Units and Magnitude

Understandings:

• Fundamental and derived SI units
• Scientific notation and metric multipliers
• Significant figures
• Orders of magnitude
• Estimation

Applications and skills:

• Using SI units in the correct format for all required measurements, final answers to calculations and presentation of raw and processed data
• Using scientific notation and metric multipliers
• Quoting and comparing ratios, values and approximations to the nearest order of magnitude
• Estimating quantities to an appropriate number of significant figures

Guidance:

• SI unit usage and information can be found at the website of Bureau International des Poids et Mesures
• Students will not need to know the definition of SI units except where explicitly stated in the relevant topics in this guide
• Candela is not a required SI unit for this course
• Guidance on any use of non-SI units such as eV, MeVc-2, ly and pc will be provided in the relevant topics in this guide
• Further guidance on how scientific notation and significant figures are used in examinations can be found in the Teacher support material