ODK - Important Review

There are concepts not taught in this course that you are expected to know from previous courses.   Below you will find links to review lessons should you need to refresh yourself.

The Metric System (International System of Units)

Only metric units are used in AP Physics I.  You need to be familiar with the units of the metric system and how to convert to standard units.  Also answers are required to have the correct SI unit as well as the correct number value.  Get in the habit of always putting the unit in your answer.

It is important that you know the International System base units - SI Base Units Links to an external site.

It is important that you know the correct derived units also.  While these will be taught in the modules, you should be familiar with a lot of them already - SI Derived Units Links to an external site.

You must also be familiar with how to convert to standard units.  For example if a value is given as 20.0 cm, you must be able to convert to 0.200 m before you complete any other calculations.  Physics equations as set up to use base units.

First you need to know prefixes.  The main ones we use are milli, centi, and kilo-, although other units will be used - SI Prefixes Links to an external site.

You must be able to convert units to the correct International System base unit - Converting SI Units Links to an external site.

Significant Figures

College Board requires that students use a "reasonable" number of significant digits on all answers.  While this is not always assigned a point value it might, depending on the question.  You need to get in the habit of giving answers in significant digits - Significant Figure Review Links to an external site.

For practical purposes, when in doubt use 3 significant digits.  College Board tends to give values having 3 significant digits, and then allow a range of digits in your answer.  So, even if the rules give you 2 digits, the range would be 1-3.  When in doubt, put 3 digits.

What you want to avoid is giving the large number of digits found in your calculator unless those are the actual correct number of significant digits.

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