Introduction

A review of some grade 11 Physics concepts.

SEPTEMBER 12 - Maria
Topic: Introduction Text Reference: None. See handouts Idea: An Introduction to SPH 4U 1. Couse Outline and Wiki 2. Syllabus 3. Taking Notes
 * Unit: DYNAMICS**

4. Group Work 5. Inquiry cube activity 6. TED Talk - [|Beauty and Truth in Physics]

SEPTEMBER 13 - Celton
Topic: Significant digits Text Reference: Appendix E - page 765 or see handout Idea: Significant digits and error
 * Unit: DYNAMICS**

1. Activity: The Art of Measurement

SEPTEMBER 14 - Adam

 * Unit: DYNAMICS**

Topic: Significant digits/Percent Deviation/Accuracy vs. Precision Text Reference: Pages 24 - 32. Questions #1-3, Pgs. 31-32 Idea: Significant Digits

1. All non-zero numbers are significant. ie. 123.234 has 6 s.d. 2. All zeros, between non-zeros are significant. ie. 120032.023 has 9 s.d. 3. Zeros after a decimal are significant. ie. 1.2000 has 5 s.d. (1.2 x 10 ^ -1) 4. Trailing zeros are not significant. ie. 12000 has 2 s.d. (1.2 x 10^4) 5. Leading zeros are not significant. ie. .000234 has 3 s.d. (2.34 x 10 ^ -4) 6. Counted numbers are infinitely significant.
 * __Significant Digits__**


 * Addition and Subtraction**
 * The answer rounds to the same number of decimal places as the lowest amount in the question.**

ie. 2.343 32.12 1234

1268.463

... Which Becomes ...

1268 (4 s.d. is the least precise number in the question)

Only round at the final answer
 * Always round to the even number when the last digit is 5***

ie. 26.5 ... Becomes ... 26 AND 27.5 ... Becomes ... 28


 * Always incorporate one extra digit from the accuracy of the measuring device*


 * Multiplication and Division**
 * The answer rounds to the same number of significant digits as the least precise number in the question**

ie. 2.35 x 2.7267 = 6.40|7 745 = 6.41

Accuracy - Comparing an experimental value to a known value, when you have the known value. - When calculating deviation, use Percent Error calculations.
 * __Accuracy vs. Precision__**

%Error = (|Accepted - Experimental| / Accepted) x 100

Precision - How repeatable the experiment is. How well you can repeat the same answer with the mesauring device that you have. ie. Reliability. - When calculating deviation, use Percent Variation calculations. Percent Variation is within a column of numbers.

%Variation = (|Highest experiment value - Lowest experiment value| / Average) x 100

2.53 m/s^2 ... to ... km/hr^2
 * __Conversions__**

Ratio Method:

2.53 m 1 km 3600s 3600s x x -- x --- = 32 788 km/hr^2 s^2 1000m 1hr 1hr = 32 800 km/hr^2

Fermi problems are questions that are extremely broad. In order to solve them, you must make assumptions regarding the topic of the question. You can solve it using the order: 1. What information are you given? 2. What are you asked to find? 3. Do you need an exact or approximate answer? 4. Is the answer reasonable? 5. Is there another way to solve the problem?
 * __Fermi Problems__**

An example of a Fermi problem is "How many piano tuners are there in Chicago?" (Review the sheet that was given regarding this specific Fermi problem)

Other examples can be found on this website: []