KINEMATICS - DAY ONE - Physics 11



Lesson Plan

Period #2 Significant Figures & Scientific Notation


Materials : Textbook : Physics - Principles and Problems

Certainty and Precision / Significant Digits Worksheet

Scientific Notation Worksheet (two sides)

Review : Go over homework from worksheet on Precision and Certainty

Do Part A of "Significant Digits" worksheet

Remind of Current Event Assignment Due Next Period


Objectives : students should be able to :

    1. describe some of the tools and activities of physicists, in particular a reliance on mathematics and experimental design

      1. Significant Figures

        1. Addition/Subtraction

        2. Multiplication/Division

      2. Scientific Notation

        1. Addition/Subtraction

        2. Multiplication/Division


Part I . Calculations with Significant Figures - Introduction and Notes :


Give notes and examples starting page 1-5, "Calculations with Significant Figures", go through the method of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division with significant figures.


Guided Practice :


2.6 m x 3.42 m = 8.892 m2 = 8.9 m2

3.10 m x 4.520 m = 14.012 m2 = 14.0 m2

2.33 cm x 6.085 cm x 2.1 cm = 29.7739 cm3 = 28 cm3


Exercise :


Do Questions 14 - 17 page 25, 26 Practice Problems

Do "Significant Digits" worksheet - hand in next class


Evaluation :

Unit One Test


Part II . Mathematical Tools (Scientific Notation) - Introduction and Notes :



Give notes starting "SCIENTIFIC NOTATION" page 1-6, explain exponents, proper scientific notation and go through examples on pages 1-6 to 1-7.



Guided Practice :


Convert the Following Into Proper Scientific Notation, with 2 significant digits :


0.00087 becomes 8.7 x 10¯4

9.8 becomes 9.8 x 100

23,000,000 becomes 2.3 x 107

0.000000809 becomes 8.1 x 10¯7

4.56 becomes 4.6 x 100

250,000,000,000 becomes 2.5 x 1011


Exercise :


Do Questions 1 - 3 page 14 Practice Problems

Do side one of Scientific Notation Worksheet


Evaluation :

Unit One Test


Part III : Scientific Notation - Mathematical Operations - Introduction and Notes


Give notes and examples starting "MATHEMATICAL OPERATIONS" page 1-7 to p 1-8, explain addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division using scientific notation.


Guided Practice :


1) (2.68 x 10¯5) x (4.40 x 10¯8) Ans. 1.18 x 10¯12

2) (2.95 x 107) ÷ (6.28 x 1015) Ans. 4.70 x 10¯9

  1. (8.41 x 106) x (5.02 x 1012) Ans. 4.22 x 1019

  2. (9.21 x 10¯4) ÷ (7.60 x 105) Ans. 1.21 x 10¯9



Exercise :


students do practice problems 1-3 page 17

students do practice problems 6 - 11 pages 18, 19

Do side two of Scientific Notation Worksheet


Evaluation :

Scientific Notation Worksheet

Unit One Test