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Math Review for Physics Students | Significant Digits, Scientific Notation, Unit Analysis & Vectors

This lecture covers key math concepts essential for physics, including significant digits, scientific notation, unit analysis, and vectors. Understand accuracy vs. precision and learn how to solve problems correctly. Prepare for the online math exam and homework assignments.

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Math Review for Physics Students | Significant Digits, Scientific Notation, Unit Analysis & Vectors

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  1. PHYS16 – Lecture 2 Math Review Friday, September 10, 2010

  2. Agenda • Register clickers • Online homework and exam • Science math review • Before next time

  3. Register clickers • Can you correctly answer A to this question? • Yes • No http://kookaburra.com.au

  4. Online homework & exam • Online Math Exam – Due Sunday at 11:59 pm • Online Homework for next week – Due Tuesday at 11:59 pm • Practice problems…

  5. Science Math Review • Read Ch. 1 in your text • Significant Digits • Scientific Notation • Unit Analysis • Vectors

  6. Math Review – Significant Digits • Digits that actually have meaning! • All digits in a number except for trailing or leading zeros • All digits that relate to the precision of the number • Examples • 1.001 (4 sig figs) • 234 (3 sig figs) • 900 (1 sig fig) • 0.005 (1 sig fig) • 3.4 (2 sig figs) • 45.6 (3 sig figs) • 10 (1 sig fig) • To write 900 and 10 with more sig figs need Sci. Not.

  7. Math Review – Scientific Notation • A way of representing a number so that you can clearly see the significant digits and the order of magnitude • 110 would be 1.1E2 or 1.1x102 • Examples • 1.001 (1.001E0) • 234 (2.34E2) • 900 (9.00E2 or 9.0E2 or 9E2) • 0.005 (5E-3) • 3.4 (3.4E0) • 45.6 (4.56E1) • 10 (1.0E1 or 1E1)

  8. Accuracy vs. Precison • Accuracy = How close measurements are to the target • Precision = Spread in measurements Accurate, not precise Precise, not accurate

  9. Math Review – Unit Analysis • Prefixes • Conversion • 1 mm = ___?___ m • 0.001 m • 1 inch = ___?___ cm • 2.54 cm • Solving Problems • Make sure answer has the correct units

  10. Math Review – Vectors • Ways to write Vectors • 3 mph to the right or 3 mph to the east • 5 mph at 45 degrees from x axis • (3,2) or • Magnitude, Direction, Components

  11. Math Review – Vectors • Adding Vectors • Break into components and add the components • Subtracting Vectors – Add the negative vector

  12. For next time… • Do the Online Math Exam • Get the Connect Access card • Enter the course ID – in syllabus materials • Read Ch. 1 and Ch. 2 • Ch. 1 won’t have any additional homework… • Ch. 2 online homework will be due Tuesday at 11:59 pm • Get course materials and make sure to register!

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