specific heat :
1300 calorie /
60g *68 celcius
= .31862
how many digits do i round to
1300 calorie /
60g *68 celcius
= .31862
how many digits do i round to
-
1
60 has only 1
60 has only 1
-
http://academic.umf.maine.edu/magri/PUBLIC.acd/tools/SigFigsAndRounding.html
General rules for determining the number of significant figures in a number:
A) All non-zero numbers are significant.
B) All zeros between significant numbers are significant, for example the number 1002 has 4 significant figures.
C) A zero after the decimal point is significant when bounded by significant figures to the left, for example the number 1002.0 has 5 significant figures.
D) Zeros to the left of a significant figure and not bounded to the left by another significant figure are not significant. For example the number 0.01 only has one significant figure.
E) Numbers ending with zero(s) written without a decimal place posses an inherent ambiguity. To remove the ambiguity write the number in scientific notation. For example the number 1600000 is ambiguous as to the number of significant figures it contains, the same number written 1.600 X 106 obviously has four significant figures.
Several Notes:
1) It is important to know the accuracy and precision of the measuring device one is using and it is important to report only those digits that have significance. To reiterate, your electrospray mass spectrometer may be able to spit out 10 numbers past the decimal place but you should only use the digits that have significance in reporting or in a calculation.
2) It is generally accepted that the uncertainty is plus or minus 0.5 unit at the level of the uncertainty, for example the "true value" for the number 0.003 can be described as being bounded by the numbers 0.0025 and 0.0035. It is important to note that in some instances scientists will want to express an uncertainty that exceeds 1 at the level of the uncertainty and this should be noted explicitly in the following fashion, 0.003 ± 0.002
General rules for determining the number of significant figures in a number:
A) All non-zero numbers are significant.
B) All zeros between significant numbers are significant, for example the number 1002 has 4 significant figures.
C) A zero after the decimal point is significant when bounded by significant figures to the left, for example the number 1002.0 has 5 significant figures.
D) Zeros to the left of a significant figure and not bounded to the left by another significant figure are not significant. For example the number 0.01 only has one significant figure.
E) Numbers ending with zero(s) written without a decimal place posses an inherent ambiguity. To remove the ambiguity write the number in scientific notation. For example the number 1600000 is ambiguous as to the number of significant figures it contains, the same number written 1.600 X 106 obviously has four significant figures.
Several Notes:
1) It is important to know the accuracy and precision of the measuring device one is using and it is important to report only those digits that have significance. To reiterate, your electrospray mass spectrometer may be able to spit out 10 numbers past the decimal place but you should only use the digits that have significance in reporting or in a calculation.
2) It is generally accepted that the uncertainty is plus or minus 0.5 unit at the level of the uncertainty, for example the "true value" for the number 0.003 can be described as being bounded by the numbers 0.0025 and 0.0035. It is important to note that in some instances scientists will want to express an uncertainty that exceeds 1 at the level of the uncertainty and this should be noted explicitly in the following fashion, 0.003 ± 0.002