Physics
Test 1 Practice
Name________________________
1. Calculate the following, and express the answer in scientific notation with the correct
number of significant figures: (0.82 + 0.042 )  (4.4  103)
a. 3.8  103
c. 3.784  103
b. 3.78  103
d. 3784
2. If some measurements agree closely with each other but differ widely from the actual
value, these measurements are
a. neither precise nor accurate.
b. accurate but not precise.
c. acceptable as a new standard of accuracy.
d. precise but not accurate.
3. In a game of horseshoes, one horseshoe lands on the post. Four horseshoes land
nowhere near the post. The one horseshoe on the post was thrown
a. accurately.
c. both accurately and precisely.
b. precisely.
d. neither accurately nor precisely.
4. Distinguish between systematic and random error. Give an example of each.
5. Convert 9.2103 km to decimeters.
6. Convert 1 µm to meters and express your answer using scientific notation.
7. Convert 12.4 m/s to hm/ds.
8. Fill in the blank with <,>, or =.
0.0235 Ts ____ 2350 Ms
9. Convert 5.52 108 g to kilograms and express your answer using scientific notation.
10. Convert 8.66 10–9 m to millimeters and express your answer using scientific notation.
11. Calculate the following, expressing the answer in scientific notation with the correct
number of significant figures: (8.86 + 1.010–3)  3.61010–3
12. The closeness of a group of measurements is known as ___________________.
13. The closeness of a measured value to the actual value is known as
______________________.
14. The density of gold is 19.32 g/mL. Two groups’ experimental averages are shown
below. Which group is more accurate? Which group is more precise? Explain.
Group 1
Group 2
19.33 ± 0.1
19.32 ± 0.2
15. Read the measurement on the following centimeter ruler and then give the absolute and
relative uncertainties.
Length
_____________________
Absolute uncertainty _____________________
Relative uncertainty
_____________________
16. Read the measurement on the following ruler and then give the absolute and relative
uncertainties. (1.1 refers to 1.1 cm)
Length
__________________
Absolute uncertainty __________________
Relative uncertainty
17. How many significant figures are in the following numbers?
2.560104 cm
3890 g
3890. g
3890.00 g
0.0045 m
0.004500 m
3.05
106 cm
__________________
18. Which of the following measurements contains zeros that are not significant? Give a
reason for your answer.
3.050105 mm
0.0053 m
45.020 cm
101.2 g
19. Simplify the following expressions. Give your answers with the correct number of
significant digits.
a. (2106 m)( 5105 m)
b. 12106 m  4102 s
c. 1.07 km + 0.608 km
d. 186.4 kg – 57.83 kg
20. Solve for x in the equation y=mx+b
21. Solve for b in the equation y=mx+b
22. Solve for x in the equation y=a/x
23. Solve for r in the equation g = GM/r2
24. The length of a room is 16.40 m, its width is 4.5 m, and its height is 3.26 m. What
volume does the room enclose? Consider significant digits.
25. The sides of a quadrangular plot of land are all measured with an absolute uncertainty
of ±0.10 m and are reported to be 32.68 m, 48.3 m, 32.736 m, and 48.37 m. What is
the perimeter of the plot reported with relative uncertainty? Consider significant digits.