UNITS AND
MEASUREMENTS
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Significant Figures or Digits
• Significant figures (SF) in a measurement are the figures or
digits that are known with certainity plus one that is
uncertain (i.e. Last digit).
• Significant figures in a measured value of a physical
quantity tell the number of digits in which we have
confidence.
• Larger the number of significant figures obtained in a
measurement, greater is its accuracy and vice versa.
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 1
All the non-zero digits are significant
1936
RULE - 2
All the zeros between two non-zero digits are significant.
10508
RULE - 3
All the zeros to left of first non-zero digit are not significant.
00108
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 4
If the number is less than 1, zeros on right of decimal point but
to the left of the first non-zero digit are not significant.
0.002308
RULE - 5
The trailing zeros (zeros to the right of the last non-zero digit)
in a number with a decimal point are significant.
1.580
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES OR DIGITS
Rules to find out the number of significant figures
RULE - 6
The trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point may not
be significant.
7800
RULE - 7
The trailing zeros in a number without a decimal point will be
significant if there’s a unit with the numerical value.
7800m
ROUNDING OFF
To represent the result of any computation containing more
than one uncertain digit, it is rounded off to appropriate
number of significant figures.
RULE - 1 : If the digit to be rounded off is more than
5, then preceding digit is increased by one.
RULE - 2 : If the digit to be rounded off is less than 5,
then the preceding digit is left unchanged.
RULE - 3 : If the digit to be rounded off is 5 then the
preceding digit is increased by one if it is
odd and is left unchanged if it is even.
EXAMPLES
Ex. Round off to Four Significant Digits :
(a) 7.1082
(b) 65.837
(c) 33.1251
(d) 33.1351
(e) 33.125
(f) 33.135
(g) 33.1250
(f) 33.1350
RULES FOR ARITHMETIC OPERATORS
RULE - FOR ADDITION OR SUBTRACTION
In addition or subtraction the number of decimal places in the
result should be equal to the number of decimal places of that
term in the operation which contain lesser number of decimal
places.
51.49 + 7.200 =
12.587 – 12.5 =
34.663 – 2.41 =
RULES FOR ARITHMETIC OPERATORS
RULE - FOR MULTIPLICATION OR DIVISION
In multiplication or division, the number of SF in the product or
quotient is same as the smallest number of SF in any of the
factors.
2.0 x 42 =
8.50 x 2.000 =
1.100 x 200 =
SIGNIFICANT FIGURES IN EXPONENTIAL FORM
RULE – EXPONENTIAL FORM
When the number is expressed in exponential form, the
exponential term does not affect the number of S.F.
For example :
x = 65.4 = 6.54 × 101.
ORDER OF MAGNITUDE
Order of magnitude of a quantity is the power of 10 required
to represent that quantity in exponential form. This power is
determined after rounding off the value of the quantity
properly.
The order of magnitude of following is :
4900 = 4.9 x 104
50000 = 5 x 104
51000 = 5.1 x 104
0.0810 = 8.10 x 10-2
EXAMPLES
Ex. Write the order of magnitude of:
(a) G = 6.67 x 10-11
(b) k = 9 x 109
(c) c = 3 x 108
(d) e = 1.6 x 10-19
(e) 2
(f) 9
(g) 0.02
(f) 0.09
LEAST COUNT OF INSTRUMENTS
LEAST COUNT
The smallest value of a physical quantity which can be
measured accurately with an instrument is called its least
count (L. C.)
LEAST COUNT = 1 litre
5 litre 4 litre
EXAMPLES
Ex. The least count of a stop watch is 1/5 second.
The time of 20 oscillations of a pendulum is
measured to be 25s. What is the percentage
error in the measurement of time ?
EXAMPLES
Ex. The least count of a kid’s ruler is 1mm. He
measures the length of a rod with it and reports
it 2.5cm. What is the percentage error in the
measurement of length ?
