dm2
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Expression of Measurements in Scientific Notation

When physicists deal with either very large or very small numbers, they used scientific notation
to facilitate recording and calculations.

Generally, a scientific notation is expressed as follows:

M x 10E

Where the M is the mantissa, following the condition:

1 > M > 10 , the mantissa can be equal to 1 but must be less than 10.

For Example:

1.) 980 000 000m is 9.8 x 108 m

2.) 0.006 J is 6 x 10-3 J

Try this one

a. 0.0000007 m
b. 100cm

B. Uncertainties and Errors in Measurement

Accuracy and precision are related to the level of closeness of the values measured with the
theoretical or accepted values, and vice versa.

Accuracy means obtaining a measurement result that is close to the theoretical value. On the
other hand, precision denotes getting a similar result when measurement of a certain object is
repeated.

To illustrate, imagine a dartboard. The darts represent the accuracy and precision of the player in
throwing, while the center of the dartboard represents the true/theoretical/accepted value.

Now, consider the following measurements made on particular material, which has true value of
10 inches.

Table 1.2 Sample Values Measured

Set A Set B Set C Set D

9.9 in, 10 in, 10 in, 7.8 in, 8.1 in, 8.2 in, 10 in, 9 in, 8 in, 3 in, 5 in, 7 in,
10 in, 9.9 in, 9.9 in 8.0 in, 8.2 in, 8.3 in 11 in, 12 in, 7 in 9 in, 11 in, 12 in

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Which set displays the highest levels of accuracy and precision?

Poor precision and/or accuracy in measurement lead(s) to potential errors. When the accuracy is
poor and measurement is reproducible, the error is called a systematic error. Another type of
error is the random error, which involve poor precision. Random errors are usually more
problematic than systematic, as tracing the source of error is more difficult.

C. Uncertainty of Derived Quantities

In order to account for the uncertainty of derived quantities, we shall look at the four basic
operations to illustrate how the uncertainties can be calculated.

Consider two measurements: X = 5 + 0.2 cm and Y = 4.5 + 0.3 cm

For addition

1.) First, prepare the following table.

Measurement Minimum value Average (cm) Maximum value

(cm)
X 4.8 5 5.2
Y 4.2 4.5 4.8
X+Y 9 9.5 10

2.) Subtract the average value of the sum from its maximum value. Get the difference.
10 – 9.5 = 0.5
3.) Alternatively, we can subtract the minimum value of the sum from its average value.
9.5 – 9 = 0.5

From what is illustrated, the uncertainty of the derived units is simply the sum of the
uncertainties.

For subtraction

1.) Similar to what has been done in addition, prepare the following table.

Measurement Minimum value Average (cm) Maximum value

(cm)
X 4.8 5 5.2
Y 4.2 4.5 4.8
X-Y 0.6 0.5 0.4

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 2.) Subtract the average value of the difference from the minimum value of the differences in
measurement.
0.6 – 0.5 = 0.1
3.) Alternatively, we can subtract the maximum value of the difference from the average
value of the difference to get the uncertainty.
0.5 – 0.4 = 0.1

This means that the uncertainty is 0.1

For Multiplication

1.) Prepare the table.

Measurement Minimum value Average (cm) Maximum value

(cm)
X 4.8 5 5.2
Y 4.2 4.5 4.8
XY 20.16 22.5 24.96

2.) Subtract the product of the average values from the product of the maximum values. Get the
difference.
24.96 – 22.5 = 2.46

3.) We can also subtract the product of the minimum values from the product of the maximum
values.

24.96 – 20.16 = 4.80

In this case, the uncertainty is the one with the larger value : 4.80

D. Variable Relationships

There are two common relationship that can be linearly established between a pair of variables.
These are direct and inverse relationships.

Direct Proportion

As one quantity increases, the other quantity also

increases proportionally. The graph of a direct
proportion is a slanted straight line.

Inverse Proportion

As one quantity increases, the other quantity decreases.

The graph of the inverse proportion is a parabola.

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NAME:

GRADE AND STRAND:

SUBJECT TITLE: GENERAL PHYSICS 1

Activity 1.1

Express the following examples in scientific notation.

1.) 300 m - ________________

2.) 758 000 000 mL - __________________
3.) 990 000 000 000 miles - __________________
4.) 0.001 kg - _________________
5.) 1 500 000 Watts - _______________

Activity 1.2

Identify the levels of accuracy and precision of the following sets of values. Put a check (/) on
the blank(s) to describe the set it/they follow(s).

1.) Theoretical value : 1 kg

Set A Set B Set C Set D

996 g 989 g 768 g 997 g
324 g 1 045 g 783 g 994 g
762 g 1 132 g 792 g 998 g
accuracy: ______ accuracy: ______ accuracy: ______ accuracy: ______
precision: ______ precision: ______ precision: ______ precision: ______

Activity 1.3

Following the process of determining the uncertainty of derived quantity, complete the following
table.

X = 5 + 0.2 cm and Y = 4.5 + 0.3 cm

Measurement Minimum value Average (cm) Maximum value

(cm)
X 4.8 5 5.2
Y 4.2 4.5 4.8
X/Y

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NAME:

GRADE AND STRAND:

SUBJECT TITLE: GENERAL PHYSICS 1

QUIZ 1

Direction : Write True if the Statement is Correct and False it’s not.

________ 1.) Direct proportion means when the one quantity increases, the other quantity also
increases proportionally.

________ 2.) When physicists deal with either very large or very small numbers, they used
scientific calculator to facilitate recording and calculations.

________ 3.) When accuracy is poor and measurements are reproducible, the error is called
systematic error.

________ 4.) Another type of error is the random error, which involves poor accuracy.

________ 5.) Accuracy means obtaining a measurement result that is not close to the theoretical
value.

________ 6.) precision denotes getting similar result when measurement of a certain object is
repeated.

________ 7.) Mantissa (M) can be equal to 1 upto 10.

________ 8.) The scientific notation for 86 000 000 J is 86 x 106 J.

________ 9.) Measurement is the art of comparing unknown values to a standard, or the
accepted set of values for a particular quantity

________ 10.) 10 cm is equal to 100 mm.

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