Answer the following questions related to significant figures and scientific notation.
PHYSICS · Multi-part · A Level · Physics · Measurements and their errors · Measurements and their errors
Problem
Answer the following questions related to significant figures and scientific notation.
(a) Define the term "significant figures" for a measured quantity. List the standard rules used to determine the number of significant figures present in any number.
(b) Explain how expressing a measurement in scientific notation removes ambiguity about its significant figures. Illustrate your answer by rewriting the measurement 0.00040320 m in scientific notation and clearly indicating the number of significant figures it contains.