INSTRUMENTS – VERNIER CALLIPER
VERNIER CALLIPER
RANGE : 0 - 100 mm SENSITIVITY : 0.1 mm
LEAST COUNT OF VERNIER CALLIPER
LEAST COUNT
Suppose the size of one main scale division
(M.S.D.) is M units and that of one vernier scale
division (V. S. D.) is V units. Also let the length of
'a' main scale divisions is equal to the length
of 'b' vernier scale divisions.
With the decrease in the least count of the measuring instrument, the accuracy of
the measurement increases and the error in the measurement decreases.
EXAMPLES
Ex. The main scale division of vernier calliper is
equal to 1mm. Given that 19 divisions of main
scale are equal in length to 20 division of vernier
scale. Find the least count of the vernier calliper.
EXAMPLES
Ex. One cm on the main scale of vernier calliper is
divided into ten equal parts. If 20 divisions of
vernier scale coincide with 18 small divisions of
the main scale, what will be the least count of
callipers ?
EXAMPLES
Ex. The nth division of main scale coincides with
(n + 1)th division of vernier scale. Given one
main scale division is equal to 'a' units. Find the
least count of the vernier calliper.
READING OF VERNIER CALLIPER
ACCURATE
VERNIER CALLIPER
READING = (Main Scale Reading) + (Vernier Scale Reading × LC)
EXAMPLES
Ex. The main scale division of vernier calliper is
equal to 1mm. 9 division of main scale are equal
in length to 10 division of vernier scale. In
measuring diameter the main scale read 35
division and 4th division of vernier scale
coincide with main scale. Find:
(i) Least count (ii) Diameter
EXAMPLES
Ex. Find the zero error and the reading if LC = 0.01cm
INSTRUMENTS – VERNIER CALLIPER
ZERO ERROR
NO ZERO ERROR +ve ZERO ERROR -ve ZERO ERROR
EXAMPLES
Ex. Find the zero error in each if LC = 0.01 cm
EXAMPLES
Ex. Find the zero error in each if LC = 0.01 cm
READING OF VERNIER CALLIPER
INACCURATE
VERNIER CALLIPER
READING = (Main Scale Reading) + (Vernier Scale Reading × LC) – ZERO ERROR
EXAMPLES
Ex. Find the zero error and the reading if LC = 0.01cm
INSTRUMENTS – SCREW GAUGE
SCREW GUAGE
INSTRUMENTS – SCREW GAUGE
SCREW GUAGE
𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐬𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞
𝐏𝐈𝐓𝐂𝐇 =
𝐍𝐮𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧
𝐏𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡
𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 =
𝐓𝐨𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐨. 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐢𝐫𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐬𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐞
EXAMPLES
Ex. A spherometer has 100 equal divisions marked
along the periphery of its disc, and one full
rotation of the disc advances on the main scale
by 0.01 cm. Find the least count of the system.
EXAMPLES
Ex. The number of circular
division on the shown screw
gauge is 50. It moves 2 mm on
main scale for one complete
rotation. The diameter of the
ball is :
EXAMPLES
Ex. The number of circular division
on the shown screw gauge is
100. It moves 0.5mm on main
scale for one complete rotation.
The diameter of the ball is :
INSTRUMENTS – SCREW GAUGE
SCREW GUAGE
Circular Scale Circular Scale
Zero of Circular
Scale is above Zero of Circular
Main Scale Scale is below
Main Scale
Main Scale Main Scale
Reference Line Reference Line
-ve ZERO ERROR +ve ZERO ERROR
INSTRUMENTS – SCREW GAUGE
READING OF SCREW GUAGE
Reading = MSR + (CSR × LC) - ZE
EXAMPLES
Ex. The number of circular division on the shown screw
gauge is 50. It moves 0.5 mm on main scale for one
complete rotation. Main scale reading is 5. The
diameter of the ball is :
EXAMPLES
Ex. The number of circular division
on the shown screw gauge is 50
and pitch is 1mm. The diameter
of the ball is :