Name
Period
Date
Scientific Methods Worksheet 1: SIGNIFICANT FIGURES
Significant Figure Rules:
1. All non-zero digits in a measurement are considered to be significant.
2. Zeroes are significant if bounded by non-zero digits.
3. If a decimal point is expressed, all zeroes following non-zero digits are
significant.
4. If a decimal point is not explicitly expressed, zeroes following the last nonzero digit are not significant, they are placeholders only.
5. Zeroes preceding the first non-zero digit are not significant, they are
placeholders only.
For problems 1 – 10:
 In the first blank give the number of significant digits in the measurement.
 In the second blank, list the number(s) of the zero rule(s) that were necessary for
your decision.
 Circle the last significant figure (the estimated digit). This place value is the
precision of the measurement
 State the precision of the measurement.
For example:
3
1, 2, 4
9070 m
Precise to the nearest ten meters.
1.
0.025 s
Precise to the nearest
.
2.
405 kg
Precise to the nearest
.
3.
20.50 m
Precise to the nearest
.
4.
7 600 cm
Precise to the nearest
.
5.
0.0102 kg
Precise to the nearest
.
6.
0.1020 g
Precise to the nearest
.
7.
0.004 ml
Precise to the nearest
.
8.
20 010 mg
Precise to the nearest
.
9.
2.0 x 102 m
Precise to the nearest
.
10.
500 ml
Precise to the nearest
.
Problems
Scientific Methods Worksheet 1
page 2
As a general rule, we say that when taking measurements, we are justified in
estimating to tenths of the smallest marked graduation on the measuring
instrument.
For each of problems 11 – 17, in the blank record the correct measurement with units,
followed by the appropriate explanation of the rule utilized. For example:
0.73 m
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is tenths of a meter
so the measurement should be estimated to the hundredths of a meter.
73 cm
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is ten centimeters
so the measurement should be estimated to the nearest one centimeter.
11.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the
of a meter
of a meter.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the
centimeter
of a centimeter.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the
of a meter
of a meter.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the nearest
centimeters
centimeter.
12.
13.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
the measurement should be estimated to the
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the nearest
meter so
of a meter.
centimeters
centimeters.
Scientific Methods Worksheet 1
page 3
14.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the
of a meter
of a meter.
The smallest marked graduation on the meter stick is
so the measurement should be estimated to the
centimeter
of a centimeter.
15.
The smallest marked graduation on the graduated cylinder
is
milliliters so the measurement should
be estimated to the nearest
milliliters.
16.
The smallest marked graduation on the graduated cylinder
is
cubic centimeters so the measurement should be
estimated to the nearest
cubic centimeter.
17.
mL
The smallest marked graduation on the graduated cylinder
is
milliliter so the measurement should be estimated
to the nearest
of a milliliter.
5
4
3
2
1