Chapter 1 Introduction

The WarmUp for this chapter will be pre-test that will allow both of us to find out how comfortable you are with significant digits, conversions, the metric system, scientific notation and algebra.  Don't worry if you don't know all the answers.  We will be going over some of these in class or in lab.  Click on the following link; it should create an email message in which you can place your answers. If it would help, you could copy and paste the questions below into the email message.  When you are finished, click send in the email message and it should be delivered to me.  (You could also put your name in the cc place and you will get a copy.)

Answer sheet

Significant digits.  How many significant digits do the following have:

1. 10.0

2. 0.001

3. 1200

4. 0.0090

5.-8. Write the above numbers using scientific notation (see problem 10. for an example of numbers written in scientific notation).

Write the answer with the correct number of significant digits.  If there is some ambiguity, explain your dilemma.

9. 2.0 x 3 =

10. 2.079x10² x 0.072x10^-1 =

11. 4.1 + 0.47 =

12. 1200/4.00 =

Unit conversions.  Show all steps.

13. How many seconds are there in two hours?

14. Given that 1.000 miles = 5280 feet = 1.61 km, how many miles high are you if you are skydiving from 3500 feet?  How many kilometers?

15. Given the above conversions, change 65 mph (miles per hour = miles/hour) to the appropriate number of km/sec.

Algebra.  In the following equations, solve for x.

16. ax + b =y

17. 8x⁴ - 16x² = 0

18. Based on what you read in the first chapter, why is it inappropriate to say something is "just a theory" as if that means it is only a guess or an opinion?