PHYS 2133
Chapter 1 Problems

• List and describe the basic units of time, mass, and distance in the SI system.
• Calculate the length of any side of a right triangle given either the length of 2 sides or the length of one side and one angle.
• Understand the principle of significant figures.
• Be able to express numbers in scientific notation.
• Understand the scientific method.

Conceptual Questions

1. Suppose that two quantities, A and B, have different dimensions. Determine which of the following arithmetic operations could be physically meaningful: (a) A + B, (b) A/B, (c) B - A, and (d) AB.
2. Estimate your age in seconds.
3. How much gasoline is consumed each day by commuters in the Memphis metro area each day.

Problems

1

 

The value of the speed of light is now known to be 2.99792458 x 10⁸ m/s. Express the speed of light to (a) three significant figures, (b) five significant figures, and (c) seven significant figures.

Solution